thanks for the tips. I should have known wet sanding is what was causing it.
Yep, you've got it...!
Dry sanding with 400 grit is normally how far I go, making sure that I finish with sanding the blank/barrel long ways with the lathe stopped, that removes any possible round scratches the surface may have. You can go one step further and do the 600 grit dry, it won't hurt anything and can only help a little.
You will find also that and while the lathe is NOT turning, if use put one of hose little plastic bags from the pen kits on your finger and you cover the blank/barrel with thin CA, rotating by hand as you go and then rub/spread the glue evenly through the blank and then git it a quick spray with accelerator or wait until it dries, that will be one of the best blank preparation steps for the CA finish, as this will allow the thin CA soak into any gaps and level itself up to a degree.
This builds a great coat of CA into the surface, the only thing that you need to do is to smooth it out with the lathe NOT turned on and sanding that layer with 240 grit dry sandpaper and do it long ways to the blank/barrel, finish with a quick rub with the same dry grit you used to finish your dry sanding. As soon as you got it smooth you can them give it 5 or 6 coats with the medium CA using the normal rotating method, this will in not time built enough CA for you wet sanding, that again should start with the 600grit sanding with the grain and the lathe turned of, smooth any possible ridges or high spots on the finish that way and then proceed with the other grits with the lathe rotating.
If you want a really deep/gloss finish, apply 5 coats of CA over that hand CA coat then, sand it lightly with the 240 and then the highest grit you used on you dry sanding, clean blank and apply another 5 coats of medium. Wet sand and polish, that will give you an amazing finish that you want to have it repeated, every time, guaranteed...!:wink::biggrin:
Good luck
Disclaimer: This almost goes without saying, my suggestions are based upon my experience and determinations of what I think is acceptable or optimum, this doesn't make it better or superior to any other "ways" to do a CA finish, this is my way, only...!
Cheers
George
Use low speed when applying the CA, (less "spitting" that way)