holly finish

[owlelope]

I turned a Holly pen today and finished it with BLO and CA. The finish is nice but it is a little yellowed. I would like to have it finish out as close to the pure white as possible. Do I just use CA or is there a better way to maintain the white color?

 

[hunter-27]

Just ca is what I would do on the Holly

 

[jttheclockman]

I turned a Holly pen today and finished it with BLO and CA. The finish is nice but it is a little yellowed. I would like to have it finish out as close to the pure white as possible. Do I just use CA or is there a better way to maintain the white color?

By using blo you introduced an oil to the finish and that is what caused the yellowing. Have to learn to apply the finish using just CA. It is easier than you think. You can probably start using blo again aafter a couple coats of plain CA which will seal the blank. If you have to strip the finish off again remember to not use blo again.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Good advice. But even with the best techniques, remember Holly wood is a natural product, just like all woods. Some are whiter than others. And, the season in which the wood was cut can make a difference in it's 'whiteness'.
I have had good results bleaching holly in a 25% solution with water. Experiment on unturned blanks. You can probably get by with a weaker solution than I used.