To activate or not to activate?

[John Terefenko]

I want to try your method. As mentioned, I don't do many pens myself (some friends and students do though) but I do use CA finish on other things. I'd like to try the medium over thin like you describe.

I've mostly been using the Parsons Parfix 3408 as recommended by Mark Sillay - it is thin, odorless, and has a 40 second cure time. This gives time to wipe on larger things, let soak in, then wipe off.

Also, what do you apply CA with? I've been using pieces of folded paper towel but they can smoke the heat from the reaction. I was told once to try the non-cotton batting used in upholstery which isn't supposed to react with the CA but it didn't work - maybe I got the wrong kind.

Do you have a good source for the Satelite CA?

JKJ

I always like to buy it direct from the source because I always know it is fresh. There are other vendors. http://www.caglue.com/ Lots of good info on their site too. May want to read into it.

I apply with blue towels from Walmart auto dept. When I micromesh I wipe and polish with Viva towels. I use to apply with those plastic bags that the pen kits come in but stopped that. I cut the fingers off a blue nitrile glove and put one on a finger when applying so not to get any on hand. I do not use on large projects so I can not speak to that but for pens I have never had any fogging or cracking.

[John Sanford]

I use activator, no blushing problems. I use small pieces of 3mm craft foam to apply Medium CA, 90% of the CA goes onto the blank, versus 25% with a blue paper towel. Cut the foam to the same size as your folded paper towel, apply pretty much the same way, using same precautions. Each piece of foam can be used 4 times. It's easy to build CA FAST this way, probably too easy. I've got to cut down on the amount I apply to the foam, as I can get pronounced ridges and such when the activator hits the blank, as there can be too much CA on there and it doesn't self level quite as well as the thin.

I think that environmental conditions can have a significant impact on working with CA, given it's sensitivity to moisture. So what applies in the semi-desert climate here may not be the same there in Tampa.