How can i get a glassy finish on lathe-turned pens without scratches?
#1
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#2
I finally got my hands on a decent starter lathe for turning pens, but I’m really struggling to get a clean, polished finish without any tiny scratches or cloudiness. I’ve tried several different sanding sequences and a few friction polishes, but the results are just inconsistent. What’s the one step I might be missing to achieve that professional glass-like shine?
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#3
I finally got a clean glassy look when I slowed the final polishing pass and kept the lathe at a steady slow speed. Rushing the last few seconds always showed up as swirls under bright light.
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#4
Dust and oil across the surface wrecks the look for me. A quick wipe between steps and a clean buff cloth during the last passes made a real difference.
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#5
I swapped to a super fine friction polish and took the pressure way down. The finish stayed clearer, but I still had to be patient and not rush the buffing.
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#6
One time I skipped a fine micro-mesh step and the clouding came back after a couple minutes; tiny scratches weren't actually gone, just covered.
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#7
I keep thinking maybe the problem isn't the scratch but how the light hits the grain. In certain angles you see roughness that isn't there in other light.
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#8
Have you tried letting the finish cure fully and doing a final buff after it warms a bit on the wheel?
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#9
I noticed that resin blanks with a bit of oil bleed would cloud the shine even after good sanding; I started drying them more and the glass effect showed up less.
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