jrap
Member
Ok so i have been using some cheap poly to finish my pens and wanted to take a step up. I dont like ca finishes as it keeps woods from looking natural. So i was looking at shellawax but wanted to know if the finish lasts well.
In short, NO!Ok so i have been using some cheap poly to finish my pens and wanted to take a step up. I dont like ca finishes as it keeps woods from looking natural. So i was looking at shellawax but wanted to know if the finish lasts well.
Shellawax Friction Polish is a blend of Shellac and Wax
NO, that one is water based. Water raises grain, increases moisture content of the wood and those are bad bad and bad. it is: 60-70% water, 3-10% glycol ethers, 7-25% polyurethane, 3-5% nonionic polyethylene, less than 6% n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1-1.5% trimethlybenzene-1,2,4. If you want poly then go get some wipe on poly and use that. works wonders and does not have water in it.
CA seems to last on pens but larger objects you can forget it. Tung oil, Teak oil, Boiled Linseed oil, Danish oil. Those will last very good.
I know for a fact that CA finish will not hold up on knives. I have tried that on several and they flake off in patches very quickly.
The oils you will need to build them up with multiple applications and they will fill holes and form a glass like surface that is smooth. We use them in the black powder arena on small objects as well as firearm stocks and they indeed hold up super well under intense abuse for a very long time.
These oils I mentioned are used heavy on saddles, bags and the like which see's more use than pens. stonemasons use it in kitchens; painters, etc.
How do you consider the oils not a finish?
Ed,... Boiled Linseed oil ... Those will last very good.
See post #5 in this thread: http://www.penturners.org/forum/f28/tung-oil-93366/
Hank (leehljp) has done many type of finishes and does some amazing pens and stated very well the reason why something that holds abuse on certain objects doesn't necessarily translate to other areas.
I am not against TO or BLO, as TO is and has been my finish of choice for more than 30 years when the project would allow it. I know what you are asking and I love the TO protection and way that it brings out a beautiful piece of wood. But overall, fine furniture and most fine wood products are not handled and treated the same way that pens are.
__________________
Hank Lee
The oils you listed may be great for larger objects that aren't handled much, but pens - on a lot of woods, many don't consider those finishes at all.
i did make a pen using shellawax and it turned out great. Take a look! it does shine like glass. The picture doesnt do it justice
Joseph,
I have that product as well as others in my finishing kit. I use it a fair bit, but my exprience with it has not been good for durability. It gives a wonderful "sales table shine".
I use it to great effect on ornaments and other turnings that do not get handled much.
And yes I use a fair amount of shellac, and yes can do french polishing.
Good product for 24 k gold slimmies, but not the best for durable finish on wood