(08-22-2018, 09:40 PM)Arlin Eastman Wrote: I remember maybe 5+ years ago a few of our members had large vats of PEG to put their turned items in to soak for a while.
First I do not remember what PEG is or how long a shelf life it has or what the benefits are to doing it?
Can anyone address this for me and maybe others.
Had my fling with it many years ago. It was fashionable more than 15 years back, it seems. Works fine at 50/50 and >80 temp on thin work, but finishing, as mentioned, is virtually impossible. Since alcohols (Glycol) are hygroscopic, if you leave turnings unfinished, they will always feel clammy.
I use it for turned mallets only, now. Lasts forever in a covered bucket, if you don't mind the color and odor it picks up from the wood. Makes for a heavier, dead-blow mallet that you can turn heart centered. Sold and gave away many. Use them all the time.
Dish detergent was another fad which was really a dilute version of PEG. Remember the humectant that kept Madge's hands soft in the old commercials - Glycerol? Idea was not to use a full-penetration soak, but to take advantage of the slow evaporation and hygroscopic qualities to keep the first check from starting on turned bowls. Since it was PEG lite, you could get pretty much the same advantage with a couple of brushed coats of 50/50, avoiding the long penetrating soaks.
My experience with both was brief. There was no great advantage to either for the kinds of turnings I do, and a disadvantage in having to deal with soaking, finishing and fussing. Now I put the wet ones on the cement for a week or so, then up on the shelf where they can cure naturally. Having many in progress keeps me turning, but does eat up shelf space. Nothing at 3/4 to 1" rough takes more than a couple months to cure, and finishes are then my choice.
Better to follow the leader than the pack. Less to step in.
