Finishes

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

The trick to getting the steel wool off your stock, or any piece of wood work, is an earth magnet wrapped in a paper towel.

Run it over the stock a few times and it will pick up every bit of left over nasties from the steel wool.  Try it.  It works.

Al @ THO

[Braz]

Great tip Al, thanks. I'll give it a try.

[Poor Valley]

Guess I'm gonna swim upstream on the finish issue because I use Minwax Polycrylic on all my turkey calls and strikers and love it. I'v used it for 6 years and the finishes still look good when I have a call returned for repairs.

I'm not a custom maker, but instead use a batch processor style of making calls that  doesn't allow for applying finish on the lathe. I either spray or apply with a small brush. Also since I don't want a high shine or reflection I don't use waxes over the finish.

Polycrylic won't tolerate any of the sealers I know of but the first coat of the poly is absorbed quite readily and acts like a sealer. Then back to the lathe for smoothing useing steel wool before the finish coats are applied. It is very forgiving and the resulting finish is very durable. It is extremely fast drying with no brush marks.

First time I saw this product used was on the fir floor of a screened porch by a guy's pool about 8 years ago. It still looks good.

[Braz]

Dang, now there is another one I am going to have to try. I will try it on the turkey calls I hope to make here in the near future. Thanks for the post.

[dogcatcher]

While you are out getting the poly acrylic, pick me up a can.  From all of the reading on various woodturning sites I haven't seen anything that would give me a reason to try it.  I guess that is what I deserve for listing to the "artsy farts" crowd, being a redneck I should have know better.  We have babysitting duty tonight but tomorrow I will be off to the big orange box.

Thanks Poor Valley.

Marvin

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

Marvin, when you get some time, please post some of the wood turing sites you visit.  I kind of get a kick out of those artsy farts   ;D

Al @ THO

[dogcatcher]

Here you go some artsy fartsy sites. 
http://www.allwoodwork.com/messegeboards/forumdisplay.php?s=4125be833ede40adf15077dad4befe97&f=4
http://www.woodturner.org/
http://www.woodcentral.com/
http://www.woodnet.net/forums/
http://www.woodturningonline.com/welcome.html
http://www.marleyturned.com/index.asp

Contrary to popular belief there are other things besides calls that can be done on the lathe.  I have found that a pen or bowl is real good mental therapy when everything is falling apart.  These are some of the less art and more turning sites.   I don't post on them, these are for information only.

Marvin

[Al_at_THO Game Calls]

Thanks - I need some therapy today LOL

Al @ THO