Learning to CA Finish in Ohio...

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grub32

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
342
Location
Ohio, USA.
I am looking for a mentor in the Northeast corner of Ohio or Pittsburgh area of PA to help me learn how to finish with CA. I am interested in watching someone go through the procedure and help me through it. I find that I am a very visual person and would benefit from that interaction. I would travel to you and also make it worth your while.

Thanks,

Grub32
 
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Grub,
Did you watch the video in the library from Russ Fairfield?
He shows it very well, and you can rewind and start and stop him all day long.:D
 
JHS,

I did download the video. I liked it but I was curious about making the higher gloss finish rather than the matte finish. Is the high gloss still achievable with the boiled linseed oil?? Also, his seems so fool proof...A lot of people on here have problems with it. Am I missing something??

Grub32
 
The boiled linseed oil does not cause a matte finish. CA will polish to a high gloss given that you take it to the correct level of abrasion. In my experience, that means Micro-mesh through to 12000 and/or buff with white diamond.
 
Grub,
Not to discourage you but a CA finish just takes practice. The higher gloss comes just as posted earlier from going to higher levels of micromesh. Whenever possible wet sand. IMHO it works easier. When I first started with CA I turned hardwood on a spur, with no kit, and sanded then used CA and went thru the grades of MM just simply to practice. It's not always the most fun, but if it doesn't work, cut the dia. down a bit and start over. I have alot of these highly polished pieces of wood laying around, and if you start with a large enough dia. piece of wood later you could drill and install a tube and make a pen...:) Also Russ makes it look so flawless because he has been turning for a long while. He is very good and very well known for it.
You can also go to the Pen Makers Guild website and look thru the articles on CA, this may help.
 
Grub, if you want to come down to Columbus, I can teach you how to do a plexiglas finish. It's fast, durable, shiny and cheap. I'll even send you home with a bottle of your own.

Chris
 
Hey Chris,

Ironically, I will be down in columbus on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of Feb. I may take you up on that offer. I have to see if I am going to have time to get out a bit from my conference at the Convention Center to learn a trick of the trade. How far are you from downtown??

Grub32
 
I'm about 15 miles from downtown and available in the evening on the 4th and 5th. Let me know if you would like my address and phone #. Straight out hiway 70 and two turns.

Chris
 
Hi
I just finished two with the CA/BLO. As an experiment, I sanded only to 400, then applied via the Russ F. Method, then just buffed with the Beall system. No Micromesh!. They came out very shiny.
BTW, I am over in Wadsworth, not too far from you.
Doc Ron
 
Chris and Doc....I sent you guys emails....Please if you would, send me your contact information and I will make a point to get in touch with you to schedule a visit : ) Again, I will make it worth your while.

Thanks again for all your help.

Grub32
 
I finally found out what I was doing wrong. Here is the way I am doing it now and it is working great giving a good shine. I do go back and micromesh from about 2400-12000 and then use Acrylic Polish like Novus after the CA is complete.

But for the CA - Put 2-3 drops of BLO on a folded paper towel (I use Bounty) Then put about 4-5 drops of Medium CA on the paper towel on top of the BLO. Then wipe down the blank one time. Then start rubbing the blank (using the same spot on the paper towel) from end to end fairly quickly. After a little bit you will notice that the CA looks like it is getting rough and cloudy. DON'T stop rubbing yet. Keep rubbing and in a little while the rough CA will get smooth and glossy. DON'T GIVE UP RUBBING TOO SOON. That was the problem I was having. When the CA started to get rough looking and grabbing the towel, I quit. Not the right thing to do. Just keep on rubbing.

I do this 3-4 times to get a good coat of CA on the blank. Then I micro mesh from 2400-12000 and then use NOVUS #2 and #1 for final scratch removal and polish. Then I put on a coat of Minwax paste wax and then a coat of reinaissance wax.

Hope this helps.
 
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