How to create a flawless finish on an acrylic pen blank

[@DansGrandValley]

Great simple video, just what I needed, thanks! I’ve been turning wood pens, but I’m getting ready to move into acrylics. Thanks!

[@desbidgood9382]

Well done I now know the right procedure

[@gardeningdianne]

Some great tips in there for budding pen turners. Well done. I ran out of plastic polish one day and had to get some pens ready for the next day. Racking my brain as to what I could use and it suddenly come to me, I tried tooth paste and was pleased with the finished result. I use tooth paste all the time now.

[@yeetsbeets9894]

You mean dental polishing compound? I love that stuff!

[@gardeningdianne]

@@yeetsbeets9894 No. That would work though. I did mean toothpaste and I was surprised by the finish that it gave to the pens. You also do not need too much either.

[@BVGB722]

Just found your website, great stuff in there. What is the pen kit you used in this video?

[@WilliamWoodWriteLtd]

Thank you! It is a Maple Leaf twist pen kit in chrome :)

[@Believe_the_Bible]

Beautiful work, great video, thanks. But you don't need to cross sand if you are using the correct progression of sanding grits. That being, increasing each next grit by 50% from the previous grit used. Besides cross sanding would just leave sanding marks going in the other direction. Try it.

[@robertmccabe8475]

Do you sand horizontaly with the micro mesh as well? Also I use CA glue on acrylics as well is this not needed? Thanks for the great service Bob McCabe

[@WilliamWoodWriteLtd]

Hi Bob! I don't sand horizontally with micro mesh, but you could definitely do that if you're still noticing small scratches at the micro mesh stage of the process. It is probably not necessary once you get to the very high grits. I normally only use a CA finish on wood blanks because the glue penetrates into the wood to help harden it. For acrylics, I just finish it off with Hut polish. I have done a CA finish on a fusion pen blank (wood fused with resin). I use the pen every day and I've noticed the CA finish starting to chip off on the resin portion of the blank only. I hope this helps!

[@robertmccabe8475]

@@WilliamWoodWriteLtd Thanks for the great advice!!

[@chrisjohnston2449]

how fast are you turning the piece? I like the tip of going the opposite direction (end to end) to get rid of scratches

[@WilliamWoodWriteLtd]

Hey Chris! Great question - we normally turn at around 3000rmp and sand/finish around 1000rpm

[@dondre5000]

I am constantly getting scratches in my pen. I even follow the steps you provided. The only difference is that I am not slowing my speed down when sanding. Could that be a big part of the problem?

[@WilliamWoodWriteLtd]

Hmm, I doubt it has to do with the lathe speed honestly. Maybe experiment with using more or less pressure when you're sanding. I tend to lean into it fairly hard and stop when I feel the blank getting warm.

[@amolwankhade9]

How can I polish inside diameter ..

[@skiprogers7978]

I was in Hawaii and this guy had wood pens with a glass finish. I asked if he used CA and he said he hasn't use CA in 10 years. Do you know of any element that you can use to give a glass finish?

[@WilliamWoodWriteLtd]

CA is by far the glossiest finish I've used. There's a friction polish by Doctor's Woodshop called "Pens Plus". You can build it up to a fairly shiny finish while maintaining a more natural feel to the wood. The Super Gloss friction polish by PSI is another glossy friction polish. I'm curious to know what this guy used!

[@elijahwilliams7975]

It's a huge pain to do the sending and polishing but worth it for the reactions I get personally from my pieces.

[@fountainpen1974]

Do you send to israel?