Problems with wood finish

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itsme_timd

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
61
Location
Woodstock, GA, USA.
Hi All,

I've had issues lately with the finish on my wood pens. I'm using a fairly simple method of EEE and Shellawax. I've had great results in the past but lately they turn dull quickly. I can't figure what I'm doing different / wrong. :confused:


Some questions...
  • Is Shellawax affected by age or heat?
  • Is there anything I can do to jazz up the finish after it is off the lathe and assembled?
I recently made my first Majestic, the pen is nice but the finish dulled quickly. Always disappointing but even more so on a high end kit! You can feel it in your hand where it use to feel smooth, almost like an acrylic, it now feels, well... like a piece of wood!

I'm open to other methods as well, I've used PPP and CA/BLO in the past, too.

Thanks,
 
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Tim a pen such as the Magestic deserves a good finish which will last a long time.

I would do a CA/BLO finish or an extremely easy to apply Enduro finish at least, there are other methods too such as lacquer etc..

Check the IAP Library for tutorials on applying these different finishes, I just think a higher end pen should have a quality finish! :biggrin:
 
What Mark said!. Many people start with EEE and Shellwax and are happy with it at first. Then they learn that for the long term, those do not hold up. Hand oils and body humidity from being in a shirt pocket, or the wear that they get from being inside of a constantly changing and moving purse will wear the wax in no time.

There are a few people that like the raw wood feel or in an idealist mindset, sell only that. That is fine. But still from the years of experience of people on this forum, many long term makers have experimented with many many finishing formats for more durable finishes. EEE and Shellwax, as finishes only, are short term finishes at best.

Perhaps the differences you are seeing are due to summer heat and humidity or the use of different woods from previous pens, which can also affect the length the wax finishes stay pristine.

In the long run, I think you will benefit from learning one of the more durable finishes - CA, CA/BLO, Enduro, Lacquer, Acrylic/acetone, or even another yet experimental finish such as a non-yellowing tough epoxy or a tough urethane or marine grade finish. There is always someone trying "new" finishes. But each new finish takes practice, techniques and determination to master, including the common ones mentioned above.
 
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Thanks, I agree 100%. I'm a little disappointed in that many of my pens were given away soon after making them, with the EEE/Shellawax finish they looked great at that time but I bet they are very dull now.

I imagine one reason I'm noticing this more now is that I've just started using my pens as opposed to giving them away!

I'll definitely try the CA/BLO finish, I need something a lot more durable than what I've got now.
 
So what is CA?/BLO?, i would like to give that a try and how do you apply it, i've been using Myland High Build Friction finish for my pens/pencils for a couple of years.
 
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