CA Glue Finish tips or alternatives?

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 12, 2014, 10:22:05 PM

Not the typical project in this section but I am looking for tips, tricks, alternatives, etc. to a CA glue finish.

I have been trying my hand at making some smaller items like bentwood rings and some bentwood bracelets. I am getting better with each piece that I make but one of the issues I have it applying a really good finish. Most of the rings I have seen others make have a CA glue finish so that is what I am doing as well (Loctite Ultra Liquid Control)

I have learned that this is also a common finish that wood turners use on pens and other small items. My question is does anyone have a better alternative to a CA glue finish that allows for a better working time, the glue is obviously a little bit of a challenge to work with. I am open to suggestions and am willing to try different things out just looking for some input.

Below is a couple of pictures of one of the first rings I made. I am still trying to learn how to hide/taper in the ends better and also do a better job controlling size. Making women's sized rings has been a struggle, even after steaming/soaking I seem to always break the veneer.

mesquite buckeye · October 13, 2014, 01:02:46 AM

Neat. ;D

jueston · October 13, 2014, 08:13:45 AM

i think a polyurethane finish would be just as durable as a CA glue finish.

the biggest problem i would expect with a CA glue finish on something like a ring would be chipping, i don't have any practical experience with wooden rings, but CA glue is very brittle and will shatter instead of denting sometimes. you can see this in action if you try to bend a rag you used to apply poly, it will bend somewhat, but if you take the paper towel you use to apply the CA it won't really bend at all, just crack.

you could try some spray spar polyurethane finish since getting a brush around the inside would be hard. but it might take you 7 coats to get a good buildup, which will take a lot longer then CA glue.

the ring looks awesome, i've seen them on etsy, i'm sure its one of those things where you will figure out the trick after enough tries and then it will be easy...

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 13, 2014, 10:02:36 PM

I will try a spray spar finish on one of the bracelets that I will be finishing up shortly. A spray would definitely be easier and probably get better coverage. I would rather spray a few more coats than continue to go with the CA finish and not be really happy with the results.

Is there a specific spray spar poly that you would recommend or are they all pretty much the same? I am a novice when it comes to all the different types of finishes.

Dan_Shade · October 13, 2014, 10:28:44 PM

have you tried shellac or lacquer?

Don_Papenburg · October 13, 2014, 11:20:08 PM

Have you tried a spray CA glue ? One of the woodturners that makes a lot of Christmas ornaments used a spray bottle with the stuff . It might have been a pump spray bottle , can't remember

yukon cornelius · October 14, 2014, 06:32:27 AM

I have no help for you but I can tell you this those are amazing! that takes some serious skill. have you sold any of them yet?

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 14, 2014, 08:24:27 AM

Yukon - Thanks, I have not sold any yet but I will keep trying. There are a lot of really nice looking rings on etsy that use some exotic veneers. Eventually I will work my way up to them but I do not want to spend the money on exotic veneer until I have a good process down.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have not tried lacquer or shellac yet since I did not think it would hold up well to everyday use like a wedding band for example and I did not think it had great water resistance over the long term but I may be wrong.

I had not looked for a spray CA glue, honestly did not even think to look for it in a spray form but I will try and find some now. From all the suggestions it looks like I may be doing some more experimenting with finishes to see what looks good and what might hold up better over time

jueston · October 14, 2014, 08:37:16 AM

i did not know there was a spray CA glue, thats something i'll look into.

the only spar urathane i have any experiance is the Varathane Water-Based Outdoor Spar Urethane Spray that they sell at menards, i thought it did a good job, but i don't have any other experiences to compare it too...

i have read a lot online, but i'm a try it and see what works kinda guy, so i have purchased and used almost every finish i can find to try them all, and each one has its pro's and cons, i suggest you give a few a try and see what works best for you...

i think i saw one wooden ring guy who had that he would refinish the ring for free if it chipped or got scratched. although i always worry about never ending warranties, that might be a selling point which shows you stand behind your product...

