CA/BLO Finishing System


 

1)  turn pen blanks to final size/design

 

2)  sand blanks 220, 320

 

3)  wipe on Mylands Cellulose Sanding Sealer, let dry

 

4)  sand blanks using sandpaper 220, 320, 400, then with MM1500, MM1800, MM2400, MM3200, MM3600

 

            (note: for oily woods wipe the blanks with DNA prior to starting the finish process)

 

5)  slow lathe speed down, using a small piece of  paper towel put on light coat of BLO -or- Watco - Dark Walnut on one of the blanks, then wipe off excess

     a) use BLO if dark wood

     b) use Watco - Dark Walnut if light wood, it will enhance the look

 

            (note: if you use too much oil the CA will gunk up and not be nice and smooth or the finish will appear to have some ghosting spots, like maybe the CA is not stuck to the wood)

 

6)  holding paper towel with BLO or Watco on it on bottom side of blank, add thin layer of CA-medium on top of blank as its spinning - in a side-to-side motion - one pass only...then add light pressure with the paper towel on the blank, constantly moving side-to-side till CA is cured (appx 10sec)...CA will heat up some...repeat process for second blank

 

            (the heat is from the CA curing, not the friction applied by the paper towel applicator)

 

7)  increase lathe speed back to fast setting, lightly sand blanks with MM1500, 1 pass only

 

8)  slow lathe speed down, using a new small piece of  paper towel put on light coat of BLO on one of the blanks, then wipe off excess

 

9)  holding paper towel with BLO on it on bottom side of blank, add thin layer of CA on top of blank as its spinning - in a side-to-side motion - one pass only...then add light pressure with the paper towel on the blank, constantly moving side-to-side till CA is cured (appx 10sec)...CA will heat up some...repeat process for second blank

 

10)  increase lathe speed back to fast setting, lightly sand blanks with MM1500, 1 pass only

 

11)  slow lathe speed down, using a new small piece of  paper towel put on light coat of BLO on one of the blanks, then wipe off excess

 

12)  holding paper towel with BLO on it on bottom side of blank, add thin layer of CA on top of blank as its spinning - in a side-to-side motion - one pass only...then add light pressure with the paper towel on the blank, constantly moving side-to-side till CA is cured (appx 10sec)...CA will heat up some...repeat process for second blank

 

13)  increase lathe speed back to fast setting, lightly sand blanks with MM1800, MM2400, MM3200, MM3600, MM4000, 1 pass only of each

 

14)  while lathe is on, put light coat of Tripoli (brown stick) -or- EEE-Ultra Shine on blank, then using a new small piece of  paper towel put pressure on blank moving side-to-side till hot...repeat process for second blank

 

15)  after blanks cool down, while lathe is on, put light coat of White Diamond on blank, then using a new small piece of  paper towel put pressure on blank moving side-to-side till hot...repeat process for second blank

 

16)  after blanks cool down and lathe is off, put small amount (1/4" diameter size) of Hut Ultra Gloss Plastic Polish on a new small piece of  paper towel, wipe evenly on one blank, turn on lathe, move to clean area of  paper towel, then put pressure on blank moving side-to-side till hot...repeat this process for second blank

 

            (some use McGuires auto polishing compound or swirl remover instead of Hut Ultra Gloss Plastic Polish)

 

-this step is optional-

17)  after blanks cool down, while lathe is off, put light coat of Renaissance Wax -or- TSW on a new small piece of  paper towel, wipe evenly on one blank, wait 45 seconds, turn on lathe, move to clean area of  paper towel, then put pressure on blank moving side-to-side till hot...repeat this process for second blank

 

            (these are not finishes, just a protectant from finger prints and smudges)

 

18)  let blanks cool, remove blanks from mandrel, using pen mill (squaring tool), very lightly clean off each end of blanks...sometimes a light buildup of CA and/or finishes will occur and it should be removed prior to pen assembly

 

 

 

sanding note:  an option in sanding is to stop the lathe after each grit and sand length wise, even with MM. why?: to remove the circular sanding marks. then wipe the blank with a rag and DNA to remove sanding dust and grit from the previous grade of sandpaper. this will insure the next sanding paper is not picking up grit from the previous paper left on the pen blank.


 

legend:

BLO - boiled linseed oil

CA - cyanoacrylate glue

DNA - denatured alcohol

MM - micromesh

TSW - trade secret for wood

 

paper towel - Bounty (regular)

 

 


ver 1.6  09.29.2005

 

09.29.2005