Hi

I was going to write a ‘behind-the-scenes’ type Newsletter this week, but so many questions came in that I thought I’d save that for another week. I haven’t done one for ages, and there are a couple of interesting things going on that might interest you, but they’re not going away (sadly in some cases, more and more red tape!!), I’ll tell you about them another time.

This one has cropped up in a different form before, when I was asked about the best way to make sure the bark stays attached on a natural edge bowl. (Glue it back on when it falls off was the answer!)

What about treating a large area of bark on a piece? As with the natural edge, there’s no way of sealing it to make sure it stays put, but putting a coat of something on top of it may keep it in place a bit longer.

The best option for this is probably our Finishing Oil. It soaks in nicely and doesn’t leave an overpowering finish on top, and this will also help bind the bark to the wood underneath.

A couple of questions about the Buffing System to finish off with, this week.

The first one is about the Dome Buffs; will they achieve the same finish on the inside of a bowl as the one the Buffing Wheels give on the outside?
The answer is yes…but it can take a while.

The Dome Buffs are much smaller, and their pattern of contact is very different to the wheels. We’d suggest using a bit more speed with the domes, and spend longer with each grade to get the best finish possible. Your patience will be rewarded!

I’ve been asked a few times in the past how to tell if the Carnauba Wax Stick is transferring onto the C Wheel, to make sure it is properly loaded before buffing.

My normal answer is to say that if the stick is being polished to a gloss, the wax is also going onto the wheel. And, frankly, as long as the wheel is running fast enough (about 1000rpm) and good contact is being made, the wax has no choice but to transfer onto the wheel.

Nathanael mentioned another tell-tale that I hadn’t considered; when it melts, Carnauba Wax gives off a slight caramel type aroma, so you might be able to smell it as well!

By the time this Newsletter drops into your inbox, I’ll be on holiday. A chance to recharge my batteries before we start preparing for the Harrogate Show and (dare I say it:) Christmas!

You’re welcome, as always, to reply to this, but this year I am trying my best to switch off, and I won’t be reading emails. They will be monitored, though, so don’t worry if you need to ask about something, you will get an answer.

And, hopefully Nathanael and Mel will be able to find time to cobble something together for the next couple of weeks, and you’ll still get your Newsletter fix.
As for me, I’ll see you again in October!

All the best

Terry