Hi

Tomorrow night sees the last Conkers LIVE of 2021. It’s our Christmas Party, and you’re invited (of course!). So grab some crisps and nuts, maybe a glass of your favourite tipple, and join me and Emma Cook (the Tiny Turner) on the Chestnut Products YouTube channel. It all starts at 7.15pm; if you’re dressing up for the evening – or even just raising a glass with us – send us a picture and we’ll get it on screen if we can. You can also send in your favourite Christmas Cracker jokes – if favourite is the right word.
In amongst all the frivolity Emma will be giving a Christmas themed demo for us as well, so you will get your turning fix. Use this link to get to us.
And now we’ll get at those questions…

A regular correspondent emailed in this week, they’ve been given the job of making a stand which will be used for aftershaves and perfumes. What, they asked, would be the best finish bearing in mind the various chemicals in such items.
As far as I know, these things are alcohol based (similar to hand sanitizer!) so they are safe for skin contact and fast drying. It will still need something hard-wearing to stand on, and I’d guess there’s a potential for the surface to get wet as well. So the best option here is the Acrylic Gloss Lacquer. It’ll stand up to most things, and it should give the longest lasting option.

I know I’ve said it before; Sanding Sealers are woefully misunderstood and are frequently mis-used. This came home to me (again) during a phone call today, from someone saying they’d used the Cellulose Sanding Sealer then used an abrasive on it to the point of removing all of the sealer. This isn’t the point of sanding the sealer. Think of a sealer as a primer for painting (although it really is much more than that). You’d give it a rubdown with an abrasive before applying the topcoat, but you don’t remove it all. It’s the same for a sealer; although you probably won’t be able to see it, there should still be a tangible coating left on the surface.

Finally for this week, someone making wooden rings contacted us. These were of the type type that are made up of a two-piece stainless steel core, with the turned piece of wood sandwiched in the middle. Our question-setter usually turns pens, which he finishes using Melamine Lacquer. This gave the hard-wearing finish required, but he wanted something a little brighter for the rings. The only thing missing from his finishing process was the use of Burnishing Cream. I suggested using this on the last coat of Melamine Lacquer (up to three can be applied) and this will bring up a brighter finish. If the last coat can be left 24 hours before burnishing it’ll be even better.
And of course, the same trick works on any item, not just rings and pens!

That’s all the questions for now, but I’ll be turning the table on you all, on 29 December when we hold our second Twixmas quiz, and I’ll be asking the questions. We have great fun running them, and everyone who takes part enjoys them. You’ll have had enough of the TV and turkey by then, so why not join us? Put a note in your diary and I’ll put up a link next week.
Oh… and if you’re signed up for our alerts about the Woodturning Weekender, you’ll be hearing from me again on Sunday. Click HERE if you haven’t signed up but want to!

See you with more questions next week

Terry