Dan Mosley
Member
- Messages
- 1,169
- Location
- Palm Springs, Ca
Decided to explore a couple different ways to make pens - First, I made a couple vertical molds out of PVC with a section of glove and a wood plug - swabed the inside with a bit of wax - then mixed up some polyester resin in a couple colors (trans tint) in some cups and poured it into the PVC molds - Let dry for 24 hrs - used a dowel rod and hammer and popped it right out easily - and then drilled and turned it down. See pic below
Learned a few good lessons here - first was mixing colors in the cups is fine but the amount of color added in can be deceiving - you think it looks great but when cured it came out a whole lot darker than I imagined - secondly, if it is to clear the brass tube will show right on thru it (which it did in the yellow area but not to bad) paint the tube or wrap it next time i suppose - Third, you really need very sharp tools and you should take very light cut in the beginning - Fourth, try to stir this stuff as slow as possible because even if you think there are no air bubbles you will be suprised to see them appear (hint i did repair alot with medium CA but its kind of a pain) - I sanded to 2000 and used Menzerna fine to buff out as last step but alot of people add a additional coat of Ren wax - Fifth, you really have no control over what it looks like (coloring) so its a gamble on how it will turn out when you pop out the blank.
I made a horizontal mold and filled it with wood chips and casting - ill post later when i complete it.............fun to experiment with this casting
Pictures 4-5 are the other Pens I turned out of wood, sanded to 2000 and finished with mylands or shellawax - nice finish - Done - a much easier process to do after going thru the above
Learned a few good lessons here - first was mixing colors in the cups is fine but the amount of color added in can be deceiving - you think it looks great but when cured it came out a whole lot darker than I imagined - secondly, if it is to clear the brass tube will show right on thru it (which it did in the yellow area but not to bad) paint the tube or wrap it next time i suppose - Third, you really need very sharp tools and you should take very light cut in the beginning - Fourth, try to stir this stuff as slow as possible because even if you think there are no air bubbles you will be suprised to see them appear (hint i did repair alot with medium CA but its kind of a pain) - I sanded to 2000 and used Menzerna fine to buff out as last step but alot of people add a additional coat of Ren wax - Fifth, you really have no control over what it looks like (coloring) so its a gamble on how it will turn out when you pop out the blank.
I made a horizontal mold and filled it with wood chips and casting - ill post later when i complete it.............fun to experiment with this casting
Pictures 4-5 are the other Pens I turned out of wood, sanded to 2000 and finished with mylands or shellawax - nice finish - Done - a much easier process to do after going thru the above