Pen turning ca finish cracking

There are so many different types and styles to finishing pens. This remarkable finish has all the fastcuring properties of other ca finishes, along with a longer working time of 5060 seconds. Then resume sanding with either 280 or 320 to remove all of the ca on the wood surface because it is being used as a filler, not as a finish. Since i speed up the curing process with accelerator, regular medium ca glue proves to be too brittle to make a durable finish. The purpose of the lacquer is to prevent the ca from bleeding into the wood surrounding a crack. I recommend this finish for pen turners who have some experience turning acrylic pen blanks. I have the lathe turning at about rpm, i then put 3 drops of blo on the paper and apply it to one half of the pen moving it from left to right a few times to make sure the whole blank is covered.

Before i start explaining how i apply this finish a word of warning super glue can. Properly applying it as a finish takes quite a bit of practice. Elegant manhattan ballpoint pen hardware kit chrome w. You can change the belt on the pulleys but this is an inconvenience to some. With the lathe spinning at about 1,100 rpm, he applies the first coat of his finish, thin cyanoacrylate ca glue, with a paper towel, then sprays on a ca accelerator to quickly cure the finish. If your after a glass like finish varnish is every bit as glossy as ca and if you prefer a satin or satingloss finish it can be easily buffed to the desired sheen. So you have many many things that can go wrong that will promote cracks in a ca finish. He wondered about using one of the mixtures of shellac and oil or shellac and wax sold to woodturners but was concerned about the finish not holding up well when held between fingers for long. Ca cyanoacrylate glue with or without boiled linseed oil. Ca glue as a pen finish woodworkers guild of america. Its a great alternative to higloss friction polishes for your highend pens. Move quickly, but it really only dries fast when you apply friction. Medium 300 cps for multiple coats but thin enough to level and reduce the ridges during application.

A hockey sock of choices the types and colours of materials available for pen turning are almost endless. I apply the finish at a much faster lathe speed now than i did when i first started learning. Pen finishes include ca super glue or a friction polish wax. Woodturners have been using ca glue for filling checks, cracks, and gaps on woodturnings. Minwax polyurethane pen finish by les elm i have experimented with many different types of finishing materials in an attempt to come up with a finish that will produce a reliable, predictable, consistent and durable high gloss finish. I have found that the cablo or the ca only finish and a lot of other types of finishes that i have. As will soon be revealed, finishing pens with ca glue has become my finish of choice. Then about 20 min after i finished the last perfume vial, it developed about 3 cracks. To my mind the definitive explanation of this technique can be found on an australian website. The woodworking reference library turn a pen ca glue. The finish will be cured to the point that it may be handled in about 30 minutes or so, depending on temperature and humidity. Woods will move if they were not completly dry before finishing. The last fee pens i have finished looked good on the lathe, but after i assembled them the ca looked liked a shattered piece of glass. To others who love to vary the speed for turning, fast for turning down, slow for sanding or applying finish, vs is a real time saver.

Once the crack is filled and glued, the area can be sanded. This produces a superb high gloss finish, but for me the process would take too long to make the pens commercially viable. To help your pen last and to bring out the beauty of the woodgrain, you will want to know how to successfully finish your pen. Get a rock hard, ultra shiny finish that makes the grain pop, wont mar, wont scratch, wont yellow, cleans like glass and will last forever.

Youll want to mount your blank on the lathe you can turn between centers or mount it on a pen mandrel like i. Any lathe from a benchtop mini to the biggest floor models will do nicely. Surface preparation is the key to a goodlooking pen or any other wood project whether it is a turning project or a flat wood project. Craft supplies usa is committed to providing our customers with the resources they need to enjoy. Nothing lasts forever, and this stuff falls under that category. Lay the brass tube or tubes for a twobarreled pen against the blank and measure 116 to 14 longer than the tube to allow a little extra working material while you drill and barrel trim. The debate has been raging in the penturning forums on this subject. Did 10 pens wca glue finish and nothing stuck to the bushings. Thats a huge drawback if your a production turner but not such a big deal if its just a hobby. Finishing george vondriska shows us the a great alternative wood finish with ca glue. If you own a woodturning lathe, you have the right one for turning pens. Finish for wooden pens popular woodworking magazine.

