PMisiaszek
Member
Like many of us, I have been finishing wood pens with CA, and after a learning curve during which I glued rags, paper towels and fingers to blanks, I've learned how to get good results. But, I've never really liked using CA, and recently I checked the ingredients of the accelerator online, and now I really don't like using that. So, on an impulse, I ordered a small WTF from Ed at Exotic Blanks, and finally got around to testing it on two pens, one spalted dogwood and the other Holy Lands olive.
Before using it, I watched Ed's online video and read the several WTF threads on this forum. Both pens turned out great, and I'm sold on the product. It is easy to use, produces a result that I like better that CA and cleans up very easily.
In addition to the info previously posted and in Ed's video, my experience was that with the first pen, I applied the finish with the lathe at the slowest speed. I used a "cosmetics" sponge to apply it, which has a very fine texture, but when my 8 coats were applied, I had a somewhat rough surface. I cured the blanks overnight, than gave the blanks a very quick pass with 600 and then 1000 grit, then buffed with white diamond. The result was exactly what I'd hoped. The first pen was the spalt, and the only problem I had was filling several tiny flaws in the wood that CA would have filled after several applications. For the second pen, I increased the speed of the lathe, applied 7 coats with the same type sponge, and the result was a very smooth surface after applying the CA. After one pass with 1000, I went to the buffer and got a perfect result... not quite as "glassy" as CA, but a rich, deep gloss that I find preferable.
In the past, I usually haven't cured CA overnight before assembly, but Ed recommends curing and that slows down my finishing process a bit. I also haven't compared the expense. It looks like I used about 1/4 OZ to do two pens (2 upper and 2 lower blanks, 16 coats). Finally, I don't know how WTF stands up to regular use, but given its pedigree as a floor finish, that shouldn't be a problem. So, for me, there will probably be some pens, for example, ones with difficult, unstabilized wood, where I'll use CA, but whenever possible, I intend to use WTF.
Before using it, I watched Ed's online video and read the several WTF threads on this forum. Both pens turned out great, and I'm sold on the product. It is easy to use, produces a result that I like better that CA and cleans up very easily.
In addition to the info previously posted and in Ed's video, my experience was that with the first pen, I applied the finish with the lathe at the slowest speed. I used a "cosmetics" sponge to apply it, which has a very fine texture, but when my 8 coats were applied, I had a somewhat rough surface. I cured the blanks overnight, than gave the blanks a very quick pass with 600 and then 1000 grit, then buffed with white diamond. The result was exactly what I'd hoped. The first pen was the spalt, and the only problem I had was filling several tiny flaws in the wood that CA would have filled after several applications. For the second pen, I increased the speed of the lathe, applied 7 coats with the same type sponge, and the result was a very smooth surface after applying the CA. After one pass with 1000, I went to the buffer and got a perfect result... not quite as "glassy" as CA, but a rich, deep gloss that I find preferable.
In the past, I usually haven't cured CA overnight before assembly, but Ed recommends curing and that slows down my finishing process a bit. I also haven't compared the expense. It looks like I used about 1/4 OZ to do two pens (2 upper and 2 lower blanks, 16 coats). Finally, I don't know how WTF stands up to regular use, but given its pedigree as a floor finish, that shouldn't be a problem. So, for me, there will probably be some pens, for example, ones with difficult, unstabilized wood, where I'll use CA, but whenever possible, I intend to use WTF.