Boys and Girls,

I don’t want to get into a pissing contest

about the pros and cons of using CA finish on pens… or even in the number of coats to apply.

 

This is for those that happen to use CA with a generous number of coats.  They may find that  they need the assistance of one (or both) of SWMBO’s hands to satisfy the progress recording.  

Now it’s not that I’m discouraging her delightful presence in the workshop, however, an over active mouth near an unprotected ear may be too much for some to handle.

 

Reading pottzy’s blog (I think it’s him… the capitals threw me… though the avatar doesn’t lie) about Glues,Adhesives,Epoxies and talk about CA prompted me to post this so I could link to it.

 

I have migrated this hint from LJ that was posted on the 21st. October, 2020, 

 

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Boys and Girls,

If you've never turned a pen and I don't mean on a lazy susan,

or never intend to turn one, there's nothing here for you and recommend you exit.

If you do indulge in pens and never used or intend to use CA finish, pretend you never intend to turn one and go to the previous sentence.

If you hate reading as much as I do, skip to the last two pictures, though you may never know what this crap is all about.
 
For all you CA finishers… 

and I don't mean automobile without its R's… how many times have you lost track of the number of layers you put on?

If you only lay down 1 or 2, which is bugger all, pretend you don't use CA finish and go to sentence 2 above.

For those thrilseekers that wish to continue, don't forget you can always end your sentence on the current line and simply exit.
 
When finishing a pen blank,

I usually apply 20 layers of my CA and BLO concoction,

To 4 drops of CA on some paper toweling, I add 1 drop of BLO.
This I apply to the blank (initially sanded to 400 grit) with the lathe running at around 1,800rpm… and tear the "infected tip" off the strip of toweling after application. I usually apply 5 layers and then go for a vino break to give the CA time to cure… Not for too long, but enough to lose count… especially after a few breaks and vinos.
 
Now for a history lessons… I used to depend on finger counting when I started pen turning and only applied around 5 layers, but as I got more adventurous I upped my layers quota and quickly ran out of fingers.
Initially I used a "blackboard" and chalk to keep trace,

Then I graduated to a "whiteboard" and chalk. I found I couldn't read the white chalk so I replaced it with a green whiteboard marker,

but that was a long walk in the workshop for each layer (purple dotted)

so I graduated to a small "whiteboard" at the lathe,

The problem I had was that I was always picking the marker off the floor,

I then progressed to these counters that I purchased from Bunnings… 

 
I initially thought of buying 20 of them and moving each one to a new pile as a progress marker, until I realised it had a lever and pressing that lever I could record the new layer by incrementing the counter. When the display reached 0020, 

I reached my target and was finished… just don't forget to look at the counter regularly or that 20 may have inflated.
One of the beauties of this counter was that you could keep an accurate count even in the dark, as long as you could find the lever and don't accidentally push it when searching for it… accidentally recording a "missing" layer.
One thing I also found was that if you missed your mark and laid down 21 (or 22), you didn't have to press it 9997 (or 9998) times to get to my accurate destination of 0020, but just clear it and cheat by only quickly pressing it 20 times (sshhh!).

Unfortunately, I often forgot to press the lever with each layer, so by the time I was finished (gut feeling and CA shortage), the counter only registered 3 or 4 layers. I needed a better counting method!

Consequently, to solve my math's issue, I now simply drop the torn off piece of applicator into a receptacle/tray… this is where you impatient buggers should have skipped to (last 2 pictures)… 

 and when I have a pile of 20 I'm done… just ensure you use the same basket all the time and you don't get a flash of cleansies and empty it out before you finish applying all the CA layers.
 
For all you readers that skipped as suggested, you should be glad, but you won't know why… And for all the others that didn't, don't you wish you did?
 
Keep safe.