daledut
Member
I have read many CA techniques and they all seem to result in a rough build-up of CA that has to be re-sanded. I don't like sanding once and I hate to sand it til it is smooooth just to have to do it over again. So I developed my own technique that is quicker and smoother and looks like glass.
The key is putting it on smooth the first time. In my experience, that cannot be done with the lathe running. Any vibration will cause swirls to harden in the CA and then we are back to sanding.
I sand to 12000MM and then, with the tathe off, I use a paper towel with 2 drops of CA (medium) on it and rub it on back and forth while turning the lathe by hand. Keep the coat thin, just enough to make it look wet. Then turn the lathe on and spritz it with accellorator. I just mist a cloud over the spinning blank.
Check to see that the CA is dry (I lightly touch it with my hand while it is spinning.
Stop the lathe and rub it length wise with 0000 steel wool. Don't go to the next coat until this coat feels smooth.
Repeat the steps 3 more times. Omitt the steel wool on the last coat unless you have bad rough spots. Use a plastic polish. I use HUT Ultra gloss. Put a dab on a cotton cloth and polish the blank while it is running at about half speed. Wipe off the excess, then crank your lathe to full speed and buff with a clean cotton cloth.
The result is a hard, smooth, glossy finish that literally takes only about 2 minutes. I handle mine right away for assembly. I do like to leave the pen out overnight until all of the CA fumes disipate before putting in a box or display case.
I promise you that the CA finish takes way less time than it took me to type this out. Try it you will like it.
Dale
The key is putting it on smooth the first time. In my experience, that cannot be done with the lathe running. Any vibration will cause swirls to harden in the CA and then we are back to sanding.
I sand to 12000MM and then, with the tathe off, I use a paper towel with 2 drops of CA (medium) on it and rub it on back and forth while turning the lathe by hand. Keep the coat thin, just enough to make it look wet. Then turn the lathe on and spritz it with accellorator. I just mist a cloud over the spinning blank.
Check to see that the CA is dry (I lightly touch it with my hand while it is spinning.
Stop the lathe and rub it length wise with 0000 steel wool. Don't go to the next coat until this coat feels smooth.
Repeat the steps 3 more times. Omitt the steel wool on the last coat unless you have bad rough spots. Use a plastic polish. I use HUT Ultra gloss. Put a dab on a cotton cloth and polish the blank while it is running at about half speed. Wipe off the excess, then crank your lathe to full speed and buff with a clean cotton cloth.
The result is a hard, smooth, glossy finish that literally takes only about 2 minutes. I handle mine right away for assembly. I do like to leave the pen out overnight until all of the CA fumes disipate before putting in a box or display case.
I promise you that the CA finish takes way less time than it took me to type this out. Try it you will like it.
Dale