Shellawax finish?

[Stevej72]

I have a question on Shellawax finish. So far I have made 8 slimline pens and last night this cigar pen out of Jatoba.

My question is on the amount of gloss that I am getting. It seems there is more gloss before I remove it from the mandrel. Should I not be touching is right away or what? I am sanding to 600 grit and then using EEE.

I have some Behlen's Woodturners Polish, Renaissance Wax and TSW on order. Could I expect more gloss with these finishes? Or am I expecting more that I should?

Thanks!

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

I have found the friction finish products to loose their luster VERY quickly. I have been told from several sources it is due to the oils from my hand when I touch it. They seem to loose luster even if I let them "cure" for a day. Because of this I have moved away from the friction finishes.

BTW, nice looking pen!

 

[clthayer]

Some people say that the shellawax takes a little time to cure. While if feels dry it needs a bit of time to harden. I have found that a couple coats of TSW really helps keep the shine a lot longer.
Christian

 

[epson]

I do not see a lot about EEE. Does it do anything about the longevity of the finish, or is it it strictly a wax?

 

[OSCAR15]

Originally posted by epson
<br />I do not see a lot about EEE. Does it do anything about the longevity of the finish, or is it it strictly a wax?

EEE is actually an abrasive (Tripoli/Triple E) . If you sand to 600 grit, it makes your work the equivalent of 1200. As far as shine, I use shellawax a lot. I always use EEE prior to final finish. It should be used on UNFINISHED WOOD only!
First, you need to sand a lot more than 600 grit. I dont care what finish you use, you will get better shine with more sanding. I go to about 3800 micromesh, sometimes more. Shellawax should set up a couple days to cure. Yes it will wear faster than other finishes..BUT..
1) your work still feels like wood and not plastic.
2) It is easy to restore shine. I occassionally use orange or lemon oil, followed by a buffing wheel and a fine paste wax. [][][]
P.S. Nice pen!