DarrylF
25th November 2002, 10:07 PM
I seem to be turning out some decent stuff, and I definitely LOVE finishing with Shellawax, but I've got a couple of problems that aren't covered on the site or in the finishing book...
First problem is in applying. I use a clean section of a cotton rag (mostly t-shirt material), form a wad, dip it in the jar of Shellawax cream, and then apply. My problem is that the shellawax seems to dry out as I wipe it on (with the lathe stopped of course). The wax gets kinda lumpy and it becomes hard to spread it out - tough getting an even coat. In the jar it seems OK - kinda sloppy on a hot day etc. Should I be using a previously used section of the rag? Should I dampen the rag with Shellawax liquid first? Any other ideas?
Second problem: I like to turn fairly thin - hate chunky bowls. Depends on the timber of course, but I find that the heat generated in applying EEE and then the Shellawax cream tends to warp the bowl. On one or two types of timber this results in a streaky finish - usually very glossy patches over a more generally satin finish.
Third problem: I have trouble generating enough heat to set the Shellawax properly towards the centre of a large bowl. I wind up setting the speed as high as I'm game and then pressing very hard. Doing this on the back of the bowl while it's held by a dovetailed recess using a Vicmarc chuck is kinda scary - it seems to hold fine, but I feel like the bowl is going to let go and bounce off some part of my anatomy I'd rather not damage. I can't help thinking that this is related to the Shellawax drying (soaking into the rag) too fast.
First problem is in applying. I use a clean section of a cotton rag (mostly t-shirt material), form a wad, dip it in the jar of Shellawax cream, and then apply. My problem is that the shellawax seems to dry out as I wipe it on (with the lathe stopped of course). The wax gets kinda lumpy and it becomes hard to spread it out - tough getting an even coat. In the jar it seems OK - kinda sloppy on a hot day etc. Should I be using a previously used section of the rag? Should I dampen the rag with Shellawax liquid first? Any other ideas?
Second problem: I like to turn fairly thin - hate chunky bowls. Depends on the timber of course, but I find that the heat generated in applying EEE and then the Shellawax cream tends to warp the bowl. On one or two types of timber this results in a streaky finish - usually very glossy patches over a more generally satin finish.
Third problem: I have trouble generating enough heat to set the Shellawax properly towards the centre of a large bowl. I wind up setting the speed as high as I'm game and then pressing very hard. Doing this on the back of the bowl while it's held by a dovetailed recess using a Vicmarc chuck is kinda scary - it seems to hold fine, but I feel like the bowl is going to let go and bounce off some part of my anatomy I'd rather not damage. I can't help thinking that this is related to the Shellawax drying (soaking into the rag) too fast.