Thread: Good move or defeat - What do you think?

Yes but for me it always comes from excess,too much Xmas dinner etc.

I have a good finish by simple means but yes I get out the Cyanoacrylate to fill holes made by borers etc,I grind black Ebony waste to go with the CA.

Try differring methods and ask people you trust for their opinion,however be assured every timber works differently.

Every solution is personel.Most people are subjective and biased in colour and form,look ar the cars we drive and the clothes we buy and wear,my kids suffer because I wear the ties they buy me.

Key to me is to know it is honest labour by me for me to my standards,wild horses would never make me part with a lot of pens,too many memories,where,when,how,why?Answer the most time for yourself develop your own predudices in penmaking we all do.

Enjoy the festive season. Peter

Have you tried using CA with a fan on full speed blowing along the lathe bed. This is the only way I can use CA.
Toni

different finishes have diffrent places. skew chidamn and bdar have often talked about this...i'll see if i can find a link or two for you to read

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showpo...76&postcount=4

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showpo...92&postcount=6

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ghlight=finish

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ghlight=finish

those are good reads on this subject. they're about how some people use CA ( PPE etc ) and how different finishes are used.

cheers

Originally Posted by etepperman

Well after using CA finish for about 40 pens. I finally got fed up wit the Smell, the water eyes, and the uneven drying - sanding - drying - sanding etc ... and switched to Shellawax.

So it is this a good move? - I think so, but at the back of my mind I kinda feel like it is a small defeat.

Anyone else ever feel this way - about this - or something else with hobby?

- E

I could not agree more! I just had the same experiance and have moved away from the CA. I am now using Shellawax and love it. Im sure it is not as durable as CA but I don't really care.

I have great results with Shellawax and EEE. Im sold!!!

Jim

I reckon it's a good move.

As Stirlo pointed out though, there are still times when CA is the best finish - just not for every pen.

Shellawax is a good alternative, but takes a while to harden - if you want a full gloss, take care when assembling (cotton glove time?) and don't let anyone handle the pen for at least a week. It's well worth the wait. Trust me on this.

I recently noticed in another post that Neil (Mr. UBeaut himself) has stated Shellawax takes 3 weeks to reach full strength!

If you decide to use CA, have the dust extractor going to take away the fumes and as Toni said, a fan blowing it away from you also. There are sometimes when CA is the way to go, when the blank needs stabilizing or will come apart if you don't use CA. Amos

Originally Posted by etepperman

Well after using CA finish for about 40 pens. I finally got fed up wit the Smell, the water eyes, and the uneven drying - sanding - drying - sanding etc ... and switched to Shellawax.

So it is this a good move?

I finally found the Shellawax and the EEE cream, so I just tried them recently. I've used friction polishes before and the Shellawax seems similar to what I've used. I just hold it on the pen till I get that "Grandma-Going-To-Bingo" perfume smell and it's done. Looks nice, easy to apply. I just read about the cure time (which I didn't know, and I'm not all that patient) so I'll have to try it again and leave it alone to see if I like it better. So far I like it just fine.

People mentioned blowing the fan across the lathe bed and I couldn't agree more. Get the CA fumes out of your face. It doesn't need a huge fan, a tiny desk fan from the dollar store will work fine.

And I agree about different finishes for different timbers. I've mostly used CA as a filler for porpous woods, but I recently found a quart of CLEAR wood grain filler. Not neutral .. not natural .. but clear! Can't wait to try that on a slab of walnut ..

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have found that a quick sealing cote of CA followed by Shellawax is working well. I stuck my vacuum under my work before applying the CA and that does seem to help with the fumes. I have no patience to wait a week before I assemble, so I hold the pen in a cotton cloth. So far it is working well.

Thanks again.
E

Originally Posted by etepperman

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have found that a quick sealing cote of CA followed by Shellawax is working well. I stuck my vacuum under my work before applying the CA and that does seem to help with the fumes. I have no patience to wait a week before I assemble, so I hold the pen in a cotton cloth. So far it is working well.

Thanks again.
E

I understand about not wanting to wait to put that pen together after you have turned it! It is the most excieting part of turning.

What I do is purchase extra tubes and turn the timber of choice and let it set for a while. Im starting to do more and more in bulk so that I have pens on hand to sell. I set my bench up in a production style, first cutting up my timber, drilling, gluing in tubes. Thats the first day, second day I trim the ends then I turn and finish. After the I have finished the timbers for pens I put them in a small zip (marked with type and cost) lock bag to cure out and to be ready to assemble.

I like this way becuase I get a chance to turn a bunch of pens.. Thats the fun part of what we do. Some make it to a finished product some dont.

Jim

Etteperman, I used to do what you do, CA then Shellawax, but after asking the rest of the turners for advice on this forum, they did not recommend Shellawax over CA, so I had to change my ideas, even though it does look great. Amos

Originally Posted by etepperman

I have found that a quick sealing cote of CA followed by Shellawax is working well.

while that may look good ( for a while ) its not a very durable finish. shellawax is designed to be fused into the timber. sealing the timber with anything ( sanding sealer, CA etc ) will make it so the shellawax wont work. all you will get is a surface layer that will wear off quickly ( but it will look good before it wears off )

cheers

Originally Posted by etepperman

I have no patience to wait a week before I assemble, so I hold the pen in a cotton cloth. So far it is working well.

Yeah, waiting is a bugger isn't it? Cotton gloves are easier when it comes to assembly, but whatever floats your boat. I use a rag, too.

But I really recommend you wait at least a week after assembly before you show off your latest accomplishments. It's hard to wait, but whoever you're showing it to will usually want to have a closer look and they don't normally wear gloves or use a rag...

Hmmm. regarding the durability of shellawax on top of CA. Does anyone have any notion of how long this finish will last. It would seem to me that with a coat of CA underneath it should be at least as lasting as Shellawax alone.

Well I am going to test this out for a few weeks with one of my pens and will report back.

Anyone ever try. Shellawax - CA - Shellawax?

Thanks for all the input.