Thread: CA Finish Help/Advice

Hey mate....
I'm certainly no expert, but this is what works for me.
I would allow plenty of time to allow the metho to evaporate, I don't do any sanding between coats (your 600 sand after 10 coats may scratch too deep and leave visible marks -judt an opinion, I haven't done it). I generally do 18 to 20 coats of thin CA, then straight through the micromesh grits.

I believe the white/milky spits of death are from either moisture(in the air -humidity or a still wet blank) or putting CA on a little thick without giving sufficient time to cure (I.e. if there is a small void you're filling).

I tend to use an accelerator, however I apply my ca, contemplate life for a minute allowing a semi natural dry, then apply a small amount of accelerator. It may be that I have allowed enough time to cure naturally, but I use the accelerator anyway as I really don't want a piece of paper towel grabbing on a tacky blank half way through my finishing.

I hope this helps a little, as I said, it works for me.....

Hey mate....
I'm certainly no expert, but this is what works for me.
I would allow plenty of time to allow the metho to evaporate, I don't do any sanding between coats (your 600 sand after 10 coats may scratch too deep and leave visible marks -judt an opinion, I haven't done it). I generally do 18 to 20 coats of thin CA, then straight through the micromesh grits.

I believe the white/milky spits of death are from either moisture(in the air -humidity or a still wet blank) or putting CA on a little thick without giving sufficient time to cure (I.e. if there is a small void you're filling).

I tend to use an accelerator, however I apply my ca, contemplate life for a minute allowing a semi natural dry, then apply a small amount of accelerator. It may be that I have allowed enough time to cure naturally, but I use the accelerator anyway as I really don't want a piece of paper towel grabbing on a tacky blank half way through my finishing.

I hope this helps a little, as I said, it works for me.....

Hi Fumbler, you have answered your own question I believe, it is most likely a moisture problem. Also as Gabriel says don't sand between coats with just one grit (600). Unless you go to a full MM polished state the scratches may damage the finish of your final coats. If I am applying decals after ten coats I polish with MM before doing so and then put ten more coats over the decals then polish again. Its a bit of a PITA but well worth the effort.
Cheers, Ian

you have answered your own question I believe, it is most likely a moisture problem. Also as Gabriel says don't sand between coats with just one grit (600).

Cheers Guys, I have seen some sand between a series of coats, ie, 6 coats then sand and repeat. I had just filled a small tear out and split. that was last wednesday so when I attack it today, previously I wiped with alcohol before, this time I didn't so that's 1 of my points out of the way. next I will finish with the coats and Mesh wet next week. plenty of time to cure.

Stay tuned.

Almost there, (Pic attached) each has 12-15 coats of CA pre-meshing. I lost count and basically just counted the paper towel stubbs on the floor. Disaster averted as i got pretty close to the tube on the stand. But in my haste, I, 1) forgot to sand out the rebate for the brush after drilling, to make nice fit, currently too tight to push ins, 2) coating the inside of the rebate to make water tight, and 3) the worst one yet, I didn't measure the width of the brush handle to fit in the stand...Yikes!!
So now I have to remount, scrape the CA off reshape and seal rebate. lets hope I don't balls it up. Steady as she goes.

Few little missteps, but that's half the fun of it.... Using some loud choice words, getting frustrated with yourself, then vowing not to ever do that again. I find that making the errors myself, I'm much more likely to remember not to do it again, being told to avoid something I tend to forget and do it anyway...

Lovely looking burl you're working with there so I can see why you're doing some of your best work on it...(do you know what burl it is?)

You're spot on with counting the coats... I cut up 10 pieces of paper towel, use each one twice (each end, not in the same spot) and keep count that way.... Bugger a memory count)

I haven't turned any razor kits so can't offer finishing advice on that I'm sorry but I'm enjoying watching the journey...

Cheers
Gab

Cheers Gab, its Coolabah, more brown than i would like as i had chosen a stunning reddish piece first, but drilling it was a nightmare and the drill bit wandered at an angle. this time i used a whole new piece, drilled first then cut around the drill holes. I found when trying to drill the centre of the blank it in no way went straight. I'll pop a pic of the other choice I had when turn that and you can tell me I'm wrong with my first choice. his I for my father-in-law who's birthday was last weekend, but luckily (or unluckily, which ever way you look at it, as mother-In-law also coming to stay......) he will be here March 10th from the UK so I can give to him in person, s I don't want to mess it up.

So back to the drawing board, both pieces finished cloudy and quite dull so I think I have ballsed this up enough. I have now sanded back to bare wood, taking all the CA off and will spray with polyeurethene, which was another recommendation. Atleast I'm a bit more patient with a spray can.

although I may give it one more crack when I buy some accelerator. I haven't used it before.

any recommended speed preferred when applying the CA, I may also have been doing at the wrong speed.

AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!

That's a bugger to hear. Get these presents done, then when you have time, just turn something pen sized between centres and practice with the CA.

I tend to apply at about 100 rpm.... Not too slow as you may get ridges, but not too quick that it flies everywhere (I have ruined a few face shields that way)

Hopefully you get the knack and don't put it in the too hard basket for good. It's rewarding when achieved

Gab

Wahoo!!! Success, used accelerator and bingo, perfect, slow speed, light coverage and a squirt of accel. Sorted.
Gab, how long til I can micro mesh?

I generally leave it overnight (yes, projects take a while to complete as shed time is few and far between), but the few times I've had time pressures, after an hour or so I have not had issues .

Gab, thankyou and also Tony at Perfect Pens, always happy to help with a bumbling question.
Beers are on Delboy when he gets here from the old dart.

Quick pic, before I micro-mesh. stoked with the results. I shouldn't have been such a tight-a-se in the first place and bought activator. a few ripples to mesh out but am happy with current result.

Looking great!! From what i can see, those ripples will disappear with a bit of micromeshing. Glad it's all coming together...

I I hope you're doing the micromesh as a wet sand....