casting

I have done a little bit of research on here about casting cholla and done a few successfully using Silmar 41. I love the way Curtis' blanks turn though and after watching his videos I thought I would give Alumilite a try. I first used some Alumilite regular just because I had some available...

Hi guys, Can you please put on your thinking caps and give me some advice? I have been sawing Banksia Pods for some pens I've been asked to make and it seems a shame to throw out the bits left over. I have broken seed shells (half round bit bigger than your thumb nail), slices of varying...

The odd things you come up with when you mix together different parts of the hobby. This was my first attempt to cast a pen blank that I had cut with a laser. I just used silmar 41 and coastal scents orange glitter. I did the casting upright in a pill bottle. I should have used my sierra mould...

Hi, Here are my first videos on casting snake skin. I am a total beginner so I thought newbies can probably learn from my mistake as much as success of other members here. Any helpful comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please note that I couldn't have even started...

Hello all. From most of the threads I have been reading looks like I'll need to get a pressure pot soon enough. What is the most economical (= cheapest) way to get pressure pot? Thanks Manny Champaigne test on beer budget!

I am starting out in casting world. How much is a good vacuum to pull in a small vacuum pot. Same goes for pressure in a pressure pot; how much pressure is good enough? Thanks Munawar

I have made a few blanks and have used clear acrylic with a few drops of dye in it to change it to the color I want. I've been having problems making the blanks opaque. I can still see through them. I was wondering if I'm supposed to use a powder type dye to make it opaque, or just use more...

I'm not even sure I will ever want to try using a pressure pot when I start casting but I have been curious about my paint tank. I haven't used it since I stopped working for myself 10 years ago. Dug it out tonight so I could post this pic. It says 25-40 normal working pressure, 50 psi maximum...

I received my gallon of Silmar41 today along with a set of transparent pigments from U.S. Composites. Was a little surprised that they are liquids. (which I guess shows how little I know):confused: Will these work and what should I expect for results or what should I be aware of for pitfalls...

My first Cigar pen casting name "Northern Lights" Emerald Green with gold micca swirl comments welcome. Mold use is from " thepenwizard.com ":biggrin:

My first casting of Abalone Green Heart shell pen, comments welcome!

Here's a casting made up of blue pigment /copper pearl -ex with micca white pearl -ex . using THEPENWIZARD Euro Mold. Comments are welcome !!!:smile:

First I like to say I was giving this euro mold to field test it by Joe Swall The Pen Wizard . I must say it works really easy and you save alot of resin using his molds plus no drilling is require because rubber stoppers block resin from entering tubes. The amount of resin use was 2 oz. for...

Here's my first PR casting done using .44 cents Christmas Postage stamps. The mold use was a Thepenwizard by Joe Swall Gatsby Mold and I must say using this design with rubber stoppers on the ends of tubes is the ticket, Nice mold can't wait to try my cigar mold next, Comments welcome !!!:biggrin:

I KNOW I have seen a thread on this before, but cannot recall if it was on IAP's site or the Yahoo Penturners group site, and the search was frankly no help. Of course, now that I am ready to cast some PR, I cannot find the info anywhere. I have read most of the articles in the library that I...

First time poster, so please be gentle.:smile: I need some help. I am custom casting these for a friend of mine and thought I had it all figured out. My prototype (on left) was made with the following process: 1. Scuffed brass tubes with 220, wiped clean with denatured alcohol. 2...

Hi, my name is Jason Reese, I am a technical sales rep at Smooth-On, Inc. I am new to the penturning craft, but would be willing to help with any moldmaking or resin casting questions you have. Has anyone tried any Smooth-On resins for casting blanks? Thanks. Jason jason@smooth-on.com

Yesterday was the first time I used Silmar 41 for casting. I got the affect of the colors I wanted, and it seems cured but when I sawed it into blanks you can bend and twist them. I used 3 drops of MEKP per ounce. What did I do wrong? Jack

Hey, I wonder if you can give some help - its my first time casting coffee beans. Basically I am using a 6" copper tube (1" diameter) with a stopper at one end. Tonight I measured the amount of PR that I would need by loading the pipe with beans and measuring the amount of water it took to fill...

I have read through the threads, and the library before I attempted my first cast. I bought some PR at Michaels 2-3 months ago, and stored it on the shelf in my pantry. Tonight when I opened it (for the first time) it is much like a very thick jello - it that normal? Way too thick to pour. If...