Satin blanks

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jttheclockman

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This question is for those who have tried this or have mastered it. Looking to get into making satin type blanks or matt if you prefer. But would like them to be finished as well. Now when doing metal blanks I can buff down the shine easily and be done with it. With wood I could lacquer in satin.. Is there a satin CA?? Not sure how I could satin an acrylic blank without the scratch marks. Anyone with photos that would be great to see. Do not reply if there is a trade secret because I am not asking for them. I did this on FB and had someone show an example but he could tell me how he did because it was a trade secret.

Lets takes this further, is there an ingredient that can be added to silmar or an epoxy resin that can make the blank satin??

I see Stickfast makes a satin CA polish, does this work if anyone has tried it?? What is your thoughts for finish and feel. Thanks.
 
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leehljp

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I have not heard of satin CA

If any "matte finish" is what you are looking for, a clear matt finish in lacquer and other are available in both spray and cans.
 

Ironwood

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Many years ago there was a thread about using a flame to take the shine off finished blanks. I linked to it a while back.
I will see if I can find it again. But I am out in the bush working for a few more days and only have my phone which I have trouble using to copy links etc
 

Ironwood

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Many years ago there was a thread about using a flame to take the shine off finished blanks. I linked to it a while back.
I will see if I can find it again. But I am out in the bush working for a few more days and only have my phone which I have trouble using to copy links etc
Here it is
 

qquake

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I tried the Stick Fast satin polish, but it wasn't very satin. This was after 3M Tri-M-Ite.
 

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qquake

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I have a friend who prefers satin finish pens. The best results I've gotten are wet sanding through 600 grit. Sometimes it leaves visible scratches, I don't know why. Type of acrylic, maybe?
 

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jttheclockman

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I remember seeing a satin black pen shown here before but can not find a link to it. It was some time ago. Anyone??
 

EricRN

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For acrylic satin, I'd use micro mesh and just stop half way through rather than working through all the grits. For wood, have you considered no finish at all, sanding up through 800 grit, then micro mesh. Buff it out with a couple coats of wax. That leaves a nice matte/satin finish on the wood. Works best with woods that are very oily. Here's one I did in gaboon ebony:

https://flic.kr/p/2hVWQ1n
 

Dehn0045

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jttheclockman

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Loved seeing Brads Kitless green pen again. That is one of the best looking kitless in a long time. Yes wood is not the problem because I can always top coat with a satin lacquer. I use that all the time on other projects. Metals I can always powdercoat. It is the acrylic I want to work on. Will have to try various sanding techniques. I may even try casting some using matt powdercoating material to see what happens. This would give me a good starting position before sanding if it works. Just another project I have in my mind. Thanks everyone.
 

skiprat

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John, I know that the epoxies like Trustone and M3 and Alternative Ivory etc, don't quite polish up to what can be expected from PR resin, but won't any plastic with a Matt finish eventually shine up just from handling?
I guess the softer plastics would maintain a Matt finish longer though.
 

BRobbins629

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Never tried this, but a long time ago when we were painting walls at work, the boss wanted a matte look and the paint we had was high gloss. Paint store said to add "flattening agent". It worked. I suspect you can get some at any paint store and add it to resin. Should be compatible with PR, epoxy and possibly Alumilite. May just work.
 

jttheclockman

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Never tried this, but a long time ago when we were painting walls at work, the boss wanted a matte look and the paint we had was high gloss. Paint store said to add "flattening agent". It worked. I suspect you can get some at any paint store and add it to resin. Should be compatible with PR, epoxy and possibly Alumilite. May just work.
I have to go to Sherwin Williams tomorrow anyway. I will ask. Thanks.

Skip yes I guess it is possible and that is why I was trying to find something I can top coat and it is flat. You see many big name pens that have satin or flat or matte finish to them and are acrylic. Wonder how they did it. Someone on FB told me their method was to put a satin poly on top of the acrylic after they get it polished out. May have to try that also.
 

jttheclockman

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jttheclockman

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I am wondering what you could achieve by beadblasting, or maybe putting the pen in a tumbler filled with fine glass beads.
I found an article where someone used a soda blaster to get the look. From their example it looked good but not sure what knowhow is needed. I would have to buy the equipment and even from Horrible Freight it still a pricey adventure.
 

Ironwood

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I found an article where someone used a soda blaster to get the look. From their example it looked good but not sure what knowhow is needed. I would have to buy the equipment and even from Horrible Freight it still a pricey adventure.
I think this type of thing would give the best quality of finish.
You can get the Matt look by stopping the sanding at a corser grade, or 0000 steel wool etc, I assume this is how most are doing it, and I have done it this way myself. But I think the surface finish will be left ragged and will trap dirt and germs.
If I was going to do this type of finish often, and offer the pens for sale, I would definitely by looking into the ———blasting option. I would polish the blanks as I normally do, then use some form of fine blasting medium to create tiny dimples over the complete surface.
 

RunnerVince

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When I want something to come out matte, I just stop at a lower grit. There's always an intermediate where the scratches are too fine for the naked eye to see but not so fine that you get a high gloss finish. And if I "oversand" and get shinier than I want, I just move back one grit and sand as lightly as I can to scuff up the better finish.

I know this works with acrylics because whenever I try a new material, I stop and look at the shine throughout the process. With every material I've used so far, it goes from "eh" to "ok" to "now we're gettin' somewhere" to "wow" to "daaaannng." If I were going for a matte, I'd just stop in the neighborhood of "now we're gettin' somewhere."
 
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