| Overview | | | | and extended drying times between coats. |
| One of the more enduring quests by woodturners, is | | | | Cyanoacrylate Esters (CA or Super Glue) and binary |
| the pursuit of a perfect pen finish. A perfect finish | | | | Epoxies offer extreme durability, but require |
| would offer exceptional durability and visual clarity, | | | | advanced application protocols. For this reason and |
| with a deep, rich "wet" look. Although this is a tall | | | | others plastics are gaining in popularity, especially |
| order for any pen finish to deliver, careful selection of | | | | when an ultra-high gloss lustre is desired. |
| the pen blank material, coupled with advanced | | | | Basic Protocol for Finishing Plastic and Celluloid Pen |
| finishing protocols, can deliver a near perfect pen | | | | Blanks |
| finish. Plastic and stabilized wooden blanks offer an | | | | If possible, use sterate coated abrasives, or wet-dry |
| excellent option for pen turners seeking to create | | | | abrasives to prevent loading of the abrasive surface |
| durable high gloss finishes for their hand turned | | | | when sanding. To obtain the highest lustre and clarity |
| writing pens. | | | | of the plastic barrel surface, you have two options: |
| Basic Challenges | | | | - Sand with traditional, or wet-dry abrasives to |
| One of the most challenging aspects of creating a | | | | 1200-grit. Then, buff the barrel surface with a plastic |
| durable and glossy pen finish, is the typical | | | | polishing compound on the lathe. A cloth buffing |
| environment pens are subjected to in use. Moving in | | | | wheel loaded with a fine plastic polishing compound |
| and out of pockets, purses and desk drawers, | | | | can also be used to raise the lustre to the desired |
| coupled with the natural oils and sweat from our | | | | level. |
| hands, makes it tough for many finishes to retain | | | | - Sand with standard micro mesh abrasives, which |
| their glossy finish. In addition, some hardwoods are | | | | can be used either wet or dry and are available in |
| considerably less dense than others, allowing the | | | | nine grits from 1500 to 12000-grit. The visual surface |
| barrels on softer hardwoods to be easily damaged. | | | | when polished to 12000-grit is nothing short of |
| Denser native woods and most exotics are a better | | | | spectacular, making the plastic look so glossy that it |
| choice in many cases for a highly durable pen barrel. | | | | appears liquid. |
| However, softer hardwoods can be used with equal | | | | One additional advantage of using plastics for your |
| success if the blank has been stabilized with thin | | | | pen barrels is that the plastic surface can be polished |
| acrylics, or penetrating epoxies prior to turning on the | | | | to a high luster, without the need for any surface |
| lathe. These "stabilized" pen blanks are a superb | | | | finish. Since there is no surface finish on the pen |
| choice for wooden writing pens. Stabilized pen blanks | | | | barrel, nothing can wear off with time as you would |
| offer greater hardness and durability of the barrel | | | | find with a traditionally finished wooden pen. |
| surface vs. using natural timbers. | | | | A high quality conservation grade Microcrystalline wax |
| Alternative Material Pen Blanks | | | | should be applied to provide extra protection for the |
| Alternative materials like plastics, acrylics, stabilized | | | | glossy barrel surface. Microwaxes offer excellent |
| exotic and native woods, horn, antler, fossilised | | | | resistance to moisture, acids, alcohols and moderate |
| Ivory, cast acrylics and similar materials, can easily | | | | heat and will not show fingerprints on the high gloss |
| produce a glossy lustre when used for pen barrels. | | | | surface. |
| Some materials, both natural and man made can be | | | | Basic Protocol for Finishing Stabilized Wood Blanks |
| polished to a higher lustre than others. For example, | | | | If you prefer to use wood for your pen barrels, |
| plastics can be easily polished to 12000-grit, producing | | | | choose a stabilized pen blank if possible, for the |
| a visually stunning, deep wet look in the barrel | | | | greatest durability and luster on the surface. To |
| surface. | | | | produce a high gloss finish on a stabilized pen blank, |
| However, natural timbers do not produce the same | | | | follow these easy steps: |
| degree of lustre as plastics, even when sanded to | | | | - Sand the barrels to 600-grit metric and remove any |
| the same abrasive level. Stabilized pen blanks typically | | | | dust. Apply a lacquer sanding sealer (cut 50/50 with |
| produce a higher lustre than the same timber without | | | | lacquer thinner) to the surface and wipe off any |
| stabilization. This is because the acrylics and epoxies | | | | excess with a soft paper towel. Turn on the lathe, |
| used in the stabilization process, allow the barrels to | | | | set to high revs and friction dry on the lathe with a |
| be polished to a higher level than untreated wood | | | | soft paper towel. Apply a small amount of Tripoli |
| blanks. | | | | cutting wax (wax that contains an ultra-fine abrasive) |
| Advanced Abrasive and Finishing Protocols | | | | on a piece of paper towel and apply to the barrel |
| In addition to the careful selection of the barrel | | | | surface, whilst spinning on the lathe at high revs. |
| material, the application of advanced abrasive and | | | | Move slowly back and forth to allow the compound |
| finishing protocols can go a long way toward | | | | to polish the barrel surface. |
| providing durable and glossy pen finishes. Proper | | | | - Reapply the cutting wax until the desired gloss level |
| surface preparation, including sanding and polishing of | | | | is achieved. Remove any excess with a soft paper |
| the barrel surface prior to applying the desired finish, | | | | towel and buff to a brilliant shine. |
| will allow the finish to magnify the underlying | | | | - Apply your desired finish next. (Listed in order of |
| perfected surface. This will produce a much higher | | | | overall durability) Microcrystalline Wax, Friction Shellac, |
| perceived gloss level on the barrel surface. | | | | Lacquer, Cyanoacrylate Ester and binary Epoxies can |
| High performance cloth backed abrasives are available | | | | be used for the top level finish. Depending on the |
| that will produce a 12000-grit surface. At this ultra | | | | specific finish used, a final application of the cutting |
| high level, the human eye cannot see the surface | | | | wax may be required to raise the luster to the |
| scratch pattern, resulting in an exceptionally high gloss | | | | desired level. |
| level on the surface. Careful selection of the barrel | | | | - Apply a conservation grade Microcrystalline wax to |
| finish can also affect the overall lustre and longevity | | | | the surface with the lathe off and lightly wipe off the |
| of the finish. | | | | excess. Buff to a gloss with revs set to high, using a |
| Types of Finishes for Stabilized Pen Blanks | | | | soft clean paper towel. |
| Waxes are among the easiest of all finishes to apply, | | | | If you invest just a little more time sanding and |
| but may not last long in normal use on a writing pen. | | | | polishing your pen barrels using the above protocols, |
| Shellac friction polishes offer better overall durability | | | | you will be rewarded with a durable, high gloss finish |
| than waxes and are also easy to apply. Lacquers | | | | for your hand turned writing pens. |
| offer still greater durability, but require multiple coats | | | | |