Show Off Your Stabwoods Thread

T0mmy1977

Super Member
ECF Veteran
  • Mar 1, 2015
    929
    1,402
    I can stop any time I want.

    IaPwi1y.jpg

    :shock:
     
    • Like
    Reactions: DeloresRose

    jandrew

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Apr 2, 2013
    2,109
    12,361
    Winnipeg

    DeloresRose

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Apr 25, 2014
    8,610
    63,106
    toledo ohio

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    I’ve been spending some time- a lot of time and a lot of elbow grease - working on sanding and polishing one of my Asmodus Thor’s.

    Asmodus doesn’t spend much time if any on the polishing aspect of their stabwoods since it’s time consuming and therefore costly. This is one way to keep the prices of the mods so affordable besides being mass produced.

    Some of their mods look fantastic with the matte finish but some just scream out for some loving attention and a shine!! A good sanding/polishing can take at least 40 hours by hand. That’s one of the reasons custom mods are so expensive (besides being custom of course).

    I started this thread not only so we could show off our beautiful “woodies” with each other but to learn the best ways to care and maintain them. Also to learn how to polish them to get a super glossy finish if that’s what you’re looking for in a particular mod.

    I’ve been using the MicroMesh method as described in the beginning pages of this thread as taught to me and others by a member of another group.

    I’ve been working on this mod on & off for quite some time and I’m getting pretty happy with the results. It definitely is a beauty with a glossy finish!!

    I’ve only done the one side so far and still need to put the “final” coat of either renaissance polish or acrylic coating on it. I haven’t yet decided.

    I forgot to take a b4 photo of the side I’m working on but you can see by the dull finish of the opposite side what it looked like and how it looks now.

    This is the dull finish before ...

    9707F8B6-D5B5-4FB6-BA1B-ADA9E5DB002E.jpeg


    Now the side I’ve been working on...
    A177CF78-2C26-40A7-8971-2AFDEE091C57.jpeg
    E1CAA1FD-AB84-41C9-8354-EC6354751BA8.jpeg
    B9581121-B531-4009-9789-F2D8066F3ED5.jpeg


    I’m really pretty psyched about how it’s coming out.

    So, has any other proud stabwood parent done any polishing that they’d like to share and how they did it.

    Or does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Especially regarding the “final” polish- oil, wax & buff or renaissance polish or even an acrylic finish?
    Thanks
     

    Rossum

    Eleutheromaniac
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 14, 2013
    16,081
    105,232
    SE PA
    Or does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Especially regarding the “final” polish- oil, wax & buff or renaissance polish or even an acrylic finish?
    CA, aka "superglue" makes an exceptionally durable and beautiful finish. It is commonly used small items that are handled often such as wood pens and knife handles, as well as many high-end stabilized wood mods.
     

    Doffy

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Mar 15, 2014
    8,220
    40,975
    Australia
    I’ve been spending some time- a lot of time and a lot of elbow grease - working on sanding and polishing one of my Asmodus Thor’s.

    Asmodus doesn’t spend much time if any on the polishing aspect of their stabwoods since it’s time consuming and therefore costly. This is one way to keep the prices of the mods so affordable besides being mass produced.

    Some of their mods look fantastic with the matte finish but some just scream out for some loving attention and a shine!! A good sanding/polishing can take at least 40 hours by hand. That’s one of the reasons custom mods are so expensive (besides being custom of course).

    I started this thread not only so we could show off our beautiful “woodies” with each other but to learn the best ways to care and maintain them. Also to learn how to polish them to get a super glossy finish if that’s what you’re looking for in a particular mod.

    I’ve been using the MicroMesh method as described in the beginning pages of this thread as taught to me and others by a member of another group.

    I’ve been working on this mod on & off for quite some time and I’m getting pretty happy with the results. It definitely is a beauty with a glossy finish!!

    I’ve only done the one side so far and still need to put the “final” coat of either renaissance polish or acrylic coating on it. I haven’t yet decided.

