Grey stuff on pen

[Scott-n-KY]

Occasionally I am getting gray spots on pens. I guess it is coming from the bushings. Last night I tried finishing a pen with multiple CA coats, MM, and then the gloss plastic polish. Got to the final step, the plastic polish, and the gray appeared at the end of one blank. I had to re-sand to get it off and re-coat. Is this a common problem? Am I doing something wrong? I thought with all the CA getting on the bushings I wouldn't have a problem on this one, but I did.

 

[TowMater]

I had this problem, until I started the finishing process without bushings.

It takes a bit longer to finish without the bushings but I like the finish better.

Just mount your blank between centers and finish away.

If you don't have 60 degree centers, the fine folks here pointed me to littlemachineshop.com. Good centers and very competitive pricing.

Todd

 

[cdcarter]

Just a shot in the dark, but are you sanding with Micromesh? If you don't keep them moving, once you get past about 4,000 grit, they can overheat and melt onto your pen.

 

[rlharding]

I had the same problem. I know it had to do with the CA but I couldn't figure out what. So I changed back to my regular finishing which does not include CA. Problem solved.

 

[IPD_Mrs]

Originally posted by rlharding

I had the same problem. I know it had to do with the CA but I couldn't figure out what. So I changed back to my regular finishing which does not include CA. Problem solved.

Now maybe you can give it another try!
We had that problem with several pens and I don't know how many we took the finish back down to bare wood on. I also know I am really glad we didn't give up. Learning to do the CA finish (as much as we both were not sure of it to start with) has been the biggest improvement we made this year and it showed in our end of year sales. I don't think we did too bad this year considering we only started making pens just after Christmas last year (well ok 06 - 07 considering this is now 08.)

[:X] Mrs

 

[spitfire]

The gray comes from the bushings, I too have/had the same problem. Before I add the ca I make sure i clean the blank and bushings with mineral spirits 1st then add the ca seems to take care of the problem.

 

[gerryr]

What kind of sandpaper are you using on the bare wood? If you're using the black automotive type stuff, that is probably the culprit. I had the same problem when I first started and I was using the black wet/dry paper. When I switched to Norton 3X and Klingspor Stearate for sanding bare wood, the problem went away. I never wipe the blanks down with MS, DNA or anything else. I just use my air compressor to blow all the dust off the blank before applying CA or lacquer sealer or whatever finish I'm using.