Two Firsts....

[jimskio]

Well this is the first time I turned burl wood and the first time for CA/BLO. The wood seemed to be no big deal turning but the finish was a different story. Watched videos on youtube so I would at least have an idea of what I was doing. The first coat of CA was going ok until the blank decided it was cold and needed a coat of CA and paper towel. I stop the lathe and what a mess. I picked off what I could then had to sand off the remaining bits. After learning the "feel" of things it did not go to bad. I ended up with six coats but had to sand to get ripples out of finish. Although there are some small ripples left. Still need a LOT of practice. The wood is cherry burl by the way.

jimskio

 

[Pioneerpens]

Looks nice! what ca are you using? I had the ripple/paper towel thing happen a lot in the beginning. I'm getting better but found that the medium ca seemed to work much better for me than the thick ca that I originally started with. So many tips and tricks here. I try a lot of them til I find what works. Keep practicing and have fun!
Jennifer

 

[Seer]

If the paper towel is hard try using the little bags pen parts come in. I use those and medium CA for my finishes and have had better luck than the CA/BLO but that is me.
Look here for another way
www.mysimplecafinish.com

 

[jimskio]

Hey guys,

I am using medium ca. I will give the plastic bag a try, looks to be easier than the paper towel.

thanks
jimskio

 

[theHullTurn]

Looks good!

 

[Lenny]

For me ... this is what works ...
Be very quick with the first coat ... a few drops on a "bounty" paper towel, swipe back and forth to spread it, then a quick pass to work it in, then quickly pull away. Let the lathe run for a minute or two and repeat. After 2 coats this way I then put just a dab of BLO on a paper towel and apply that with some friction, dry it with a dry section of the towel and then do another coat of BLO. For me, the BLO smooths out the CA, although it may also take more coats to build up this way ????
Whatever works for you is what works!

 

[PaulDoug]

Have you tried this method? Maybe this is what you are doing. I'm pretty much sold on it. Had great success on three pens now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcgOf4siqc&feature=player_embedded

Beautiful pen you have there. That wood is fantastic.

 

[JoeHodge1978]

That youtube vide is the only way I do it.

 

[jocat54]

Have you tried this method? Maybe this is what you are doing. I'm pretty much sold on it. Had great success on three pens now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcgOf4siqc&feature=player_embedded

Beautiful pen you have there. That wood is fantastic.

I could never get a good CA finish until I watched this video. Now since doing it this way each one turns out nice,

 

[David Keller]

It looks great to me. That's pretty cool coloring on that burl... It reminds me of chechen burl.

I've spun a few paper towels around the lathe, but I find the towels work better than the bags for me. I got more little ridges with the bags, but whatever works for you, works for you.

 

[jimskio]

That is the exact video I watched before I tried the finish on the pen.

thanks Everyone,
jimskip