Looking at this pen and being a turner for about a year all I can say is WOW!!! I can NEVER get my finishes to look that good. I always end up just putting BLO on them and then some type of shellac (sp) on them. I have read the processes so many time have tried different styles but no luck. I am very glad that its working for some one. Very Very nice pen love the wood also. Len
Len, Thank you for the kind words.
Don't give up on CA finish as I used to have trouble as well and worked through it. I'll share the technique that I use on this pen as well as others.
I don't use BLO. After turning, I went from 150 to 600 grit with sandpaper, cleaned surface with alcohol pad and let dry. I used two coats of thin CA and then eight coats of medium CA. At slow speed, each application of CA is placed directly on the pen from the bottle and very quickly wiped across the blank with with a folded paper towel. I finish the CA between coats by lightly spraying with accelerant from the aerosol spray can while lathe is turning at high speed. After the final application of the CA and then accelerator, I then lightly go over the surface of the CA finish with 600 grit
wet sandpaper to get rid of any ripples or high spots. Then use MM, also wet, from 1200 to 12000 grit wiping off the surface with water and cloth between grits. Last, I use 2 coats of HUT Plastic Polish applying it at low speed and then buffing it off with the lathe at high speed using a clean microfiber cloth. At that point, you have pretty much a glass like finish. I hope that helps. Probably more than you wanted to know. Regards, Doc