Bad idea

Re: Bad idea

john lucas

I've had steel wool catch also. I try not to use it but the fiber abrasives I've used don't do the same job.

oh no

John K Jordan

I hate it when that happens! It is a shame to lose that excellent finial.

One thing I started doing long ago is use TINY pads of steel wool, maybe about an inch or so in "diameter' and folded so long fibers are turned under into more of a pad. And even then, I have to keep it away from things like tight Vs! If it does catch I just let go and turn off the lathe then unwind it. Haven't broken anything yet, cross fingers, knock on bubinga.

Did you make the ebonizing solution or buy it? What kind of wood does it work on? I've made a bunch of black finials but I always just used ebony or blackwood. I wonder if dogwood could be ebonized.

JKJ

I've never heard of a shellac based .....

JamieDonaldson

....ebonizing solution, what is it? In place of steel wool I use Scotchbrite gray and gold pads, the gold is finest and available from auto finishing supply stores that stock 3M products.

Re: oh no

Keith Tompkins

John and Jamie, it's Liberon Black Polish. According to the label, it's a" black stained French Polish suitable for ebonizing."......."in accordance with traditional French Polishing techniques". The finial I was attempting to ebonize was pink ivory....I didn't like the way it clashed with the bead I selected. No big deal, however....it only took ten minutes!

I HAVE to fix it.....

Barry Irby

no missing tenon is going to defeat the pack rat gene!

I'd drill it out and put in an 1/8 dowel. Or I'd turn the bead into a dowel and install a new bead and tenon. Or, or , or, even if it took all day.

Then when it came out to lopsided or crooked to use I burn the evidence so no one would ever know. "What did you do today Dad?" "Nothing, no really nothing."

Re: Bad idea

Keith Tompkins

I got a private email about a steel wool product sold by the Sanding Glove that's designed for turning. I'll try to send a link....thanks, Tom!

Re: I've never heard of a shellac based .....

George Van Beynen

Jamie, after you mentioned this at our demo I tried the 3M ScotchBrite pad system. The problem I had was the gold was 000 steel wool equivalent and I use the 0000 Liberon steel wool. The gold scratches were larger than the 0000. The white pads seemed finer than the steel wool and if I pressed harder to try to make them work seemed to leave stray scratches. I am now back to 0000 Liberon and blowing off the items before further finishing. The white may work good for applying polishing compound. the system I was using was 7447 Maroon, 7448 Grey, and 7445 Gold. Ideas?

Like you need more practice

Geoff Whaling

Like you need more practice making finials.

Been there, seemed like a good idea at the time sort of stuff. I have quite a few spin tops with short spindles.

I use an Australian made OOOO steel wool that comes as either bulk rolls or as "pads" in 100 gram & 500 gram packs. The "pads" seem to fold better and do not have the extra long strands of the rolls and are much less risky on delicate work.

I make a small pad just large enough to burnish the surface and hold it with a soft grip. If a strand gets wrapped up the small pad simply pulls out of my fingers and rotates with the work piece. Generally no damage done.

I also do a fair bit of finishing on delicate finials as I go, while there is still enough material to support the finishing forces.

Re: Like you need more practice

Keith Tompkins

Geoff, I started seriously turning in the early 90's; I felt my turning skills were not up to par with the rest of my woodworking abilities. I'm finally starting to improve!