Pen finish

[TracyP]

Maybe this is not the best thing to use on a pen but; the pen we turned last night was finished with a light coat of blo and ca on top of that. I did the micromesh thing after the ca. What made the pen have a satiny look to it was the last step, which I had never tried. I held a chunk of regular old household paraffin wax to the spinning blank then buffed that with a clean cloth. I was amazed at the satin look it gave the pen. And with no smell or no chemicals such as paste wax as this pen was going to a hospital patient.

May be old news but just thought I would throw this out there.

 

[woodArtz]

I've never tried that approach, but it sounds like it came out fine. I love how everyone posts their experiments here to allow others to think about it! Thanks for posting Tracy!!

 

[ptt49er]

The only thing I can think of is making sure the recipient knows that he'll have to reapply the wax from time to time.

I'm going to have to try that next time though, as I think a CA finish leaves it looking a little too plasticy (is that a word?).

 

[PChristy]

little too plasticy (is that a word?).

:dontknow: I don;t know Phillip but it sure does sound good:gar-La;

Tracy thanks for sharing:icon_thum

 

[TracyP]

Actually that was my sole reason for trying the paraffin. (Not to mention it practically just fell from a shelf in front of me while I was working on a pen:dontknow I did not like the artificial look of just the ca alone. And I think if it is buffed in at high speed, it should last a very long time. I could be wrong, we will just have to see. There have been three more done since this post with the paraffin as the final finish. Pics coming tomorrow:embaresse. I am too tired now to take them.:tinysmile_tongue_t:.

 

[CaptnA]

Sounds like a winner Tracy. Just keep in mind the parafin will wear off but with the ca under it the wood will be protected.
I know a lot of pen makers use ca or ca/blo. There surely is an art to ca finish.
A lot of times peole finish with TripleE or White Diamond or something else to polish. There are lots of interesting discussions on IAP about ca and finishing pens. Some people don't like the 'plastic' look and feel of ca, others want gloss, others want satin etc etc etc.
Sounds like every other wood discipline - to each their own.