Thread: What's going wrong with this CA? Cloudy finish.

Nathan there has been a lot of discussions on forums re cloudy finishes using the CA/BLO finish. Some believe that you can't get enough heat to cure the BLO and then with CA on top creates a moisture build up uder the surface turning the finish white. Then you get people use it with no problems. looking at the photo I think moisture is the culprit. Others that use the finish my have a better input than I.

Most likely cause is moisture, possibly caused by wood not fully dry, or high humidity when applying the finish, apparently wiping the blank with metho before putting CA on can cause it also.

I had a few that went cloudy when I first started using CA, when I was changing my process to try and stop it, I stopped using BLO, I find I get a better finish without it. Others swear by it though.

I now use acetone to wipe down after sanding and leave them over night now before finishing and have eliminated accelerator as per Les' medium CA tutorial.

Thanks,

I've never had this problem with my BLO/CA finishes, so it had me stumped.

With the BLO drying, I'll ask him how he applies it. I rub each layer really hard and fast, so much so that I need to stop before I burn my fingers. Maybe this is the difference?

I'll pass on this feedback and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

Nathan.

Nathan this may be of help mate,
http://content.penturners.org/librar...ues/ca-blo.pdf

Cheers
Darren

good info page
Regards Michael

I don't know if it is true of not but someone told me that using accelerator during the process between coats of CA can cause this problem.

On some occasions the cloudy appearance is associated with moisture in the air, had that problem last winter, now I heat up the shed before doing finishes,. Amos

At this time of year Amos, I try to heat up the shed, no matter what..........

undies

Clouding issues with CA normally occurs straight away, or farely soon after finishing, usually due to moisture as others have indicated. Never used BLO with success, so can't comment.

This is 12 months later, so my guess is the wood was not completely dry when finished, and it is sort of mold causing the effect under the CA layer.

Strip off the CA by chipping and have a closer look.

Cheers

Hi Nathan. It looks like the CA finish is de-laminating, or de-bonding from the wood surface. If the first coat of finish applied to the blank was Boiled Linseed Oil, then that might be the cause. I really can't see why BLO is even used in the application of a CA glue finish. Just what 'is' the added advantage ?. Written on every tube / bottle of super glue (CA) they warn against applying the glue to oily surfaces, so why would you put an oil onto the surface just prior to applying CA ?. Just looking for trouble if you ask me.

BLO apparently pops the grain of the timber blank and it does, it also tends to darken a lot of timbers as well. The theory behind it is that the BLO is a catalyst in curing the CA faster, that is why most use medium CA. In the link I provided on CA/BLO finishing I think it is also mention other oils have been successfully being used. I tried it a few times, it worked but then changed to straight CA finish. I have had CA crack on me but working back through the process I took some short cuts and it came back to bite me.