mg_dreyer
Member
A few months ago I was asked to do a demo at the Midwest Penturners Gathering on finishing. At that same time I had the opportunity through a Chicago based turning club to talk directly with a manufacturer of a liquid finish generally used in the high end woodworking and musical instrument repair arena – GluBoost. I had a series of good, technical conversations before I decided to try the product. Before MPG I only had a few days to try it, but since then it has become my "Go To" finish for all my wood pens. I demonstrated it at the AAW conference in Portland with great interest. Below are my observations and why I like it so much.
Advantages:
• GluBoost is a professional finish. The application is fast, easy and safe. First and foremost with respect to safety, the viscosity is such that I found I can apply it by hand with the lathe off. Simply hand turn and apply with the grain. The lathe is not spinning. Blue paper towel. This allows me to control the application, it self-levels and unlike typical CA finishes, I get no lines from the product spin drying because of air flow which I eventually have to sand out.
• Only a few coats does it. I have been using only 4 – 5 coats. The first two are the "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula" to give me a good base. I have been using the GluDry accelerator in between. Then I like to use a very light touch #0000 steel wool (lathe off) to just knock it down. Finally two or three coats of "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula Thin". Micromesh starting at 4000. Polish. Buff. Done. If you have ever heard me talk in the past I had an elaborate three day process of three coats of thin / dry overnight, steel wool, then repeated three times. Sincerely I can now be done in ten minutes. I have heard people having to undercut the bushing because they apply 20 some coats of finish. I haven't seen the need to go over five. The result is water clear and glossy.
• The GluDry accelerator is marketed as applied "with no bubbles, pitting, hazing, crazing, blooming, yellowing or white spots." I know these are issues with many of us and I read these questions on the board all the time. Generally I have been against accelerators, but after the conversations I had, and their understanding of the chemical process and humidity / moisture issues of wood, I accepted using it and the results with the accelerator are exceptional. Fast and easy – a little knock down with steel wool.
• Now for the exciting part. The system can accept a tint. You can change the color of the wood to anything you want – yet get the beauty of the grain comes through because it is a surface coloring – not a stain. I have been playing a lot with the amber coloring and have included a picture below of a 25 cent maple blank enhanced with the colorant to get a unique piece. And all you do is mix the "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula Thin" with the master tint color(s) you want and apply like mentioned above – lathe off / paper towel / with the grain. I have tried two coats to vary color and love the effect. Then a few coats of clear and done.
The only open issue I have is simply I have only used it for a few months and only over a few dozen species of wood – so I look forward to your comments. I have used it over half wood / half acrylic pens and it went on smooth. If you decide to try it – please let me know your results. I know Ed Brown from ExoticBlanks asked me for contact info at the MPG and is now carrying it on his website and posted his first pen in my AAW Portland link. I think that one looks great.
I have attached some pictures. I classic wood pen with 4 coats of GluBoost. The half wood / half acrylic I mentioned above. And finally the amber tinted maple blank. I caution I am not a photographer so please be kind to my skills there.
If you have any question or comments – let me know. For anyone going to Turn On! Chicago I will be demoing it there and will have it available for the Friday night "Pens For Troops" turning session.
Advantages:
• GluBoost is a professional finish. The application is fast, easy and safe. First and foremost with respect to safety, the viscosity is such that I found I can apply it by hand with the lathe off. Simply hand turn and apply with the grain. The lathe is not spinning. Blue paper towel. This allows me to control the application, it self-levels and unlike typical CA finishes, I get no lines from the product spin drying because of air flow which I eventually have to sand out.
• Only a few coats does it. I have been using only 4 – 5 coats. The first two are the "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula" to give me a good base. I have been using the GluDry accelerator in between. Then I like to use a very light touch #0000 steel wool (lathe off) to just knock it down. Finally two or three coats of "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula Thin". Micromesh starting at 4000. Polish. Buff. Done. If you have ever heard me talk in the past I had an elaborate three day process of three coats of thin / dry overnight, steel wool, then repeated three times. Sincerely I can now be done in ten minutes. I have heard people having to undercut the bushing because they apply 20 some coats of finish. I haven't seen the need to go over five. The result is water clear and glossy.
• The GluDry accelerator is marketed as applied "with no bubbles, pitting, hazing, crazing, blooming, yellowing or white spots." I know these are issues with many of us and I read these questions on the board all the time. Generally I have been against accelerators, but after the conversations I had, and their understanding of the chemical process and humidity / moisture issues of wood, I accepted using it and the results with the accelerator are exceptional. Fast and easy – a little knock down with steel wool.
• Now for the exciting part. The system can accept a tint. You can change the color of the wood to anything you want – yet get the beauty of the grain comes through because it is a surface coloring – not a stain. I have been playing a lot with the amber coloring and have included a picture below of a 25 cent maple blank enhanced with the colorant to get a unique piece. And all you do is mix the "Fill n' Finish Pro Formula Thin" with the master tint color(s) you want and apply like mentioned above – lathe off / paper towel / with the grain. I have tried two coats to vary color and love the effect. Then a few coats of clear and done.
The only open issue I have is simply I have only used it for a few months and only over a few dozen species of wood – so I look forward to your comments. I have used it over half wood / half acrylic pens and it went on smooth. If you decide to try it – please let me know your results. I know Ed Brown from ExoticBlanks asked me for contact info at the MPG and is now carrying it on his website and posted his first pen in my AAW Portland link. I think that one looks great.
I have attached some pictures. I classic wood pen with 4 coats of GluBoost. The half wood / half acrylic I mentioned above. And finally the amber tinted maple blank. I caution I am not a photographer so please be kind to my skills there.
If you have any question or comments – let me know. For anyone going to Turn On! Chicago I will be demoing it there and will have it available for the Friday night "Pens For Troops" turning session.