hackberry jake · October 14, 2014, 11:35:25 PM

For small stuff on the lathe I use clear epoxy. I like it better than CA glue. And it's super durable.

low_48 · October 14, 2014, 11:35:55 PM

Spraying CA? Holy cr##. What will you glue together that way? If you try it, please protect yourself. Moisture will accelerate the drying, so any atomized particles getting around your eyes, nose, or mouth is going to be a disaster! I've done a lot of pens in the past, not many lately. How are you putting it on the wood now? Many pen turners use the thin 1/8 hobby foam sheets from Michaels. They cut it into little pads, and use it like a squeegee. Medium thickness CA works best for me on pens. Please consider not spraying it!

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 15, 2014, 07:26:59 PM

Currently I apply the CA by wiping it on with a disposable shop towel that does not react with the CA glue. I don't have a lathe at my disposal currently so I use either a drill at slow speed or by hand. Other than not really getting a great finish with the glue I don't care for the smell/irritant the CA has.

I did search for a spray CA glue after it was mentioned here the other day but I did not come up with anything. The only spray item CA related that I found was the accelerant. Granted my online search skills are not the best but don't worry unless I find something local I won't be spraying any CA glue.

I am going to try some spray lacquer and a spray spar on the next couple that I make and then probably any epoxy. I will post some pictures when I get them done to show the difference.

Thanks!

beenthere · October 15, 2014, 08:17:58 PM

Any pics of what the rings look like on fingers? Curious how they look.

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 15, 2014, 09:14:55 PM

I do have a some pictures of them being worn, I will load them from the camera and post them.

Don_Papenburg · October 15, 2014, 09:28:47 PM

It has been several years ago that I saw the ornaments being turned . So now that you mention it he was spraying on the accelerant so he could keep turning .He had the spray bottle in a tool belt for quick retrieval .

Jason_AliceMae Farms · October 22, 2014, 07:53:42 AM

Beenthere - I thought I had some other pictures with the rings being worn but all I could find right now were the pictures I took with them partially on my finger, I will try and get some other ones if you are interested.

Larry · October 22, 2014, 10:26:26 AM

The fall craft fair shows just ended this past weekend. I went with the boss to the highest quality show with the intention of finding out what finishes were being used. For jewelry boxes and bowl turning almost 100% was some form of lacquer. Quite a few were using Minwax rattle cans. One of the best bowl turners told me he was using catalyzed lacquer, but wouldn't disclose any details. He has been at it 35 years and has work in some of the art museums.

I wasn't much interested in the pens but some told me they were using ca glue and a few other methods.

jueston · October 22, 2014, 03:30:05 PM

Quote from: Larry on October 22, 2014, 10:26:26 AM
The fall craft fair shows just ended this past weekend. I went with the boss to the highest quality show with the intention of finding out what finishes were being used. For jewelry boxes and bowl turning almost 100% was some form of lacquer. Quite a few were using Minwax rattle cans. One of the best bowl turners told me he was using catalyzed lacquer, but wouldn't disclose any details. He has been at it 35 years and has work in some of the art museums.

I wasn't much interested in the pens but some told me they were using ca glue and a few other methods.

i might be too harsh, but when i look at other peoples wooden things at craft fairs i'm often shocked by the quality of finish. i often see an amazing one of a kind piece with a big drip of poly running off the side of it. i don't know if these people are just in a hurry and want to move on to the next project, or if i am just too picky about finish. but i think if your going to spend money on beautiful wood, and a lot of time on making something beautiful, spending time on a beautiful hand rubbed finish or a really well applied lacquer is time well spent.

beenthere · October 22, 2014, 03:40:22 PM

Or a high-end furniture store (an Amish store comes to mind) where the planer marks are still visible and very prevalent in the finished oak, cherry, and walnut surfaces.
Or sanding marks beneath the finish... But then, there is a lot of hard work involved in getting these marks out so they do not show. Steps that take time and cost money.

Jason, thanks for posting the pics. Much better concept of the rings you are making.