Thread: CA-Super Glue, Finishing Hints and Tips

Thanks Glen...very informative and helpful as always

I have been working on some metal lined scales of pearl and ivory . I would like to put a hard, clear finish on them as I complete them. Does anyone have experience using CA on something like this, or should I use urethane or something else? I appreciate this thread very much!

Great information. Thanks, Glen. I can't wait to see those pics.

Oh, come on Glen, are you telling me that I am the only person in the world who leaves their CA uncapped because I can go through it long before it dries?

Butch, I have used CA in my vacuum setup. It works great, but it can vaporize and it will ruin a filter. in fact the first time I did it I had to keep replacing the filter until I figured our to place a bladder over the CA then suck out the air over the bladder. This gets VERY messy. There is also a large cost involved in playing with CA.

dnjrboy, I don't have the experience that many do, but when I CA scales I will form the wedge first, then take it apart to CA the scales. I will first apply a thin coat or two to where the wedge will sit then sand it off using a flat surface to get a proper fitting. Once the scales are done I will usually CA over the wedge and scales, then once cured I will sand down to the original level of the scales thus releasing the wedge from the sclaes and leaving a finish on the wedge. I hope that made sense.
Honestly as of late I have been using up scraps from my stabilized woods for wedges and I final sand the wedge when I final sand the scale finish.

Thank you Glen for posting this as I still forget to use acetone now and then. For those who don't use acetone on dry woods I had trouble a few months ago with a cherry that acetone fixed.

Thats pretty cool - always wanted to know how you guys got those beautiful finishes, thanks for sharing with us. Very similar approach to what I use when turning pens and brush hands etc, except I use something else for the final cutting (which name eludes me at the moment). Might try the turtle wax on my next pen and see how it goes....would be a hell of a lot cheaper than what I use at present.