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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Your opinions and experiences please

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Your opinions and experiences please

#1

Your opinions and experiences please

Tom Mullane

>There is a discussion going on at the AAW site concerning CA glue finish and durability...

I suggested that someone use it on some peppermills for a high gloss finish.. and they love how it looks on cocobolo... so do I.. LOL

I have used CA on pen finishes and have yet to have a problem with durability... I carry mine in a denim shirt and my wife carries her's in her purse and neither pen shows any wear... both pens are over a year old and I figure that a demin shirt and a woman's purse are pretty destructive environments.. LOL... especially a woman's purse..

One person is saying he has CA finished pens returned in a month with the finish chipping off.. the other person is saying that the CA will deteriorate in 5-10 yrs...

I don't know about the long term (5-10yr) durability.. but I know none of my pens have ever been returned for the finish coming off or flaking....

I was wondering what those of you who use CA for a finish have seen... especially in the long run...

Re: Your opinions and experiences please

#2

I am not sure what the problem is with CA.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi Tom,

I have a duce of a time trying to do the CA finish on pens. I have figured out how not to glue the barrels to the bushings but getting a decent finish is still hard for me. But then I haven't spent much time reading about the process. The easiest way for me to apply CA is to use a little bit of linseed oil to keep from gluing everything to the barrel, including me. I expect the secrete to a good finish is not building up too thick a layer so it can chip. All finishes will wear off eventually so if it holds up under the conditions you describe then it must be OK. Probably to the horror of many pen turners, I tell people that the finish is guaranteed to wear off. I just can't guarantee how long it will take.

The question of CA degradation has been circulating around the web for a while. To my knowledge there has been no testing or documented proof that it does break down and fail. I believe the original statement was a concern raised by an individual that of CA glue may fail but he had no proof that it does. It appears to have become an accepted fact that it does fail in X number of years.

I do know that the glue that holds rear view mirrors on to windshields does fail after a period of time. But in this situation the glue is being subjected to direct sunlight and UV rays that are support to be bad for every thing. Also the glue is repeatedly subjected to thermal changes from extreme cold to extreme heat when a car is closed in the summer. I am surprised that the rear view mirrors stay on as long as they do. Now I am only guessing that the glue that is used is some type of CA.

I think you are the corn cob pen guy and I have to say those are great looking pens.

Dave Smith

Wife is gone I can go to the shop later in Longview, WA.

Re: Your opinions and experiences please

#3

Re: Your opinions and experiences please

EagleS.C.

>How long have htey been finishing pens with CA?

What other finish will last 10 years with virtually NO maintainance?

(How many people have pens that are 10 years old?I know there are some,but the person who "borrows" a CA finish pen won't come back and complain about the finish :>) )

Re: Your opinions and experiences please

#4

Ric Taylor

Re: Your opinions and experiences please

Ric Taylor

>I have been using CA glue since 1975 to build and modify display-model aircraft and military figures, and for about 5 years in woodturning. The glue has never, under any circumstances, deteriorated in any way. It has not changed shape, has not shrunk, has not changed color, has not become brittle, has not flaked or chipped ro cracked, or anything else. The work I did 29 years ago still looks exactly the same today as the day I finished it. If anyone is experiencing chipping, it is probably from neglect or abuse (dropping or knocking the piece against something else.) The brand of CA makes no difference.... I buy whatever is cheapest or readily available at the time.