Penn State Industries PKCASTART1 Basic CA Finishing Starter Set Instruction Manual
- June 12, 2024
- Penn State Industries
Table of Contents
Penn State Industries PKCASTART1 Basic CA Finishing Starter Set Instruction
Manual
Set Components
-
Super “T”Medium CA
Medium CA is a high build formula for CA finishing. It will cure quickly compared to a Thick CA with less chance of cracking or bubbling and will require much fewer layers than Thin CA to build up good coverage. -
CA Accelerator Pump Spray
This CA accelerator Pump Spray will cause any uncured CA that it come in contact with to fully cure almost instantly. -
Plastic Finishing Pads
These pads will help smooth and polish the CA finish after it is fully cured. Each pad contains two color coded grits. -
One Step Plastic Polish
One Step is a final polishing medium for plastics. If the CA coating has been done correctly then wood will be encased in a polished plastic barrier. One Step can help buff and erase minor scratches that might be left over from polishing pads. Use to push the shine that extra mile!
Additional Materials recommended
- Regular grit sanding materials (rolls, pads, or sheets)
- Paper towel or shop rag
- Applicators (described below)
Step 1 – Surface Preparation
Once you have completed the turning, you must sand the barrel to a smooth finish using regular sanding grits approximately ranging between 150-800 grits. This step applies to wood both raw and stabilized and plastic/wood hybrids. Start with 150 grit (or close equivalent). For best results when moving to next grit, wipe workpiece clean to remove any debris or sanding grit from the barrel.
For each step to a new sanding grit, stop the lathe and use the next higher grit to cross sand in line with the blank while turning lathe manually. This allows you to see when all scratches from previous grit have been removed and identify deeper, problem scratches.
Once you have satisfied yourself that all the old scratches are gone, you can then continue with the lathe on. Proceed through all the regular sanding grits even to 800 grit (available in #SPSETMOD). Clean with a shop cloth or equivalent to remove all dust and leftover grit and move on to Step 2.
Step 2 – Applying Medium CA
Medium CA should be applied to the Spinning Lathe with an applicator. An applicator for CA would be one that will spread it while being less likely to be bonded by the CA even when used on spinning workpiece.
Recommended Applicators:
- Small baggies such as those that contain kit parts
- Craft foam (available at home craft stores)
Apply a moderate amount of Medium CA to applicator and apply with gentle pressure to workpiece with Lathe spinning at medium to low speeds to avoid splatter. It is important to avoid using high pressure during application which can cause friction heat to build up and bond applicator to the workpiece. Smooth the CA onto workpiece with light pressure to cover the entire surface and then use Spray Accelerator.
To us Accelerator hold pump 8-12 inches away from workpiece and apply one or two pumps for an even, fine spray while the workpiece is turning (either by hand or with lathe on). Do not over-saturate the surface or the CA may bubble and form crackling patterns. Before adding any more layers of CA, make sure surface is dry by running back of fingernail over the surface of the CA. This will check curing without marring it or causing any adherence to skin. Wipe surface to remove leftover accelerant before applying next layer of CA.
Apply at least 5 more layers of Medium CA using the above method and then proceed to Polishing Pad stage.
Step 3 – Using Polish Pads
The Plastic Finishing Pads must be used with water. Be sure CA finish has been fully applied to entire blank to avoid water reaching down to wood surface. When sanding wet, some splatter will occur. Lay down absorbent material to help clean up. Avoid getting too much water onto lathe.
Grits are color coded as noted on grid
Color| Yellow| Lt. Green| Orange| Purple|
Lt. Blue| Gray
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Grit| 600| 800| 1500| 2400| 4000| 12000
If starting surface is fairly smooth you may wish to skip the first grit to avoid unnecessary scratches. To use pads, fill a small container with water and momentarily dip pads into it. Alternatively, a few drops of water may be dripped onto the pad.
Apply each grit to the material while lathe is spinning. Rub pad lightly over the surface for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute. Check surface for smoothness, wipe clean with a cloth or shop rag and move to next grit. Once all grits have been used, wipe clean and proceed to using One Step Plastic Polish.
Step 4 – Applying One Step
Apply One Step with clean non-woven cloth or shop towel. Fold applicator cloth several times to help create a cushion for applying. Shake bottle well before dispensing. Squeeze a small amount (5/8 in. – 3/4 in. dia.) of polish onto applicator cloth.
Polish can be applied to piece either with lathe on or off. Rub vigorously across surface for approximately one minute. Polish may turn black if it comes in contact with metal – this is normal and should not affect a properly applied CA finish.
After initial application, re-fold applicator cloth to a clean section. Turn lathe on and wipe across surface to clean off and complete polishing. Once polish is fully cleaned off, examine workpiece and repeat application if desired.
Step 5 – Removal of Bushings
One issue that can come up at the end of applying a CA finish is that the Bushings can get coated along with the workpiece and make separation difficult. You are able to manually bend the two where they join and break through the CA, but this can risk the smoothness of the finish. You want to remove the bushings without cracking the edge of the CA finish you just applied. The way to do this is to Use a sharp hobby knife and carefully line the blade up with the separation between the workpiece and the bushing. Apply gentle pressure to the CA at the separation line while turning the lathe by hand. Increase pressure to cut the CA so the bushings can be removed.
© 2022 PSI Woodworking Philadelphia PA 19115 – v07/22
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