Delrin strips

[eskimo]

OK, I'm going to try and save a tree or two and cut back on my paper towel usage. What is the effective method for applying CA using Delrin strips? Do you apply the CA to the blank & spread with the Delrin? I've tried putting a drop of CA on the strip and applying it that way, with little success.

Any help with a short primer on using the strips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Bob

 

[philb]

Id appreciate one too!

As my attempt with delrin strips ended badly!

 

[wdcav1952]

I use the small bags kit components come in with no problem. They are easy to discard after use.

 

[DCBluesman]

You might email Joe (jcollazo) as he sells these.

 

[wendell]

I love using delrin strips to apply CA. Here's how I use them.

1) First I apply my CA finish at 1800 rpms. I started doing this because I was too lazy to change the belts. I kept using a higher speed because I feel it helps me apply a smoother coat.

2) I setup a work light at a raking angle to the pen blank. This helps me see where I've applied CA. On my lathe, I set up the light on the left end of the blank and I stand off to the right of the blank. This helps me see the reflection of the light in the CA as I apply it and also avoid any CA splatter.

3) I cut a delrin strip slightly wider than my index finger. I hold the strip in my left hand and use my index finger to press the strip against the blank.

4) I apply one drop of CA at time starting at the left end of the blank. For thin CA I put the drop on the strip because it doesn't seem to get flung off the blank that way. For medium and thick CA I vary putting the drop on the strip or on the blank, it doesn't seem to matter much.

5) I spread the drop down the blank until I see the wet edge stop moving then I apply another drop. Repeat until I reach the right end of the blank. At that point I look back at the finish in the raking light to see how smooth or if there is any excess CA. I try to smooth out any excess and add drops to spots that don't look smooth.

6) Once I like the way it looks, I hit the blank with a quick squirt of aerosol accelerator with the lathe still running.

7) In between coats, I remove any CA that dried on the delrin strip which usually isn't much if I am doing it right.

8) Turn the lathe off every couple coats to inspect the finish. If there is an issue, I try to fix it before moving on to the next coat.

9) My CA finishing schedule is two coats of thin, two coats of medium, and as many coats of thick as I need to build up the finish where I can get a smooth transition between the blank and kit parts. Not sure the medium coat is really necessary, but it's working for me so I am not stopping it.

Here's what one of my blanks looks like right after I've finished applying the CA.

Good luck,
Wendell

 

[jcollazo]

Eskimo emailed me yesterday wanting to know the secret of the delrin strips. Here ya go... no secret handshake necessary:

While there are variations on how to use the strips for applying CA (Wendell has his process down), this is the way I like to apply the finish:

1. You're going to use less CA than if you used a paper towel. You only need about 2-3 drops of medium CA. One user reports the he puts a line of CA about 3mm wide along the edge.

2. Apply the CA along a short edge of the strip.

3. FLOAT (this might take a little practice) the CA, in one pass, across the blank. It doesn't matter which direction. If doing a 2 piece blank, do each piece separately.

4. Keep the lathe running until the CA cures. Then repeat as many times as you like.

By float I mean don't actually touch the blank with the strip. The CA will acts as a cushion between the blank and the strip.

Hope this helps. The most important thing is the floating part. Get that down and you'll end up with a glass-like finish.

Here's an older thread that may help you some more:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=26872

Note: I don't use this CA/BLO finishing. It's back to the paper towel for that.