Thomas Canfield
06-08-2012, 10:11 PM
The presentation last month at the Hill Country Turners was about CA glue. Uel Clanton told some of his long history with CA from its early days and told how to use it properly for filling cracks. Uel recommended that thin CA always be used first to wick into the thin crack and then the gap filling Ca be applied liberly over the crack surface, even adding more as it is sucked into the crack. The use of an accelerator spray will then set the thick CA surface. The use of a thin coat of lacquer or shellac to the adjacent surface prior to using the CA will help prevent the CA discoloring the wood since the coating will be sanded off during the finish sanding. The big thing seemed to be using the thin CA to draw in the thicker CA to fill the gap instead of just bridge the opening. That was different and I wanted to share the info.
Since the meeting, I have had several opportunities to fill some cracks and splits. I use spray Deft to coat the area, then apply Hot Stuff Orig CA Instant Glue (thin), Hot Stuff Gap Filling Instant Glue (thick), and then the Satellite City NCF Quick (spray finish). The gap filling has worked out much better on cracks up to about 3/32". I have not tried the procedure with fill material, but expect that it would do well with something like coarse coffee grounds, or some of the coarser stone.
Since the meeting, I have had several opportunities to fill some cracks and splits. I use spray Deft to coat the area, then apply Hot Stuff Orig CA Instant Glue (thin), Hot Stuff Gap Filling Instant Glue (thick), and then the Satellite City NCF Quick (spray finish). The gap filling has worked out much better on cracks up to about 3/32". I have not tried the procedure with fill material, but expect that it would do well with something like coarse coffee grounds, or some of the coarser stone.