    I forgot to take a b4 photo of the side I’m working on but you can see by the dull finish of the opposite side what it looked like and how it looks now.

    This is the dull finish before ...

    View attachment 812287

    Now the side I’ve been working on...
    View attachment 812279 View attachment 812283 View attachment 812285

    I’m really pretty psyched about how it’s coming out.

    So, has any other proud stabwood parent done any polishing that they’d like to share and how they did it.

    Or does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Especially regarding the “final” polish- oil, wax & buff or renaissance polish or even an acrylic finish?
    Thanks
    The obvious downside of this is if you scratch or nick it, it'll be difficult to repair.

    Renaissance polish IS wax

    And keep in mind with any waxing, you really limit your retouch options. Nothing likes to adhere to wax
     

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    The obvious downside of this is if you scratch or nick it, it'll be difficult to repair.

    Renaissance polish IS wax

    And keep in mind with any waxing, you really limit your retouch options. Nothing likes to adhere to wax

    Thanks for the warning. That’s why I’m using MicroMesh pads.The key is to be very patient and work slowly using the highest grade pad as possible.

    Yes, I realize that renaissance polish is indeed a wax but I wanted to differentiate the product from other wood waxes/paste that most people are familiar with from the big box stores.

    It would take a great deal of effort on my part to nick the wood and a scratch well... that can be sanded out lol!! Stabwood is an incredibly hard product due to the process used in making it. That’s why it’s a perfect product for knife handles, high end pens, the list is endless and of course now vape mods.

    If you’re interested in seeing how stabilized wood is made I linked up a YT video near the beginning of this thread. There are also lots of others as well. It’s actually a pretty amazing thing to watch how it’s done. It gave me a new appreciation of what goes into making these products!!

    Do you have any preferred “final” finish that you can suggest?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: kas122461

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    CA, aka "superglue" makes an exceptionally durable and beautiful finish. It is commonly used small items that are handled often such as wood pens and knife handles, as well as many high-end stabilized wood mods.

    Yes I’ve read a bit about CA but I’ve never worked with it before so I’m not quite sure if I want my 1st project with it to be a $350 mod.

    Have you used it before? If so how difficult is it to work with and apply? It really would be the type of gloss and finish I’d like to achieve on this particular device.

    Any advice would be welcomed!!!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: b.m.

    b.m.

    Vaping Master
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Mar 30, 2014
    6,739
    21,015
    51
    Ohio
    Yes I’ve read a bit about CA but I’ve never worked with it before so I’m not quite sure if I want my 1st project with it to be a $350 mod.

    Have you used it before? If so how difficult is it to work with and apply? It really would be the type of gloss and finish I’d like to achieve on this particular device.

    Any advice would be welcomed!!!
    Haha,yeah a nice mod would definitely not be a good first try with it.I have not yet applied it to any mods or flat surfaces for that matter,but i do use it alot on pens,and it takes some practice to get it right.The good thing is,is that it's fairly easy to sand down if you make a mistake.
     

    jandrew

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Apr 2, 2013
    2,109
    12,361
    Winnipeg
    One of my pipes after a brief micro-meshing, a little oil, and finished with a bit of conservator's wax (like renaissance wax). This was only a short mesh session, not intended to go for a full on mirror type finish, just a couple hours to go through all the grades to bring up the lustre a bit.
    bn+pipe1.jpg
     

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    One of my pipes after a brief micro-meshing, a little oil, and finished with a bit of conservator's wax (like renaissance wax). This was only a short mesh session, not intended to go for a full on mirror type finish, just a couple hours to go through all the grades to bring up the lustre a bit.
    View attachment 812417

    Looks beautiful! Not all Stabwood is made for a gloss finish imo and the finish you have right now looks wonderful!! What kind of oil did you use? Mineral oil?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: DeloresRose

    Rossum

    Eleutheromaniac
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 14, 2013
    16,081
    105,232
    SE PA
    Yes I’ve read a bit about CA but I’ve never worked with it before so I’m not quite sure if I want my 1st project with it to be a $350 mod.

