Finish durability

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Brewmeister35

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I've experimented with different finishes and have varying results with CA. I did a corncob pen that I kept applying thin CA as I cut, finished with thick and the finish seems to be hard as woodpecker lips. Other times I've used CA, it seems to be a little fragile and is very susceptible to dents and dings from things (like the pen I carry everyday). I'm looking for suggestions on a finish for perfume pens since they will be rolling around in a purse. My first pen was sanded to 400 grit and HUT Crystal coat that was all supplied with the starter kit I bought from Woodcraft when I first started in march. This pen has been in the bottom of someone's purse since the day I made it and it still looks like it was just made! I have changed over and over how I do things looking for the best and hardest finish and I know there's huge differences of opinion here. Could I be doing something wrong with CA to make it soft and more fragile? Would the Enduro I've read about last under these conditions? Has anyone tested this finish under harsher conditions?

Thanks,

David
 
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David,

Obviously, no finish is going to completely withstand harsh treatment. I would suggest a search within the sites on the subject of finishes. You will likely get more information than you can assimilate.

Consider using acrylics for perfume pens.
 
Hi Brewie --

Like lots of other folks say around here, go to the library and view Russ's videos. I never "got" the CA or CA/BLO finishes until I viewed those a couple of times, and it really works. I think Russ just does 3 coats, but I've found that sometimes I polish through that, so I'm using 5 coats to allow me room to get through all the MM pads and get the high gloss I like.
 
Oh trust me, I've read everything I can find in the library and have downloaded and watched the videos that apply. I finally got a technique that worked for me using Fangars method slightly modified (with a couple extra coats). I was sanding through it and couldn't tell til the pen was handled a few times and dull spots started to appear. I love the idea of using acrylics as well. I'm really after hearing what people have experienced with Enduro being banged around a little.
 
Originally posted by Brewmeister35
<br />... I was sanding through it and couldn't tell til the pen was handled a few times and dull spots started to appear...
Click to expand...
This is just a thought but if you couldn't tell if you sanded through the finish or not until someone used it a few times, then perhaps you're not putting enough CA on to begin with. It's not a finish if you still have bare wood exposed.

To date I have tried the following and here are my opinions of each.

1. Mylands friction polish - Rather than throw it in the trash, I'll save it for small turned objects other than pens.

2. Lacquer (dipped method)- Fantastic looks but takes a long time to cure and I don't think it's the finish for everyday use pens, desk sets, perhaps.

3. Hut Crystal polish - See Mylands thoughts above.

4. Enduro - Tried it only once and was pleased with results but gave the pen away so don't know how well it held up. I can't seem to break away from the CA to give this stuff a chance.

5. CA - I use this finish on every pen I have made the past few months and have yet to have one pen lose it's gloss. Other than one pen I carried around in my pants pocket as an experiment (that's a whole different story) I have never seen a problem with durability.

These are my OPINIONS and not meant to throw rocks at anyones favorite finish or technique.

George
 
Thanks George! That's what I was looking for but.... still hoping to hear about enduro. So it was you I read about that put the pen in your pocket. I remembered reading that long interesting thread[:p]
 
The dents are probably in the wood itself, but even CA can chip as will any finish. I have found that the few CA's I have done hold up far better than the sprayed Deft Lacquer. The dull spots are almost 100% likly to be where you sanded thru the CA and the polished wood did not show until the "shine" on the wood wore down.
 
I made a pen out of soft Huon pine from Tazmania and finished it with CA. It showed dents just by pressing hard with a finger nail. Then I re-finished by sanding down just a very little and building up a thicker finish coat of CA. I used several medium coats. It worked fine then and I couldn't dent with a fingernail after that.

The difference was the thickness of the CA coats - for me.
 
Hank, so you used medium CA and it turned out harder? I've been adding heavy coats of thick to avoid sanding through it lately. Sure looks sexy! I might have to try medium next and just do more coats.
 
David,

What grit are you starting with when you sand the CA? I would suggest that after you apply 2 to 3 coats of CA begin sanding (polishing) with the 4000 micromesh and go through each sheet until you reach 12,000.

Ed
 
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