I cant believe this finish starter set pen turning pen. For some reason pen turners are determined to find a finish that will outlast the pyramids. Blog the perfect ca finish on a maple bolt action pen starbond. Wood with high moisture levels prevents the ca from properly sticking to the surface, and then when it cures, the exothermic reaction causes the moisture to expand, cracking the ca. The following is how i use ca glue as a finish for my pens. Lathe skew the tool that you turn the wood with wood im using yellow heart one of my favorites ca glue or super glue thick and thin if possible mandrel to hold the pen on with 3 bushings sand paper pen kit or you could use pieces from a old pen that you dont use anymore. Pen turning basic handmade wood ballpoint pen duration. Achieving the deep, lustrous sheen on a wood pen can require up to four hours. Pen finishing with super t ca glue and ncf quick accelerator. I think you will be pleased that you gave antler a try. Oct 07, 2014 alan currans has written this tutorial on finishing pens with superglue ca. Here is my basic cablo finish application for pens. Oct 12, 2014 i think a polyurethane finish would be just as durable as a ca glue finish.

Jun 10, 2016 the pen turner said he didnt like using cyanoacrylate ca glue because it made the wood look too much like plastic, and the vapors burned his eyes. Below are a few resources that will help you understand how to finish a pen. My sense is that while there are advocates of wipeon polyurethane, dipped polyurethane, plexiglass dissolved in acetone, and various lacquer or shellacbased friction finishes, the majority of wooden pen makers prefer a cyanoacrylate finish aka ca, or superglue. In my mind, a thick layer of ca glue is the best possible finish for a pen.

Note i do not use this can lacquer as a finish on my bowls. Turners will use either ca glue, friction polish, ultra shine products, linseed oil, hut wax finishes, etcthe list goes on, or a combination of any of these. A ca finish is made by building up many really thin layers of super glue on your pen, then polishing them to a highgloss. Ca glue, also known as cyanoacrylate or super glue, is an industrial grade glue that dries very quickly. Wood bowl crack fix secrets woodturning repairing cracks. Mar 11, 2010 the debate has been raging in the penturning forums on this subject. Pen mill and pilot shaft in order to square off the ends of the blank once you have drilled a hole lengthwise through it and glued a brass tube inside, you will need a pen mill shaft and cutter head. Ca or more technically cyanoacrylate glue is a class of fast acting adhesives. Master pen turners use satellite citys super t ca glue and ncf quick accelerator to protect their pens with a durable, highgloss finish. Turning a european pen supplies needed 7mm drill bit 34 x 34 x 5 pen blank pen mandrel european pen bushings glue thick ca or epoxy. I found a few pens with cracked finishes that are a few weeks old.

That particular finish was not very thick only a few layers of ca. Plastic pen barrels there are many acetate and acrylic materials, such as crushed velvet, available for turning pen barrels. With some oily woods though, like padauk, cedar, cocobolo, some rosewood, among others, it never fully adheres to the wood and it prone to cracking, especially on the ends. I think what had happened was the end of the pen was not sealed and the wood got wet and expanded. It is the most durable finish ive found and can be used on virtually all woods, stabilized woods, and even acrylics. To a certain extent i also feel that part of the beauty of a wooden pen is in the feel of the wood which is lost with a hard plastic finish. Dec 14, 2009 i finally got a glass like finish on a couple of pens using ca glue. Quality components, slick design, and unique finish make this ballpoint pen turning kit stand out. Cracks are one of the many ways that coatings film forming transparent finishes and paints can fail. Starbond instant set accelerator activator for ca super glue, pump sprayer bottle 8 ounce 4. Oct 05, 2016 simple ca pen finish lisburn wood works.

Aug 22, 2015 in this article, i will share a few practical tips for making deer antler pens. A good finish can make a soso pen look great but a soso finish will make even a great pen look unappealing. It will however last very well under normal circumstances where it adheres to the wood itself. Alan currans has written this tutorial on finishing pens with superglue ca. I have been using ca to finish my pens and for the most part have been having good luck with it. The woodworking reference library turn a pen ca glue finish. Finishing with ca glue canadian woodworking magazine. Varnish is flexible and will expand and contract with the wood. About an hour after i finished the last pen, it developed a small crack in the ca finish.

These instructions are split into turning the basic pen, which is a great project for beginning woodturners, and applying the highbuild ca glue finish i now use on most of my pens, which is a bit more advanced. Finishing wood bodied pens pen turning and making the. So youve spent a lot of time turning your pen perfectly, sanding it, and preparing it for your finish. Is there a good chance the wood would eventually crack. I have found that the ca blo or the ca only finish and a lot of other types of finishes that i have. The lacquer will sand off leaving clean wood underneath, ready for a final finish of your choice. Back to the projects department these instructions are split into turning the basic pen, which is a great project for beginning woodturners, and applying the highbuild ca glue finish i now use on most of my pens, which is a bit more advanced. Most turners will want to start with solid hardwood pens, which are more forgiving than acrylic and composite blanks. Make sure to wipe the dust off the blanks before switching to a new piece of paper. In this article, i will share a few practical tips for making deer antler pens. It also boasts increased flexibility, which eliminates the cracking that sometimes occurs with other ca finishes. With some oily woods though, like padauk, cedar, cocobolo, some rosewood, among others, it never fully adheres to the wood. The final step in the pen turning process is the finish.

