New to CA finishes

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Jallan,
Check the library Forum. There are a lot of threads, publishing's, etc on the topic. I've been doing CA for a few months and still have a few hit and miss successes with the stuff. I like using the thin for the first 4 coats. But be careful, it will soak into the paper towel and will burn your finger! :mad:
 
I use the CA but use it with a small drop of Boiled Linseed Oil. Put drop of oil on paper towel and CA on the oil and apply with lathe turning moving towel briskly at first then slow down to dry. 3-4 coats gets you by but more increases sheen. Then I usually apply wax and buff. Ouick and fast. Oil acts as a accelerator.
 
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The YouTube videos are a good thing to see also...!

You can also buy a DVD from this guy, WWW.cafinish.com where you get all you need to do it right and consistently.

There are many ways to skin a cat, and "most" ways are effective, this guy shows you his way, which I reckon is pretty good, I use it myself...!:wink:

Disclaimer;
I have no "business" association or any other, with the DVD author...!:frown:

Good luck

Cheers
George
 
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George, I find the best way to skin that cat is to make very sure it is dead first. Same goes for a squirrel. Now for the CA finish, read all you can find in the library, watch youtube, then get some plain wood and turn it round, apply your finish and practice till you develop your own method. I have not yet found any two people that do it exactly the same. Everyone has some little thing that is all their own and you will also. Take what you can learn from everybody and then form your own process and practice, practice, practice. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but it will work.
Charles
 
The greatest help is "experience". Don't look at the "end" as the goal, but look at each step as part of a journey. If you get stuck at a point, keep trying and repeating that until YOU have mastered that part for yourself. There are several methods and ways of applying and finishing and each does well. Some work for some folks but not for others and vice versa. But in the end, no matter which one you choose, it will come down to mastering each step, and that comes from experience.

One hint from an old timer - you can create a perfect finish once without mastering it and then spend the next two to three weeks wondering "how" in the world you did it that one time so easily. :wink: Experience at trying, trying and trying teaches you how to do it consistently well - with variables such as humidity changes and temperature swings, oily woods, thin, medium and thick CA etc.

Enjoy the journey. It is worth it.

. . . and a caveat: A few people develop allergies to CA. There are ways around that, but just be aware IF that happens to you.
 
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I use the odor free medium CA and a thin strip of paper rag, four to five drops of CA on the rag applied to the slow turning blank (800 rpm) from one end to the other and then let it rotate about 15 seconds. Spritz a 1" x 1" piece of the same paper rag with accelerator and let it lightly touch the blank one end to the other then hold it to the blank. wipe the blank with a dry cloth and repeat the above steps. After 5 times hit it with 400 wet or dry dipped in water repeat the CA till you have built it up to the about you like. About 5 coats for bare wood and ten to cover a decal. Use micro mesh or the 400 then 600 then 1500 wet or dry and some finish car polish.
Everyone has their own way as you see and having tried them all the result is always good.
 
could you please tell us the make of your odor free medium CA.

Thanks. Don.

wouldentu2? said:
I use the odor free medium CA and a thin strip of paper rag, four to five drops of CA on the rag applied to the slow turning blank (800 rpm) from one end to the other and then let it rotate about 15 seconds. Spritz a 1" x 1" piece of the same paper rag with accelerator and let it lightly touch the blank one end to the other then hold it to the blank. wipe the blank with a dry cloth and repeat the above steps. After 5 times hit it with 400 wet or dry dipped in water repeat the CA till you have built it up to the about you like. About 5 coats for bare wood and ten to cover a decal. Use micro mesh or the 400 then 600 then 1500 wet or dry and some finish car polish.
Everyone has their own way as you see and having tried them all the result is always good.
Click to expand...
 
ctubbs said:
George, I find the best way to skin that cat is to make very sure it is dead first. Same goes for a squirrel. Now for the CA finish, read all you can find in the library, watch youtube, then get some plain wood and turn it round, apply your finish and practice till you develop your own method. I have not yet found any two people that do it exactly the same. Everyone has some little thing that is all their own and you will also. Take what you can learn from everybody and then form your own process and practice, practice, practice. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but it will work.
Charles
Click to expand...

What Charles, are you telling me that, you are having some "interesting" experiences while skinning a squirrel...???:eek::wink::biggrin:

Don't worry, it happens to me all the time, not with squirrels, tough...!:eek::redface::biggrin:

Cheers
George
 
I found that when applying CA uing a paper towel I ended up with burned fingers alot. I fixed the majority of that problem quite by accident but it works for me. I take my paper towel and fold several times and put it on top of a post-it note folded in half. The CA does not leak through the post-it note. I figured it out as I was using them to put a drop on for gluing.

Hope it helps you out some.

Phil
 
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