Thread: CA Finish Help/Advice

Gab, help please, I ran through the grits, and it's lost its shine in places, have I cut back too much? I'm thinking because of the shape I haven't been able to put an even coat on and now it's splotchy perfect in some places flat and lustre-less in others. Can I re-apply more CA to build back up, and maybe not start off at the lowest grade?

Sometimes a 'flat' spot appeared after running through the grits, which is a buggar. My solution is to apply a couple of coats of shellac before starting to apply ca. Seems to work every time.

Good luck

Bruce

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I'll try not to muck this one up. Lightly does it.IMG_3366.jpg

If you are using thin CA you will need about 20 coats to give enough thickness. When sanding with the MM only hold it on lightly especially on any external corners or radii. 20 coats will only give you a bit over 0.1mm thickness which is 4 thou so you don't have much to play with. You have definately rubbed through the CA on your test piece. Seen that look a few times myself. No problem going back over it with some more layers and blend them into the original coating. Just make sure you allow the wood to dry out completely if you have been sanding wet with MM otherwise you could end up with clouding under the coating.
When I turn my pen blanks I turn them 0.2mm under the size of the fittings that they butt up against them so that when I have finished sanding they are exactly the same size as each other.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

If you are using thin CA you will need about 20 coats to give enough thickness. When sanding with the MM only hold it on lightly especially on any external corners or radii. 20 coats will only give you a bit over 0.1mm thickness which is 4 thou so you don't have much to play with. You have definately rubbed through the CA on your test piece. Seen that look a few times myself. No problem going back over it with some more layers and blend them into the original coating. Just make sure you allow the wood to dry out completely if you have been sanding wet with MM otherwise you could end up with clouding under the coating.
When I turn my pen blanks I turn them 0.2mm under the size of the fittings that they butt up against them so that when I have finished sanding they are exactly the same size as each other.

Thanks, I re-applied another 20 coats to the razor handle and about 15 the stand (doesn't matter about accuracy like a pen due to fittings) and ran through the grits gently this time and they have come up a treat. I ju have to do the brush handle now. So will be gentle as well, as I don't want to get this far and mess it up.

DO you burnish after micro meshing, and if so what with ?

I didn't do anything, but I have seen some use Brasso, and then an ultra fine car wax.

hopefully others will pop on and say what they use.

Yes I use Brasso after the MM and then apply Maguires Plastix for the final buffing. Gives a glass like finish if you have done the initial work correctly.