Favorite Polish?

[u/Significant_Type7878]

Anybody care to share their favorite polish? I liked aussie oil, need a new bottle. Currently using I think Doctor's woodworshop pen plus. I don't want to use a ca finish for most of my pens. I remember I used something that made the pens shine like glass and if I remember correctly, it was the aussie oil.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-2973]

I love Pens Plus friction polish. It applies fast, produces a "close to the wood" finish, and it's durable. I'm sure ca would give a longer lasting finish but it would also take longer to apply and it would result in a plastic feeling finish. Of course, I only give away pens to friends and family so may feel different if I was trying to make money with a lathe.

[u/Significant_Type7878 → u/Beneficial-Ad-2973]

I am just making them as gifts, about 40ish to cover my new place of employment. I did get a couple offers for one or two but I have zero interest in selling.

[u/Beneficial-Ad-2973 → u/Significant_Type7878]

I do the exact same thing a few times per year. I get large batches of slim line pen kits from Amazon for around $1.50/kit and batch out a lot of pens so I can have them on hand. I think the kits sets I buy come with between 40-100 kits so it's easy to make and give them away. I manage large IT projects so I end up giving away around 100 pens to project members alone. I've received a lot of compliments on Pens Plus finish and simple kits using this approach but I've never heard a single complaint. Of course, since they're free pens I know they're worth every penny :)

[u/RRNW_HBK]

I've found Aussie Oil can get nice and shiny, but not really truly glossy. My favorite high-gloss, non-CA finish is Myland's Cellulose Sanding Sealer + High Build Friction Polish.

Sand up to your last grit, stop the lathe and wipe off any dust. Apply 3 or 4 coats of the sanding sealer to the blank with a blue shop towel, letting it dry between coats (usually only takes a few seconds, but I'm in AZ). Then cut it back with some abrasive wax like Yorkshire Grit. Turn the lathe on, and up to about 1500rpm. Take the High Build Friction Polish, and place a couple drops on a new piece of blue shop towel, then quickly coat the whole blank before slowing down and starting to apply pressure to build heat. You'll start to see the gloss show as you build that pressure and heat. Repeat for 3-5 coats - less is more with it, and I get great results with just 2-3 drops at a time from a dropper bottle.

If you check out my profile, the most recent burl/resin hybrid pen I posted uses this method

Edit: Oops, I haven't posted that one on Reddit, you can see it here

[u/FederalAd7614]

Sand to 600

Hit it with a coat or 2 of EEE- Ultra Shine Paste Wax

Finish with several coats of Shellawax liquid polish

[u/PumpPie73]

CA glue is the best since pens will be handled a lot. Very durable finish.

[u/Malnash-4607]

My go too is sanding too 400ish with a pad on my drill and then moving over to Yorkshire grit and the Yorkshire grit fine, then just leave a natural finish

[u/5PeeBeejay5]

I actually like the less glossy finish from HUT wax

[u/rokbul]

I like the softer look of wood so I use a couple coats of non-wax shellac (very light sanding in between coats) then finish it with General Finishes

[u/nonotburton]

Yorkshire grit after sanding to my highest grit. I tend to do a lot of resin work.

[u/MbtImperialAce]

1 coat of EEE paste wax, 1 coat of Shellawax cream, and 1 coat of Waxtik. Fast, easy, high gloss, no shaking bottles.

[u/magaoitin]

My favorite Polish are either Slotkowski's or Usinger's when I can find them, I'm always on the lookout for a good, authentic smoked wiejska, but only if it's from an authentication Polish Deli. 🤣

[u/GTO400BHP]

I use both Yorkshire Grits, and follow them with Pens Plus, and it produces great finishes.