Over the past six months I have used CA as a finish on some wood reel seat inserts. I generally build the CA to beyond my desired final diameter, wait a few days, and wet sand it down to the diameter required by the skeleton hardware. This process results in a very level finish with no wood grain depressions.

Today when I looked at a few of the inserts I noticed that the CA appeared to have cured further. I can now see depressions and grain indentations that were not there a few months ago.

Have others who use CA noticed this?

Jeff Shafer

I've never had a problem with the CA finish itself. I have had some issues with the wood below the finish from time to time. I usually let my wood sit for a week to make sure that the moisture levels stabilize, if it needs to be resanded it's much easier before it's installed on the rod. I have had a couple of pieces, (burl is the worst) that will have strange grain movement after it's turned.

Like Mark says the wood it's self changes different moisture content any and all weather conditions that change from the time you turn it till the time you finish it, all will effect the finished look. I did a five different wood glue up let it set for a month then started to turn it didn't finish the grip because some where along the line one piece of wood moved some how. The lamination's didn't come out right so started another one. Lots of things can change from one reel seat insert to the next, different wood different part of the year, so on and so on. with the CA if you can put on another coat or two or a coat or two of True Oil or spar varnish, should take care of the finished look.

When you are using CA as a finish what do you use to get that final high gloss finish? Is it fine sandpaper or some sort of polishing compound?

Thanks,
Rich

Thanks everyone,

Rich,
I use both. First I sand with progressively finer sandpaper (to 2000 grit) or micromesh, then successively finer auto polishes. Very fine scratches may still remain.

Jeff

Mark Blabaum gave me the intial directions for the CA and I have since changed it a bit, but it does work.

For me, first coat wait 15 minutes, 2nd coat wait 20 minutes and the final coat wait an hour prior to sanding.

Then wet sand it down starting with 320 grit (seems to work well for me to smooth it out) Then wet sand 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000. Then I use the cloth paper (micromesh) all the way to 8000 grit. Then using a Dremel, I polish the wood, ivory etc. to a high shine with ZAM, followed by White Diamond

Hope this helps................make no mistake, Mark is the Expert and I OWE him for this technique. I am able to work this stuff and like I said, I changed the technique a bit from his recommendations to suit me and that was based on my results using the CA........but it is still in the ballpark of his technique.....................

I REPEAT. I am NOT taking credit for his finish......MARK IS THE MAN and I would like to thank him for giving me another finish that seems to work really well for me....THANKS MARK!

I will post a pic of the results I am getting using CA

Didn't mean to be so long winded.......

Terry



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2008 01:40AM by terry henson.

Thanks Terry and everyone else,
It isn't so much technique I'm interested in. The finished product after application and shaping looks great. I'm most interested in learning when CA, used as a wood finish, stops shrinking. The irregularities I'm now seeing seem to result from the finish contracting with time, not from the wood fibers shifting (several of the inserts were made with stabilized wood). Pores or eyes in the wood that previously had been smoothed over with CA now are showing as depressions, as the CA has shrunk.

Jeff

Jeff / Terry - Thanks for the information - I didn't mean to high jack your thread

Rich

Jeff,
After coating with CA and letting it set for a day, use a heat gun to go over the CA. If there is any CA that has not completely cured, the heat will KICK the CA and finish the cure.
Sand down, and give it another coat. Let sit for another day - kick it with the heat, and sand down.
I expect that you will find no more faults in your finish.

Take care
Roger

Thanks Roger,
I'll try heat and multiple coats.

Jeff