From WoodworkersZone WoodWiki
I don't have any pictures of work during the process, but this is how I do it...
- Sand through 320, alternating scratch patterns and wiping off the sanding dust between grits
- Use an applicator with a few drops of thin CA glue on it to wipe off the dust from the 320
- Put some mineral oil on a piece of 320 w/d paper and sand off the CA glue, filling the pores and sealing the pen blank
- Use a paper towel to wipe off all the mineral oil
- Use 400, 600 and 800 w/d paper, wiping off the residue between grits
- Fold a paper towel so it's thick enough that several drops of medium CA glue won't immediately soak through
- Wipe down the pen blank
- Put a few drops of tung oil (others use BLO, but I don't have any) on a clean spot of the paper towel and wipe the blank again
- Repeat the medium CA glue and tung oil once or twice--more than that isn't necessary, IMHO
- Let the pen sit for a couple or a few hours so the CA glue cures completely
- Go through the micro-mesh grades, 1500-12,000, wiping off the residue for each grade
All the above steps are done with the lathe at its slowest speed. Then I increase the speed to about 1000 rpm and buff the blanks, using white diamond buffing compound and then a little wax.
After reading and/or hearing reports of CA glue finishes cracking because of wood movement (the CA doesn't move with humidity changes), I've quit using the medium CA for finishing and have switched to multiple coats of thin CA, sanding up through 800-grit between each application. I still use tung oil as a medium for diluting it further, but at this point, the CA is more of a sealer than a finish. This method takes longer, but it's my name on the pen box, and that makes the extra time worth it.
It should be obvious that this procedure is for wooden pens only. Acyrlic pens have no need for steps other than sanding, buffing and polishing. When or if you buff and polish is a matter of personal preference.
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By: Harry Rigg
There are a ton of different ways to apply a CA finish. Searches on IAP (penturners.org or TPS thepenshop.net) will yield a lot of info. The common problems I keep reading about is a cloudy finish which could be oil/moisture in the wood or a pre CA finish to pop the grain.
By: Mike Z.
If you don't have some already, get some micromesh (preferably 2 sets - one for CA, one for everything else.)
Lasts forever as long as you don't overheat it.
By: Patsfan
