varnish

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jamie

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
203
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA.
I'm looking for a more durable finish than CA for a few special pens, more durable but with the same look. Has anyone ever sprayed (spray can) varnish on blanks and then sanded & micro-meshed them like a CA finish? Does it look the same when finished? Varnish must be much less brittle than CA... right?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I have yet to find a finish that is more durable than CA. Maybe the 2 part conversion varnish is more durable but I am not sure, usually you have to have a contractors or painter license to buy it. Yes varish should be less brittle than CA, but I do not think it has the same clarity as CA.
 
Most standard varnishes will be too "soft" to buff to a high finish. It may be able to be buffed out after a week or so, but it is not common. Water based poly really gets hard after time and will take the shine but will take more time than CA. I would think that a stabilized wood blank would be the hardest wood pen you can get.
 
I am not sure what you mean by "brittle". CA is harder for sure. But I have dropped CA finished pens on concrete, put them in my pants pocket in the midst of change and carried it around all day long and nothing broke or chipped as brittle things do. CA is hard and a lot more durable but not brittle IMHO.
 
Jamie,

While I am sure there are exceptions, most varnishes tend to have a yellow tint and will not provide the clarity that I would think you want and that a CA finish provides.

If you are looking to spray something, I would suggest lacquer. It can be rubbed out after about a week and provided a fairly hard and clear finish.

jeff
 
Polyurethane varnish takes forever to dry. I sprayed a pen three days ago, and it's still tacky. Plus, it takes thirty days to cure completly.

Lacquer is not as hard a finish as poly, but it drys quickly and can be repaired easily. I spray five pens yesterday (a total of 6 coats every half hour) and they are ready to be pressed together today. CAB acylic laquer is crystal-clear and non-yellowing.

CA is a quick and hard finish, but look through the posts and you'll see many people having problems applying a CA finish.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom