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Thread: CA pen finish

  1. #1
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    Default CA pen finish

    Just a quick question .....

    Does the quality of super glue matter when it is being used as a CA finish for pens?

    If you aren't familiar with the CA finish you may not be able to help me but here is a link if you want to read up ....

    http://www.penturners.org/content/CAFinish1.pdf
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot
    Just a quick question .....

    Does the quality of super glue matter when it is being used as a CA finish for pens?

    If you aren't familiar with the CA finish you may not be able to help me but here is a link if you want to read up ....

    http://www.penturners.org/content/CAFinish1.pdf
    Well I see that you find 1 of my favorite site, you should check my photo album. CA quality matter a lot, if you want to do a good finish then you use a good product, correct!!? all my pens are CA finish is very durable I do 2 to 3 coats of CA on each pen, turning a pen take me about 10 minutes depending of kits and wood, finishing will be 20 minutes as you have to let the CA cure sanding down to 12000 grits, if you done right then you got a pen in 30 minutes, if not will take more, a corn cob will take me a day if not more depending the stabelazing process and the cob nature, the article you show us is good now you have to try and find what is working for you best, hope this help
    Shouldn't your Pen be as unique as you are ?

  4. #3
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by darley56
    CA quality matter a lot, if you want to do a good finish then you use a good product, correct!!?
    I would generally agree however I thought that the process was simply to get a coating of hard CA to protect the pen. My thoughts were that the cheap $0.50 tubes would still go hard and give the same protection. I wouldn't bother with the cheap superglue where I want it to hold a product together.

    I use Loctite (sp?) for gluing in the tubes and that works well however I think it would be a waste to apply it as a finish.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot
    I would generally agree however I thought that the process was simply to get a coating of hard CA to protect the pen. My thoughts were that the cheap $0.50 tubes would still go hard and give the same protection. I wouldn't bother with the cheap superglue where I want it to hold a product together.

    I use Loctite (sp?) for gluing in the tubes and that works well however I think it would be a waste to apply it as a finish.
    Agreed with you, but my point of view is that I sell my pens and so far I didn't have a customers coming back regarding a fading finish, your hand and body produce acid and fade the finish of the pen, if it happen to mine it will take me 1 minute to dismatle the pen and start over the finish and the customer will have is brand new pen again .

    Loctite glue! don't know about it how long it take to dry ?
    Shouldn't your Pen be as unique as you are ?

  6. #5
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    Here is a link to Loctite .... http://www.loctite.com.au/int_henkel...id=19&layout=3 Also available at Blackwoods http://www.blackwoods.com.au/product...4&black_found=

    It is a great product .... it is used extensively at Ford for assembly. I was fortunate to purchase 3 tubes at a garage sale for $1.00 each .... they are generally $15 ..... the garage sale was being held by a Ford worker

    We also used it at uni when making architectural models. It is available from specialist art suppliers. There are different mixes that give different working times. I find that you need to be quick when trying to get the tubes into the blanks but no more so when I was using the "hot stuff" glues.

    As for the finish for pens I might give the cheap stuff a go. In the worst case I will need to sand it back to bare wood again. I just cant justify using a $15.00 - $20.00 superglue where the adhesive properties aren't overly important.

    Thanks for your thoughts however darley.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

  7. #6
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    Default

    Let us know how you go.

    I have thought the same thing before, but a cheaper brand may not look the same? Maybe you should try both and compare them (so you know what is possible and how close the cheaper stuff gets to being as good as the expensive stuff).

    Hmmm.

    Cheers

    Cam

  8. #7
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    Question

    just a quick question:

    The penturners artical mentions applying the first coat of thin CA when the lathe is running if it came go slow enough.

    The slowest speed for mine is 500 rpm.

    Is it slow enough ?
    it's not me , it's you

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Moviefan
    just a quick question:

    The penturners artical mentions applying the first coat of thin CA when the lathe is running if it came go slow enough.

    The slowest speed for mine is 500 rpm.

    Is it slow enough ?
    I apply my CA the lathe off and by turn hand the head stock, I use only medium CA give you the chance to do 1 barrel at the time
    Shouldn't your Pen be as unique as you are ?

  10. #9
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    Default Type of CA

    Hi All,
    What type of superglue do you all use? I use the $2 from the cheap shops and i have done a few and it didn't come out as i thought it would.
    I would like to know if anyone is in SW sydney and can show me how you do it properly?

    Thanks

    Rog

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Babytoolman
    Hi All,
    What type of superglue do you all use? I use the $2 from the cheap shops and i have done a few and it didn't come out as i thought it would.
    I would like to know if anyone is in SW sydney and can show me how you do it properly?

    Thanks

    Rog
    Rog I use EZ Bond CA medium for all my pens and work very well, using cheap glue IMHO deosn't return cheap you may use more glue than I use and you got more frustation because you don't have the finish you want, look at my pens I post here and look at this one just finish last night ( sorry is not a pen ) Camphor Laurel Candle holder
    Shouldn't your Pen be as unique as you are ?

  12. #11
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    Default

    Everyone seems to have a favourite...

    Darley seems to like EZ.

    Others seem to use Hot Stuff and Loctite.

    Can I ask why?

    Is it to do with availability or price or is one better than the others?

    I noticed that Hot Stuff was over $20 for a bottle on the Carbatec site!

    There is some stuff on Carroll's site called "Tech-Ad" which is only about $12.50...

    http://www.cws.au.com/ look under glues.

    I am confused. :confused:

    Cam

  13. #12
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CameronPotter
    Everyone seems to have a favourite...

    Darley seems to like EZ.

    Others seem to use Hot Stuff and Loctite.

    Can I ask why?

    Is it to do with availability or price or is one better than the others?

    I noticed that Hot Stuff was over $20 for a bottle on the Carbatec site!

    There is some stuff on Carroll's site called "Tech-Ad" which is only about $12.50...

    http://www.cws.au.com/ look under glues.

    I am confused. :confused:

    Cam
    All right Cam I use EZ-Bond because is the brand I import from the States, I buy in quantity of 6 to 10 2.OZ bottle even with the postage from the States I pay less than $20.00 the bottle.
    Hot Stuff or EZ-Bond or Tech-ad are Cyanoacrylate glue = CA , Hot Stuff I think is 2.OZ bottle Tech-ad is 50 grs who is just above 1.OZ, now you see who is more competitive, hope this help.
    Shouldn't your Pen be as unique as you are ?

  14. #13
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    Default

    Thanks.

    I knew that they were all CA, but I thought that they were the same size...

    It seems I overlooked the size of the Tech-Ad.

    Cheers

    Cam

  15. #14
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by darley56
    I apply my CA the lathe off and by turn hand the head stock, I use only medium CA give you the chance to do 1 barrel at the time
    How do you turn the headstock by hand while applying glue and wiping with a cloth? You would need three hands...

    Or do you apply the glue fairly liberally over the surface, THEN smooth it out whilst turning the headstock by hand?

    Cheers

    Cam

  16. #15
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    Default

    As for glues I use Loctite as it seems to glue everything and I have never had a tube spin whilst I have been using it. With that record I am quite happy to keep going. I have tried some of the other glues sold at the same place that you purchase the pens and I didn't find it stuck or kept well.

    Here are some photos of the pens I have just finished with my own modified CA finish.

    • I sanded the pens to 2000 grit.
    • Changed the lathe speed to approx 300 rpm.
    • I then applied some loctite gel using the bag the pen parts arrive in.
    • When this had dried I then sanded again this time starting from 800 working back up to 2000.
    • With all of that completed I then applied some EEE to one pen and some buffing compound to another. This gave a very fine finish. Both products did the same job however I would recommend the EEE .
    • The shine looked good but to just top it off, and see what would happen I applied some Shellawax.

    I had intended to try some cheap superglue however the tube I found in the drawer was dry. Oh well I will give it a shot later.

    Ok so what I have learnt:
    • As for the quality of the modified CA finish it give a very good shine.
    • It does remove the "real timber" feel and replaces it with a slight plastic feel.
    • The finish will wear better than the standard pen finishes.
    • The shine on this finish will help them sell well where people and pick them up and feel them.
    • I will most likely reserve this type of finishes for the "higher" quality pens.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

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