Thread: What are you working on?

Tried Alfredo's CA coating. It's really not much different than others do. I've been putting on 5 layers and then sanding them down until no shiny spots. Then repeat. Maybe if I could get a smoother coating on I wouldn't have to sand away so much of what I put on, but here is one scale polished up and one with just the CA on and not sanded. You can see how badly my coats are on the one and see the mirror finish of the wheels of my Gatling Gun in the other. I will go back and do some more coats but I had to check out how it was coming along. It's not as thick as Docs but it's getting there. This is going to take a couple weeks before the scales are finished. Thanks @Doc226 for giving some instruction.

When applying AC in the past, I found it challenging not to sand through to the wood and get uneven results, probably ended up applying more coats than I could have due to this.
I'm wondering if some kind of guide coat can be applied to help sand it even. Or perhaps some kind of jig?
What's that product that you wipe it with? Seemed to melt it somewhat? I may be remembering it wrong.

No wiping with anything besides sandpaper. I use a pink eraser to back my sandpaper to keep an even sanding. But it easy to sand thru the CA to the wood if you dont have enough coats on. This is why i put 5 coatz on then sand. Then repete. This is getting the finished/sanded layer into a thicker base coat. But if i could get the CA more smoother coats it sure would help.

I went with the thin stuff this time so you got to lay it on quickly and spread quick. Ive used the Medium in the past. I might go back to the Medium on the next set. Gives a little more time to smooth out.

I liked the thin stuff for the first coat to soak into the wood better, and then moved to the medium or thick stuff.
But that was on unstabilized red coolibah burl.

I am no Ca pro. I did it twice. I used thin for two coats to seal the wood, then thick over that. I used a razor blade as a scraper and leveled the surface between coats. I put on three coats of thick. I thought I could rush it by using accelerator but it made my CA cloudy and I scraped it off. I think you accelerator and CA need to be compatible brands. Mine were not the same brand.

I always use fine steel-wool and buff lightly until all is satin on CA and Tru-oil.
Keeps me from sanding too much off with sandpaper. Esp as around corners and edges.

Accelerator is OK with thin coats, but generates a lot of heat when thick. So it burns itself, in short.
Working on several scales have thought me that if its a large area or hole, to go in layers and let cool before the next. And no acceleration.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I am no Ca pro. ...snip...I thought I could rush it by using accelerator but it made my CA cloudy and I scraped it off. I think you accelerator and CA need to be compatible brands. Mine were not the same brand.

Use has taught me to allow the accelerator to flash off when put on the surface before applying the CA.
YMMV
~Richard

[QUOTE=Gasman;1847050]Tried Alfredo's CA coating. It's really not much different than others do. I've been putting on 5 layers and then sanding them down until no shiny spots. Then repeat. Maybe if I could get a smoother coating on I wouldn't have to sand away so much of what I put on, but here is one scale polished up and one with just the CA on and not sanded. You can see how badly my coats are on the one and see the mirror finish of the wheels of my Gatling Gun in the other. I will go back and do some more coats but I had to check out how it was coming along. It's not as thick as Docs but it's getting there. This is going to take a couple weeks before the scales are finished. Thanks @Doc226 for giving some instruction.

Okay Jerry - I have a really dumb question to ask of you - Don't laugh because I haven't a clue as what this stuff is - What is CA?

super glue