What type of applicator should I use to put a CA finish on wood pens?
Plan to try this with next few pens.
Using CA on pens?
Moderator: admin
Using CA on pens?
Gary Kalyn
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA
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mbcabinetmaker
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 1627
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:18 am
- Location: Greer SC
I take a folded paper shop towel and cut it into 1-1/2" wide strips. I apply a couple of drops of boiled linseed oil at the folded end and then put a couple of drops of medium CA in the center of the BLO. I then apply the CA to the wood with medium pressure using my finger and thumb, making sure I keep it moving along the entire length of the pen blank. The heat cures the the CA while the BLO seems to act as a medium. I put about 4 of the above descibed applications on each pen that seems to give me the look I want, waiting about 3 or so minutes between applications.
I watched a couple of You-Tube videos and read some web tutorials. You can vary the amout of BLO and CA viscosity to find the mixture that is good for you and to attain the look your after.
I watched a couple of You-Tube videos and read some web tutorials. You can vary the amout of BLO and CA viscosity to find the mixture that is good for you and to attain the look your after.
cdmclain
North Texas
PowerPro Mark 7 & Mark 5 510, Bandsaw/PowerStation, Scrollsaw, Jointer, Pro Planer, Beltsander/PowerStation, Strip Sander, Ringmaster, DC3300
North Texas
PowerPro Mark 7 & Mark 5 510, Bandsaw/PowerStation, Scrollsaw, Jointer, Pro Planer, Beltsander/PowerStation, Strip Sander, Ringmaster, DC3300
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derekdarling
- Gold Member
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:53 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC
Linseed Oil Caution
OK, This is serious, feel free to ask how I know. I don't know if people can spontaneously combust, but there have been reports. I DO KNOW, however, that boiled linseed oil on any kind of cellular material (paper, cloth) will BREAK OUT INTO FLAMES IF NOT DISPOSED OF in water.
While I don't mind being at the front of the line with a witticism, this is serious. People have died in fires set by improper disposal of this stuff.
It gives a great surface, but proper disposal is vital. This is a hazardous material if left with free access to oxygen.
OK, rant over. Back to creating sawdust all.
While I don't mind being at the front of the line with a witticism, this is serious. People have died in fires set by improper disposal of this stuff.
It gives a great surface, but proper disposal is vital. This is a hazardous material if left with free access to oxygen.
OK, rant over. Back to creating sawdust all.
Derek Darling
Surrey, B.C. Canada
10ERs, other stuff, you know.
Surrey, B.C. Canada
10ERs, other stuff, you know.
Hi Gang;
I was at a Woodcraft in Orlando a short time back and happened to be there on a day that they were holding a demo of woodworking activities. One of the guys was turning pens and using CA as a finish. He used it straight from the container and applied it with a soft rag.
So I tried it recently and after it dried I polished with polishing pads down to about 10000 grit and the applied some HUT wax and buffed the pens. The CA glue is very hard and can tear through the sandpaper when you try to sand any high spots. I tried the activator to speed up the drying but this can sometimes leave blisters on the finish that has to be sanded off. I don't do that anymore. The pens did look real good.
Bill V
I was at a Woodcraft in Orlando a short time back and happened to be there on a day that they were holding a demo of woodworking activities. One of the guys was turning pens and using CA as a finish. He used it straight from the container and applied it with a soft rag.
So I tried it recently and after it dried I polished with polishing pads down to about 10000 grit and the applied some HUT wax and buffed the pens. The CA glue is very hard and can tear through the sandpaper when you try to sand any high spots. I tried the activator to speed up the drying but this can sometimes leave blisters on the finish that has to be sanded off. I don't do that anymore. The pens did look real good.
