Pens, sandpaper and CA glue

[clowman]

I have been using the following grits of sandpaper for sanding my pens. 150 ( rarely), 220, 320, and 400. The 320 and 400 is a black wet/dry paper. I have been getting annoying little white spots in my CA finish. I read that black sandpaper lends itself to this behavior, so I switched to a yellow brand of 320/400. The first pen I used thenew paper on... NO little white spots. Which I am pretty sure was ca dust in the finish. Anyway, my question is, did this switch fix my "white spot" problem? Or maybe I just did something a little different this time around? Any ideas. Here's the pen with the new paper. (I'm pretty sure I still need a photography course or something)

 

[DaveO]

I don't know what you did right or wrong or differently, but that is a beautiful pen:icon_thum What kinda wood is it??:lol: :lol: :lol:
Dave

 

[taandctran]

try getting some micro mesh... It is a little spendy but last along time when you only use it for pens....

 

[clowman]

Oh, did I forget to mention the MM? I do MM it up to 12K.

 

[taandctran]

Maybe you are not letting the ca dry enough before you start sanding. and it is clumping up. I say you just do what you did on that pen... It turned out GREAT!!!!!!

 

[D L Ames]

Clay, great looking pen and your finish is awesome.:icon_thum

D L

 

[taandctran]

I think I may have the answer to your question.... It may be what you are applying your CA with... sand paper, shop towel, ect..... I noticed a pen I made today had small white specs on it and I had to resand it..... I think it may have came from the applying step...

 

[clowman]

That's a good point. I do use a paper towel. When I had my class, John showed us with a rubber glove, and that worked out real nice. My problem was after I got home, I just couldn't get the glue level enough, and kept sanding through. Now that I have a little more experience applying it, I'm going to try some more with the glove. Oh, for the method I use, I did post the instructions I use here, if you're interested.

 

[taandctran]

I use a blue shop towel.... I have never had any problem.... But I have heard of people using old sand paper....

 

[Steve D]

Looks great Clay. I don't know whether it would be the application or the wet dry paper. Some of the gold papers tend to clear better than other types of paper and not "foul" as much. Try a few more the same way and see if the proble is solved. Feel free to send a pen here for closer inspection.:mrgreen:

 

[Ken Massingale]

Beautiful pen, Clay. The fit and finish are great. Whatever you did, keep it up.
ken