Casting Beetle wings

[JayDevin]

Over the weekend I went to a gem & Mineral show, I found a vendor that was selling Beetle Elytra wing covers, the Beetle is from Thailand.
So I made a casting plug for my mold, Painted the tubes, glued the wings on the tubes. Plugged the tubes with potato, suspended them in the mold.
and then I poured the Alumilite, and this is the result.

 

[markgum]

man, that looks like one BIG beetle to have wings like that.
and yes, you will cast anything.....

 

[nava1uni]

How big are those blanks? I am amazed by the things that you cast.

 

[cinder_ladylocket]

Let me tell ya....if that beetle was on me I would be a hollering for sure.......nothing worse than spiders, bugs and snakes. Hope to see a finished pen and maybe I might turn the other cheek and convince myself it would be ok to be writing with one!! I wonder if those are European bed bugs they were talking about.....ps-where is the rest of the beetle anyways......not eating out this week just in case.....

 

[td]

Good one Jay. Always thinking creatively. Now get back to work and turn that pen! :wink:

 

[JayDevin]

Ok for the record....
1 no beetle was harmed in the making of the casting.
2 the tubes are for the Jr Gent family of pens.
3 the wing covers are shed as the beetle grows...short life anyway
4 if you watch Dirty Jobs, many types of beetles are used by museums etc for their
"cleaning" attributes
5 the vendor was selling as jewelry accents ie Earrings....
6 I just used a round file on the tip end to assist in roundness
7 this is from the Green Jewel Beetle from Thailand

 

[wdcav1952]

I'm still going to report you to PETB (People for the Ethical Treatment of Beetles)!!

 

[arjudy]

Here is a picture of one.

 

[JayDevin]

Great Pic, alan
I could not find any of the Whole thing where I looked!
there is a Guy on Ebay in Thailand, with an offer of 400 wing covers.....
still debating if I want that Many!

 

[Manny]

Any pictures of beetle pens?

Would love to see one

Manny

 

[arw01]

chop them up and cast them?

Great Pic, alan
I could not find any of the Whole thing where I looked!
there is a Guy on Ebay in Thailand, with an offer of 400 wing covers.....
still debating if I want that Many!

Would your wife mind if you used her food processor to chop them up into a powder and put that into the casting resin?

 

[TellicoTurning]

Great Pic, alan
I could not find any of the Whole thing where I looked!
there is a Guy on Ebay in Thailand, with an offer of 400 wing covers.....
still debating if I want that Many!

You could always bug us with a group beetle buy - or would that be a beetle group buy :biggrin::biggrin:

 

[JayDevin]

Folks
I have not gotten back to the pen since the death of my dog,
I hope to pick up where I left off real soon

 

[Manny]

Folks
I have not gotten back to the pen since the death of my dog,
I hope to pick up where I left off real soon

My advice would be to start by making something in remembrance. It will help I promise. Also your friend would not have wanted you to stop doing something you love due to his/her passing.



again so sorry
Manny