He has published over 50 articles in various woodworking magazines, been a guest speaker and instructor at numerous venues, authored several books and created two instructional dvds on pen turning. I seal the ends with thin ca just to keep moisture from entering the end of the pen blank. If this is not done, you run the risk of tearing or cracking the ca glue that has cured on. Ca is applied as a liquid, so heavily contoured surfaces will cause the finish to run to the high spots as the lathe spins the blank. Im asking this just so i can determine what people would look for in a handmade wooden pen. Start sanding with the 120 grit and go up through 400 grit.

The ca will not expand and therefore breaks like safety glass, spider web effect. Some woodturners use ca glue as a friction finish on pens because it dries. Thin ca drips and foams easily, and thick ca does not flow enough for the finish to level itself. Once the finish is applied, rub it out to achieve either a wet look or a finish as matte as bare wood. Learn how to get a beautiful finish on your pens with super t ca glue from satellite city instant glues.

Starting from one side, and moving to the other side in one smooth motion, apply the ca glue with the paper towel. The lovely pen set by greggy in the gallery here is finished with ca superglue. I found after a few pens that i couldnt easily get rid of the sanding marks unless i did my last sanding before finish application lengthwise turning the head stock over by hand and all subsequent finish sanding lengthwise, as well. Also, turning tools that handle spindle work will at least get you started with turning pens. Starbond em40 heavy thin, premium ca cyanoacrylate adhesive super glue for woodturning, pen turning, hobby, lapidary, finish, inlay 2 ounce 4. With the lathe spinning at around 600 rpm, we begin hand applying multiple coats of ca glue. I also go over the end of the blank onto the bushings as this helps prevent them getting stuck together.

I found that the finishes marketed towards woodturners work quickly to build a gloss finish but arent as durable as id like. Ca cures to form a hard, acrylic coating and some experience with turning similar. Cut little strips of sand paper in the following grits. How to prevent ghosting and clouding in a ca finish pen turning. Ca cures to form a hard, acrylic coating and some experience with turning similar material is invaluable. Feb 21, 20 mike meredith from doctors woodshop shows how to finish a pen using pens plus, a finish specifically developed to add a beautiful finish to wood that is handled on a daytoday basis. Cyanoacrylate glue and boiled linseed oil pen finishing by. Checking is a mild form of cracking and doesnt go all the way through the finish. This wood finishing kit is a great way to start using a ca finish and the stick fast ca finishing products. The pen turner said he didnt like using cyanoacrylate ca glue because it made the wood look too much like plastic, and the vapors burned his eyes. Finishes from craft supplies usa pen making, bowl turning. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the pen blanks, since the bushing is tapered, it can crack the blank and sadly i speak from experience.

Most of these tools you can substitute for something else cheaper. Barry gross of bg artforms has over 30 years of experience. Using a small piece of paper towel folded several times, put on light coat of blo i use 3 drops for the entire pen. And when you get a chance be sure to check out a new resource i created. Ca glue as a finish i first discovered the idea of using ca glue as a finish while searching for a more durable finish for turned items subject to high wear. Ca finish cracking the international association of. He is having problems with the finish becoming milky and or having spider web cracks. I have the lathe turning at about rpm, i then put 3 drops of blo on the.

I originally thought the problem was using stickfast medium wood finish ca though i never had this problem before a month or two ago, so i switched to using stickfast thin wood finish ca exclusively still having the issue. They occur in a variety of forms to include checking, crazing, cracking, alligatoring, and mud cracking. If you search the web for information on finishing pens with superglue ca you will find numerous articles and videos. Wood can crack from stress especially on the ends when kit parts are pressed in due to too tight or poor pressing method. After turning a pen to the final dimensions, start the sanding process. Pen finishing with super t ca glue and ncf quick accelerator from. As a side note, has anyone used ubeaut traditional wax on a pen. Results in a tough, durable, glasslike finish two viscosities thin 20 cps for first coat application. Ca finish cracking milky on pen level 1 this can happen when the activator is too aggressive. I usually apply two or three coats for a gloss finish and four and five coats for a satin finish. I use either a specially made ca finish, or flexible ca glue for finishing. Well show you the best stepbystep process for applying a ca pen finish, so you can achieve the same results on your next woodturning project. Turning a european pen supplies needed 7mm drill bit 34 x 34 x 5 pen blank pen mandrel european pen bushings glue thick ca or epoxy sandpaperfinish drill or drill press barrel trimmerdisc sander pen press or clamp. The downside to using varnish is it takes days to finish a pen.