    Have you used it before? If so how difficult is it to work with and apply? It really would be the type of gloss and finish I’d like to achieve on this particular device.
    No, I've not applied it myself, but I do own quite a few mods that are finished in CA and I'm really impressed with it.

    At one point in 2015, I bought some other wood mods that were finished in polyurethane and the quality of the finish wasn't even close. I no longer own those mods.
     

    jandrew

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Apr 2, 2013
    2,109
    12,361
    Winnipeg
    Looks beautiful! Not all Stabwood is made for a gloss finish imo and the finish you have right now looks wonderful!! What kind of oil did you use? Mineral oil?
    A little coconut oil rubbed in before and after the micro meshing, then applied the conservator's wax and buffed with microfiber cloth.
     

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    A little coconut oil rubbed in before and after the micro meshing, then applied the conservator's wax and buffed with microfiber cloth.

    I’ve never used coconut oil. Must smell nice. What micro mesh grades did you start with then finish with? You didn’t really go through all of them or did you? Maybe that’s what I should be doing. I really like the “luster” on that. It’s not matte and it’s not semi gloss. That would look good one one of the EOS IIs. To only polish I’ve been using the finest one - 12000 I think. Maybe I should start lower.

    It’s a great looking e pipe and the finish looks great on it with that particular Stabwood coloring. I think it takes a good eye and experience/ judgment to decide what finish will work best with which wood and type of mod.

    Yours is really perfect!!
     
    Last edited:
    • Like
    Reactions: DeloresRose

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    No, I've not applied it myself, but I do own quite a few mods that are finished in CA and I'm really impressed with it.

    At one point in 2015, I bought some other wood mods that were finished in polyurethane and the quality of the finish wasn't even close. I no longer own those mods.

    I’m afraid to try it. Maybe I should practice with it on something else 1st. It’s not like it’s expensive. There are a couple of wood forums that chat about it.

    Better yet would be to find a professional to do it for me lol!!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Rossum

    jandrew

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Apr 2, 2013
    2,109
    12,361
    Winnipeg
    I’ve never used coconut oil. Must smell nice. What micro mesh grades did you start with then finish with? You didn’t really go through all of them or did you? Maybe that’s what I should be doing. I really like the “luster” on that. It’s not matte and it’s not semi gloss. That would look good one one of the EOS IIs. To only polish I’ve been using the finest one - 12000 I think. Maybe I should start lower.
    ...
    Yup, went through the standard 9-pad kit: 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000. Mind you, it isn't a fresh set (the 1500 in particular is pretty well used). It wasn't poorly finished to start with. Not a lot of surface area to cover, and I only spent perhaps 10-15 minutes with each grit -- for a couple hours total.

    I did the squonker I showed on page one of this thread the same way ... that one, however, could use a fuller treatment, starting with a really good going over with wet/dry 1000 sandpaper to get it to a better starting point, and then maybe and hour with each mesh pad.
     

    Fidola13

    Totally Stashed!
    Supporting Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Dec 20, 2017
    10,225
    57,024
    Boston
    Yup, went through the standard 9-pad kit: 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000. Mind you, it isn't a fresh set (the 1500 in particular is pretty well used). It wasn't poorly finished to start with. Not a lot of surface area to cover, and I only spent perhaps 10-15 minutes with each grit -- for a couple hours total.

    I did the squonker I showed on page one of this thread the same way ... that one, however, could use a fuller treatment, starting with a really good going over with wet/dry 1000 sandpaper to get it to a better starting point, and then maybe and hour with each mesh pad.

    Do you use the micro mesh wet or dry? On their website it says it can be used either way but I was worried about using it wet on the stabwood. It really shouldn’t be bad for it since the water shouldn’t be absorbed into the wood.

    On the mod I’m working on now I didn’t start with a low enough grit pad and my arm started to fall off until I went down to 3600 and lower. Lol!!
     

    Users who are viewing this thread