Bill V
Derek
You are correct in that proper disposal of the rags and other applicators is essential in preventing fires. I believe that the main problem is bunching up the rags when the material is still wet and not cured fully. Oil finishes have an exothermic reaction when curing. Simply said they give off heat when curing and concentrating the heat in a pile of rags will let the oil reach the flash point. I have applied BLO and Danish oil on lathe projects and did not get any smoke. When I dispose of applicator rags from any oil finish I hang them on a cord stretched across the shop like a washline and let them thoroughly for several days and dispose of them when they are fully dried
Bill V
You are correct in that proper disposal of the rags and other applicators is essential in preventing fires. I believe that the main problem is bunching up the rags when the material is still wet and not cured fully. Oil finishes have an exothermic reaction when curing. Simply said they give off heat when curing and concentrating the heat in a pile of rags will let the oil reach the flash point. I have applied BLO and Danish oil on lathe projects and did not get any smoke. When I dispose of applicator rags from any oil finish I hang them on a cord stretched across the shop like a washline and let them thoroughly for several days and dispose of them when they are fully dried
Bill V
I've read and heard to avoid using a cloth to apply the CA as a finish because the rag can be pulled out of your hand (or worse, pull your hand into the spinning piece). I always use a paper towel to apply the CA. I've never had the glue tear the paper or snatch it out of my hand, but the two times I didn't wait long enough to dry it did snatch steel wool out of my hand. That was disheartening...
Stay safe everyone
Stay safe everyone
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JPG
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 35600
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
- Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)
dasgud wrote:I've read and heard to avoid using a cloth to apply the CA as a finish because the rag can be pulled out of your hand (or worse, pull your hand into the spinning piece). I always use a paper towel to apply the CA. I've never had the glue tear the paper or snatch it out of my hand, but the two times I didn't wait long enough to dry it did snatch steel wool out of my hand. That was disheartening...
Stay safe everyone
This is an excellent example of work smarter not 'whatever'. If the 'rag' is held such that the pinkies are on the side of the rag away from the spinning workpiece, a caught rag will NOT pull yer pinkies into the space between the rag and the workpiece(unless YOU suddenly put them there to try stopping the 'grabbing'). Now that loose flapping end of the rag may indeed slap you for being so careless.
Sheez! While applying a extremely fast 'setting' glue that gets 'quicker' when exposed to heat we should be surprised that the rag may 'suddenly' become 'stuck'?
This is indeed a proceed at yer own risk endeavor.
I am definitely not saying 'do not do it'(that would be grossly out of character), but do want to point out the nature of the beast!;)
BTW: Positioning of pinkies (and other body parts) should always be a consideration and thinking(ahead) about what can go wrong is a prerequisite for safely handling dangerous tasks.
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╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
Reaction with cotton
Applying cyanoacrylate to materials made of cotton or wool (such as cotton swabs, cotton balls, and certain yarns or fabrics) results in a powerful, rapid exothermic reaction. The heat released may cause minor burns, and if enough cyanoacrylate is used, the reaction is capable of igniting the cotton product, as well as releasing irritating vapor in the form of white smoke.[11]
Material Safety Data Sheets for cyanoacrylate instruct users not to wear cotton or wool clothing, especially cotton gloves, when applying or handling cyanoacrylates.[12]
[edit] ToxicityThe fumes from CA are a vaporized form of the cyanoacrylate monomer that irritate sensitive membranes in the eyes, nose and throat. They are immediately polymerized by the moisture in the membranes and become inert. These risks can be minimized by using CA in well ventilated areas. About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms.[13] It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction.
Applying cyanoacrylate to materials made of cotton or wool (such as cotton swabs, cotton balls, and certain yarns or fabrics) results in a powerful, rapid exothermic reaction. The heat released may cause minor burns, and if enough cyanoacrylate is used, the reaction is capable of igniting the cotton product, as well as releasing irritating vapor in the form of white smoke.[11]
Material Safety Data Sheets for cyanoacrylate instruct users not to wear cotton or wool clothing, especially cotton gloves, when applying or handling cyanoacrylates.[12]
[edit] ToxicityThe fumes from CA are a vaporized form of the cyanoacrylate monomer that irritate sensitive membranes in the eyes, nose and throat. They are immediately polymerized by the moisture in the membranes and become inert. These risks can be minimized by using CA in well ventilated areas. About 5% of the population can become sensitized to CA fumes after repeated exposure, resulting in flu-like symptoms.[13] It may also act as a skin irritant and may cause an allergic skin reaction.