History of the CA finish

[jttheclockman]

Looking Back!!!!

Maybe some of the older folks here can shed some light on this topic. I vaguely remember some of the details when Eagle soared here, but thought it would be interesting to put to words in readable format where the use of CA as a finish started and is there one person credited for this discovery that has become almost synonymous with pen finishing. Where did it all begin???? Was it right here on this site??? Who decided to add BLO to the process??? There are some postings of this here and if some people can link them that would be helpful to see some of those discussions.

With so many new turners coming on board and asking questions about CA for a finish and all the Utube videos showing up it would be interesting to learn the origin of this finish that we all have come to love and hate at the same time This is a relatively new finish that has caught on in not only pen turning but other turning aspects as well. You see more and more brands of the Glue showing up. Long were the days when we all watched those commercials with the guy hanging from a steel beam with his hardhat glued to it. :biggrin: Come on you all remember that. Admit you are getting old.

 

[1080Wayne]

James Mann (Fangar) showed us what it could look like , properly done .

 

[Wood Butcher]

A fellow who has worked at WoodTurningz since its inception taught me how to do it. His name is Fritz McCorkel and while we were holding a "Turn a Pen For the Troops" event at the local Roclker on the sidewalk in front of the store, Fritz shows up with lathe and and helps novice turners make pens. He applied the CA finish and I was blown away (I had been using the Shelawax stuff). I contacted him a few days later asking him if he would teach me how and he was gracious enough to have me over to his house for the lesson. That was about 12 years ago, a best as I recall, and I have been doing and teaching it since. In my written instructions I mention that Fritz taught me how and that I have added some small nuances. That's my earliest recollection.
WB