Stick Fast K575 CA Wood Finish Starter Kit

I bought the kit hoping to utilize everything but found a system that works better for me. Everything in this kit is great, but I found most not needed. Here is how I finish my pens. Once the blanks are turned I sand up to 600. I turn the lathe down as slow as possible in reverse and apply a coating of thin CA with a paper towel. Spray it with activator. I hit it very light with 320. I do this about 5 times. After the last coat I use the small foam sanding pads that go from 400-20,000. I start at the lowest one until there are no more shiny spots or lines in the blanks and work my way up. What I end up with is a perfectly polished pen blank and not having to mess with medium ca. Medium ca I tend to get more imperfections in the finish with lines that have to be sanded out. 5 coats of thin ca is fine for giving it good protection. You can do more to build it up better but I dont find it necessary. Some people just apply wax to the wood on their blanks so medium ca I find it very unnecessary. It also gives it a plastic type feeling since it's so thick. Everything in this kit is great but I wouldn't buy it again. I did try the polish and it works but the foam sanding pads at various grits are much faster and better. I also use these CA for other various wood working things. The medium is great for filling in small cracks or to stabilize pieces.

I had never tried CA finishes on my pens, and reading the hundreds of different protocols on the internet, the process looked daunting. I picked up this set because the instructions seemed very easy, and after only a couple of attempts, I was achieving a very nice finish. About the only change I made to the process in the instructions is that I sand my blank all the way through the micromesh series, then I wipe it down with mineral spirits and let the blank turn for about ten minutes to let any moisture evaporate before applying the CA finish. After the finish has been applied, I use a standard piece of 400 grit, then 600 grit, then run through the micromesh series again, and apply the satin then gloss polishes. Great stuff!The 400 grit abranet is next to useless, and the instructions claim that you only need to sand to 400 grit before polishing will give you a fairly dull, possibly spotty finish.

I really live the way this finish turns out! Its crystal clear and shines like a new car! One comment tho... the instructions say to build up the coats. I've found that you really only need about 4 coats if you are efficient about your sanding. It's a bit overpriced, so I am not planning on using the Stickfast brand polish. Overall a great product!

I have wanted to try using CA finish on the stuff I turn on my lathe. This kit comes with the materials needed to do several small pieces. I have done a small base for an oil lamp, a bowl, and a small candle holder and still have plenty of the finish left. The finish turns out as smooth and clear as glass and because the activator hardens the CA instantly, you can wipe the finish on, and sand and polish immediately. I would have liked more of the abranet abrasive because it is already pretty worn but using regular sandpaper seems to work just as well. It just gets loaded up quickly whereas the abranet can be dusted off easily. The gloss polish leaves the CA looking slick and clear. I can imagine a pen turner would be able to finish dozens of pens with this small kit.

I struggled with the cost on this as I still viewed it as just buying glue. Really this set is worth the money. If you add up each of the components out in this kit, it would total well above the kit price. While you are buying glue, you're also buying an astonishing pen finish that to me was unachievable before. This is a great system to familiarize the beginning pen turner to CA finishes. I am very impressed with my first two pens that I used this kit on.

This worked great for finishing pens. I wish it came with replacement tips for the glue bottles but that is to correct my mistakes. Great package and instructions.

As advertised, a starter kit. Glue and mesh far outlast other items. Will continue to by my glue and accelerator from stick fast. Better ways to polish. (If using this product, make two--not one--passes with the white polish. You can tell the difference.) Buy two large cans of accelerator for glue. Just passed the 200 pen mark with the first kit sans the accelerator Personal pen has taken a beating in my pocket, to the floor, and with temperature extremes. Customers love the results. Really think I'm talented; I know I'm finishing with the right stuff.

I am new to the CA wood finish. So far I am a HUGE fan. I found if I keep the CA in the refrigerator I get a longer working time. Great finish that is incredibly durable. I like this starter kit because it gave me everything I needed.