Abrasive Paste Review for Woodturning

In Abrasive Paste Review for Woodturning, I review different wax based abrasive paste used like liquid sandpaper to eliminate fine scratches in your woodturning with less sanding. I include my homemade abrasive paste of mineral oil, beeswax and diatomaceous earth including using a 500X digital microscope to evaluate the wood surface.

[ACKSWOODPASTE]

We couldnt agree more, we have tried our paste over and under, polys, shellacs, lacquers and did not have any problems, there are a few videos stating the abrasive pastes is not compatible with shellac for instance, it leaves "rings", we have never found any of those videos to be the truth., or the finish will not adhere no matter what you are using for a final finish. Lately we have had a lot of our users using and experimenting with our pastes over and under different finishes and everyone is having good luck with all finishes from what we are hearing. Personally we use the abrasive over CA finish to take down ripples and shine it up which works well, there are so many combinations. For the record, we never put the carnuba in our abrasive paste, We use a large amount of carnuba in our polish only. and we never, never use D .Earth in our abrasive, we pay top dollar for our lapidary company that refines our tripoli grit to certain QA standards to assure the very same grit and size is added to our paste. so one container of abrasive paste is identical to the next and the all perform exactly the same which we feel is important. Thanks for the video, it was very well done and very informative. Tom n Annette

[chucksmith]

Thanks, Mike. Very informative. I've never used paste. I sand to 400 grit stopping between grit to sand with the grain. Then finish with the sanding sealer, then sand again with 400 grit and finish with lacquer.

[MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry for the false start with the first version of this that did not have sound and thanks to you guys who let me know.

[GordonRock]

Very interesting, Mike. Great information to have! Thanks!! 👍👍

[RickTurnsWoodturning]

Excellent video, Mike! I love the microscopic images showing the sandpaper grits. Have you thought about using your microscope on tool edges - such as before and after sharpening regular tools and carbide bits. Merry Christmas, Mike.

[ffaubert]

Thanks Mike. Very informative and timely since I've started using Yorkshire grit and Aussie oil for finishing. Loved the look on your face when your phone went off lol.

[denverlewis]

Very good info, thanks for taking the time to do these kind of thing, so we don't have to. It's a big help.

[curtisstacy]

Great video. We can never get enough knowledge. Thanks again.

[MCsCreations]

Pretty interesting, Mike! 😃
Thanks a lot for the tips!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[johngriffiths]

When your video about making one's own abrasive paste came out I cooked up a batch as well as the sanding paste then made up enough of each til my beeswax ran out. Have not used it as much as I could have but am going to do that. Have not tried Acks or Yorshire Grit.
Very informative and a scientific look at the topic, thanks.

[dougrowe]

Hey Mike thanks for the information. As always you make me a smarter woodturner every time I watch your videos. I also want to send you an invite to Eddie Castlin's world wide woodturners zoom meeting on Wednesdays. We had a new turner ask what is the best way to store his turning tools. I pointed him in your direction. I told him to watch your shop tips and to look for the triple tier tool holder you made from an old office chair. Thanks again for all you do for the woodturning community.

[claytonbink]

Thank you, Mike, for a very informative video!!

[robertcloosterman]

Hi Mike. Thank you, very informative. I looked at your link to making your own. Mmm, must try that some day. Not a fan of abrasive paste but I can change. Thanks again. Rob

[jamiemcdonald]

Im a fan of the yorkahire grit. Good stuff.

[jamesstanlake]

Thanks for your review on the electric chain saw. I liked it so much I ordered one and it arrived today. Long time viewer of your channel and while some of the content is geared for new turners there is always something a well seasoned woodworker like myself can always learn something new. While you are talking about abrasive pastes and sandpaper you shouls know there are many different sandpapers out there. I like the micro sandpaper as all the grit is the same size to you get a variety of grit size with the big stocks sell. This is important as when you sand through the grits removing the scratch lines of the previous grit is the goal. I have found that I don't have to use finer grits than 220 grit along with abrasive paste..

[whsii]

Mike, I use abrasive pasts much differently than you do. I sand the raw wood to at least 800 grit, 800 grit will still have scratches, but not detectable by the human eye.
Once you have reached 220 grit sanding, the 320/ 400 sanding, the 500/600 sanding and the 800 grit sanding are quick and clean. Half the time or less that it takes to do a good 220 grit sanding.
I then use sealer or preferably, Parfix 3408, which is a thin superglue, that sets up slowly. It can be wiped on, without the lathe running, and then wiped off. A light spray of accelerator sets it. THEN, use the pastes as you described. I have used Axe and Yorkshire products in the manner that you described, with great results. I then put a coat of Renaissance wax over the bowl and I am done.
You get a great shine before the wax, the wax adds depth and protection.
From what I have experienced, the pastes work best working on a sealed / finished item, but will surprise you with a richness on wood finished to 800 plus grit. The pastes do fill minor imperfections.

Hope this helps,
WH

[prsearls]

I've not used abrasive paste yet but would like to try some for maple and cherry turnings. Thanks for your comments and conclusions; this will help me make a more informed purchase.

[diydarkmatter]

i use the acks wood paste mike i love that stuff i really dont know how much the grit takes you up to but i do know i sand up to 500 to 1000 grit sand paper . when i use the paste even at 1000 grit i can still hear the paste sanding . now weather or not it is sanding to a higher grit then 1000 grit i dont know but it always has a really smooth surface and the waxes in it seal the wood so that the finish will not sink into the wood . i use less finish and get a great even coat most of the time . would love to see what your microscope could tell us about how far the sanding paste can go . if sanding it up to 1000 grit is even worth the time . i know most wood turner's dont sand much higher then 600 grit most of the time but i sure would like to know how far that sanding paste will go to . be great to say hey its sanded to . if you know what im saying . thanks mike real interesting watching you work that toy of yours .

[bernardfutter]

I agree with you, Mike, that sanding sealer definitely helps at times with filling the two end grain sites on some items, but otherwise it's use is just an unnecessary inconvenience. When I can, I minimise sanding by giving a final scrape with a carbon steel edge. Also, pure beeswax directly applied to work looks wonderful and smells good, but really does pick up dirt. Generally, Danish Oil remains my first choice. Bernard.

[jarmstrong]

Thanks, Mike! I did an evaluation on different abrasive pastes for my own knowledge. I basically came to the same conclusions as what you indicated.

I did mention in another wood turner’s Youtube channel that I found no difference between the commercially available pastes to the homemade. The only noticeable difference was their cost vs the $2.00 to make your own. One manufacturer disagreed with my evaluation; which is understandable.

But, when I heated the different commercial pastes and put them into a centrifuge to separate the components, I basically found the same materials as the home brew stuff. The only noticeable difference was their use of carnauba wax that seems to provide a more durable finish. One manufacturer uses some stabilizers in their mixture, but does not improve or degrade the finish. It just keeps the mixture more homogenous without constant stirring prior to hardening.

One other manufacturer uses a combination of abrasives in the paste, but found little or no difference from the others in the end result. The only noticeable difference was a lighter wallet.

In conclusion, proper sanding is the key to a good finish as you indicated and the paste can only do so much without that important step.