New Member from Melbourne, FL

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Marcus

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2022
Messages
9
Location
Florida
Greetings All,
I am a new member who has been a woodworker for a long time, but only started turning pens about two months ago.

I started using CA as my preferential finish because it is very durable. I received two critiques from my better half. The first was that the glossy, shiny finish looks like plastic and the pen doesn't look like wood. (I dismissed this.) The second, and the one I am taking seriously, is that she said that the pen was very slippery when she wrote with it.

So far, I've made a few Slim-Line pens and Designer or European pens. I like the European pen design and, indeed, the finish is slippery. Is it possible to do a CA finish yet still have a slightly rougher surface that may accent the grain, yet provide a better feel of the actual wood?

Thanks.

Marcus
 
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Welcome to the forum, Marcus.
As a matter of interest, there are a number of members here who would agree with your wife that a high gloss CA finish gives an unnatural plastic like look to a pen, myself included.
You can tone it down a bit with wire wool, if you want.

Alan
 
Hi Marcus,
I grew up in Palm Bay. Back then we didn't have a high school so we went to Mel Hi. I live in Wisconsin now (Its a long story). I sure miss my old stomping grounds.

Seven
 
Welcome to the forum, Marcus.
As a matter of interest, there are a number of members here who would agree with your wife that a high gloss CA finish gives an unnatural plastic like look to a pen, myself included.
You can tone it down a bit with wire wool, if you want.

Alan
Thanks. I like the glossy finish, but will try roughing in up with fine wire wool, as you say.
 
Welcome, the opportunities to learn and share are here, the talent is within you.
Ps spent a year at Patrick AFB as a guest of the Air Force. Good memories. :)
 
Welcome Marcus! Others have posted this. I make wood pens with a CA finish and as the last finishing step I use 0000 steel wool to take the shine off the CA. This gives the pen the look and feel of wood, but still protects the surface.
 
Hello and Welcome to our home. We have many ideas and Downloadable PDF tutorials for your review.

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Let me know if you find any others.

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