CA finish on acrylic pen blanks?

[Doug Robins]

I just completed my first dozen wooden pen blanks, and use about 20 coats of CA to finish them. After sanding and polishing, these blanks are amazingly true and shiny.

I just finished an acrylic pen blank, and used the same sanding and polishing method used with the wood blanks. It's obvious that the acrylic pen blank is softer than many coats of CA.

But, would a CA finish on an acrylic blank adhere, and not flake off?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[Bill Boehme]

I have never put a finish on acrylic pens. I use Micromesh wet up to 12000 grit.

Also I have never put more than about three applications of CA on wood and I do the turning and finishing in one session. You might look into the CA-BLO method.

 

[Richard Coers]

The only time you should use CA on acrylic is if there is a small air bubble or small void. Super fine sand, then you can achieve any gloss level you want on acrylic with plastic polish. Novus 2 is the fine polish, Novus 3 for heaver scratch removal. Here is a place to order on-line.
http://www.exoticblanks.com/index.p...tegory_id=277&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=60

 

[Doug Robins]

Thanks!

Guys, thanks for the feedback!! It looks like CA is not needed for acrylic pens. Thanks for the tip on CA-BLO and Novus polishes...I'll try both of them.

Sooner or later, I will purchase an expensive pen kit and blank. I was wondering about preserving the finish for an expensive acrylic pen, and was thinking of leveraging my small experience with wood pens. (Currently, all my pens cost less than $3 from Penn State Industries.)

I have only made about 15 pens, and for those wooden pens, have used wood recovered from a 100 year old piano that was scrapped. I've done natural finishes and also have applied a red mahogany wood stain. A few have rings made with a wire burning technique. I like the look and feel of a thick clear CA finish (~20 coats) more than the appearance of only 2-3 coats. It's just my opinion.

Doug

 

[Richard Coers]

The best place to get pen turning info on the web is at penturners.org