Spot's on the Ends of Blank (With CA FINISH)

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BJohn

BJohn

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
820
Location
Cabot, Arkansas
Good Morning

I am new to the IAP and a fairly pen turner. I have made several pens using a CA finish but here recently I have started to get areas on the very ends of the blanks that are lighter then the rest of the blank. Like if I was painting a wall using 2 coats of paint and missed an area. It is lighter then the rest of the blank.

Not sure if I am explaining it well enough but was wondering if anyone has an idea of what the cause might be.

Thanks
John
:confused:
 
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Hi John,

What type of wood (or something else) is the pen made of?
Is the finish cloudy or just looking different on the ends? - a picture might help

Dave
 
Spots

This has happens on the last two pens.

The blanks are wood, 1st is Avocado and the 2nd is Hawaiian Milo.

I don't thing I am sanding to much off after the application, because the lighter areas don't go all the way around the blank just run no more then a 1/4" up in separate areas off the end.

The finish on the rest of the blank is fine clear and high gloss, and I do believe the lighter areas turn up after the last step (wet sanding with the mm.)

As for photos I don't have any with me now but I can get some this evening.
 
The spots could be either from sanding through the CA finish, from the finish lifting off the wood at the ends of the blank, or from moisture.

Sanded-through areas usually look like dull (satin) spots next to the gloss finish of the CA. They can appear anywhere on the blank. They can show up right away, or days later.

Lifted (separated) areas typically look cloudy (lighter in tone) than the rest of the finish. They usually appear on the ends of the blank and typically occur when removing glued-on bushings or pressing in metal parts.

Blush (from moisture) causes cloudy patches that can appear anywhere, but usually show up on the ends of the blank where unsealed wood wicks in water from wet-sanding. Blush can occur days after finishing.

I hope that helps,
Eric
 
Spots

You know the moisture could be the cause.

The one think I did forget is because of the build up of the CA on the pen bushings, I started using some of those Plastic bushing from stick fast.

They do not cover the end of the blank, because of their cone shape they just go partially in the tubes and leave the ends of the wood open.

I'll be danged, bet that is it.

Will sand and re-do with the regular bushing's and we'll see what happens.


THANKS
John
 
John --

Insurance against wicking is to use thin CA glue to seal the ends of the pen before sanding and finishing. I then use a fine sandpaper on a sanding mill (either one made for that purpose or the head of a pen mill reversed with sandpaper on the smooth end) to assure a nice even outcome all the way around.

If the finishing slops over the ends, another trip to the sanding mill may be needed to assure a smooth gapless fit with hardware.
 
John, I agree with the others as that it is moisture from wet sanding. I use a Q-tip and put thin ca on it, then carefully rub it around the ends of the blank.
Also, i have just recently learned this, i had a CA finished blank that CA lifted just a bit on the end. I loaded a q-tip with thin CA and touched the q-tip to that spot and the CA wicked into the area that had lifted and i honestly could not tell where that spot was when finished.

I also do as KenV does. Just before assemble, i make sure the ends are square.
Harry
 
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I find the delrin cones help with sealing the ends of wood blanks. The CA naturally gets wiped over the ends and protects from wet finishing, unless you break the seal before wet finishing. I haven't had CA lift or break loose since switching to the cones for finishing.
 
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