Ebony

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Jgrden

Jgrden

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
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Location
hOUSTON, Texas
Mr. Jaeger and everyone else. I finished an ebony fountain pen before I started using BLO/CA. I think I finished it with HUD wax, not sure. Well it looked like crap. So took it apart and tried to refinish it by:


  • mm to 12000
  • BLO/CA
Then when finished, the bottom portion looked fairly good but the top looked like crap Jr.

I don't know why I am telling you this, you'd need to see the item before passing judgment. :biggrin: Pens - 1-9-11 FP Ebony top and bottom.jpg

But what would you do. There is not too much material left, but I could probably use some 120 grit on it and get down to the bare ebony.
 
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I don't have any tips on ebony. It's a dense heavy wood so maybe wet or oily. Maybe try without the blo.
 
strip all the ca off with a paper towel and acetone. Then clean it a couple more times with acetone after it dries. Then clean it one more time. Hit it very lightly with about 8000 mm or perhaps some 12000 wet dry paper. Finally wipe it with accelerator and let dry, then lay up your finish, sand smooth and polish. The oil in the wood can contaminate the ca and percolate up through the layers if your'e not careful.

Oh yes, skip the BLO too.
 
If you are into using blo, after you put about 2 or 3 coats of thin CA to seal the wood you can go back to the blo. Oil is the key here and yes the wax did not help. By wiping with acetone you will clean all impurities and start again. Good luck and look forward to the results.
 
I just found an old CA finished Ebony pen in an old backpack that I had left in the garage. It looks like you-know,,, too, so it is not just wax finishes.

I think the temperature change may have shattered the CA finish. Looks like a black wood pen inside a cracked plastic test tube now. Are there any durable finishes out there that gives without cracking?
 
I think I would have started over using 320 or 400 grit instead of mm and finish like you have been, if it is working for you.
 
John, some years ago, I finished the few Ebony blanks that turned into pens* with sanding sealer + pure carnauba wax. No problem with this finish and a deep satin shine.

* meanwhile I gave away with Ebony, so congratulations!
 
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