Thread: Nitrocellulose - request for advice

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Bam Bam

I notice the lable on your bottle says 50/50
what are you thinning it with?

how long have you been using it and what do you think of the durability

and yep it's not hard to make 'finishing bushes' with delron or even chopping board plastics

Hi Sawdust Maker,

I am using Crystal Clear Satin thinned 50/50 with water. Out of the can Crystal Clear is too thick and you get a very high film build. The 50/50 mix is touch dry in about 45 minutes. The blanks in the photo had two coats last night 60 minutes apart and a third coat this morning. Tonight when I get home they will go back on the mandrel for a clean up and polish.

As for durability, I have only used the Crystal Clear on pens for a few months and it is looking good on the pens I use daily. We have most of our wooden floors at home finished with Cabots Clear Floor, which is very similar to Crystal Clear. The oldest was done 14 years ago and is still looking good so it should be ok on pens.

One other great thing about Crystal Clear is it's water based and there is virtually no smell when you are using it.

Michael

Okay. Here are some photos of my first efforts with nitrocellulose laquer (pity it wasn't liqueur). They have been dipped 6 times and allowed a week to cure before assembly. I have not polished them. The first is a Sierra with some wood scraps I had left over from blanks. The second is a slimline with Esatern Red Cedar (borer holes free although the nitro filled them at 6 dips) and the third is a leather pen made by Jim and dipped by me to see how it would react.

You have got a good result with the lacquer, I especially like the leather pen.