Wenge Troubles

[MorganM]

I have tried making 3 different pens out of wenge and each time I do, I run into problems finishing them. I am using CA/BLO to finish them and everything is fine, until I buff it. When I buff it, little white specs develop under the finish, inside the grain. I always clean the wood with DNA first. I have tried using myland's sanding sealer and CA as a sealer, either way the white specs still pop up. The specks look like clouded CA, but contained only inside the grain voids.

Anyone know why this is happening?

 

[ctwxlvr]

it is Air pockets and moisture pockets from within the wood, try using a CA slurry while sanding to fill the voids, see the CA Tutorial by Fangar(sp) or Don Ward. here is Don's link: http://content.penturners.org/articles/2006/donwardca.pdf

 

[RONB]

I had to make 10 of these for a law firm at $40.00 each. many coats of thick c.a. and sanding between coats.You'll get there, but it's going to take a lot longer than other types of wood. Patience pays, and $40.00 each helps[][]

 

[workinforwood]

you could also try a grain filler. Eliminate the grain and you'll eliminate air pockets.

 

[MorganM]

I think i have figured out my solution. After final sanding and the lathe runing slowly, I apply a thick coat of thin CA to seal the wood, let it set for about 5 second and then begin my CA/BLO finish. It seems like a quick way to seal the wood and easily fill in the grain, as apposed to a slurry. It might take an extra coat or two for a smooth finish on larger grained wood or corn cobs, but works very nice for me.