CA over Lacquer

[Jamie]

I'm doing a blank for a good pen. I have applied several coats of lacquer to stabilized burl, went through the MM, buffed and waxed. I can still see tiny sand lines through a glass. I don't know what else I can do to get it perfect other than sand it down to wood and do a CA finish. Will CA bond OK over the wood that has been lacquered? I'll sand it down but I'm sure the wood has absorbed some of the lacquer. Is it possible to get a finish that's line free when looked at through a loop, if so, how?

 

[ilikewood]

If I remember correctly, lacquer take very little time to "dry", but up to a week to "cure". If you put a CA finish over it, it may have problems as the pen ages. My age is catching up to me, but I remember someone saying it fogged down the road.

OOPS- that age thing again....Laquer softens with heat. CA and sanding causes heat and could soften the under finish while you are finishing.

 

[Jamie]

I sprayed 5 coats of lacquer on and let it cure in the Arizona sun for a week before starting to sand. It has been very sunny, no humidity and close to 90 degrees every day. If I re-sand, I could let it dry another week before applying CA. Would that do it? I could also wet sand the CA to keep the temperature down.

 

[ilikewood]

For stabilizing, have you thought of soaking the blank in Lacquer? Thinned down dipping lacquers work great for this.

I personally use CA to stabilize (thin). Let it soak in real good, sand and repeat a few times. Then I FINISH with lacquer once the CA has cured. You have a hard pen and a great easy finish (if you like lacquer finish over CA). I personally like the lacquer finish over the CA as it has a less "plastic" feel. IMHO, lacquer produces a lasting finish without the sanding problems CA can have. Although, I have seen some FABULOUS CA finishes though and wouldn't think twice about recommending them as well.

 

[Jamie]

Thanks Bill, I did want the look of lacquer on these expensive pens and blanks. It's already got a lacquer base. What about dipping? I have a quart of 380-S Clear coat. Have you ever dipped a blank in lacquer? I think I read an article on it somewhere but don't remember where.

 

[ilikewood]

Dipping is about the only method I use anymore. I thin my lacquer with lacquer thinner about 50% and then slowly lower my blank into the solution. I use a wire to hold the blank. When I remove the blank, I spin the blank around to remove the "wet" portion. I have virtually no problem with the dreaded ring. I does happen occationally, but not very often.

I read the method someone wrote a while back and it worked too. I think Russ Fairfield wrote it and it involved leaving the bushings on. I can't remember, but it seem like a pretty good idea although I have never tried it.