Another Question On Finishing Wood...

[WriterJP]

What type of sealer / finish would provide a good amount of protection, bond quickly and thoroughly, and have a matte or satin amount of sheen to it? Is my best bet a matte/satin spray lacquer?

 

The project this time around is a bocote gentlemen's kit pen. The reason for wanting something other than glossy lacquer is that particular finish turns the cream grain "veins" a corn yellow color and subsequently makes the wood like almost bee-like. I have considered foregoing the finish (and just buffing it), but I want to put a layer of something on it to seal it from possible ink stains, finger oil/dirt, etc.

 

 

Thanks again for the assistance.

 

JP

[OldGriz]

Lacquer is always my first choice for wood pen finishes... if you are putting it on an oily wood I suggest an undercoat of dewaxed shellac

[Rchan63]

I use CA glue, 2 coat of thin follow by 6,8.10 coats of med CA. Don't forget the accelerator in between to quickly set the glue. Wet sand with 1200 and 1500 grit and polish with a plastic polisher, I use plasitx for cars.

 

Richard

[patsikes]

I also use CA on all my pens. 8 - 10 coats of medium with accelerator between each coat and then wet "micro-meshed" down to the 12000 pad. This makes a very glossy finish.

 

If you want a matte finish, do exactly the same, all the way down to 12000 then start working your way back up to rougher pads (maybe 1/3 to 1/2 way through the set) and you will have a nice matte finish.

 

You can do the same with cured lacquer.

Edited May 14, 2011 by patsikes

[Rchan63]

Check out this video

I think it's pretty good.

 

Richard

[Brianm_14]

This is pretty late into the thread, but you or any one finishing wood might look at the long experience of those who specialize in the finishing of high-grade shotgun or rifle stocks.

 

Over three-plus decades of experience, I've used quality wood dyes to subtly even-out the color, sealed with several coats of thinned shellac (dewaxed is good advice), dewiskered by several applications of a little water followed by use of 0000 steel wool.

 

Apply several thinned coated of a linseed oil finish, until a surface coat is established. Now the wood is filled. Cut it back to the wood surface with very fine wet-dry paper (used with water) or 0000 steel wool (removed the oil on the metal by rinsing in solvent several times and allowing to dry immediately before use). Cut back to the wood. The wood is now filled.

 

Now build the desired finish -preferably a fairly tough, oil-based varnish- on top of all if this, thinned coats, applied drop-by-drop. Allowed generous drying time between coats in all applications.

 

I've hand applied as many as 30 drop-by-drop coats on the wood. The effect was stunning, and the clients agreed!

 

Similar, albeit appropriately modified approaches with lacquer, can work well, but there is no easy road or short-cut to quality.