First Casting with Mica Powders

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cwolfs69

cwolfs69

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
916
Location
portsmouth, va
Got my first shipment of mica powder last week from Coastalscents. I also got an order last week for a cigar pen in "black with just a little gold" from a lady who has purchase about 6 from me so far. So I decided to put the two together. Well I learned very quickly that it doesn't take much mica to go a long way. A couple of little dips with the end of a stir stick was all it took to color each cup of PR. Also learned that they can set up a little differently with each color. I thought the black would never start to thicken so I could put in the gold. Well I did manage to get it swirled in and then set for 2 days. Well the results are shown here for your review and critique please. I would love comments, especially those leading to improvement, from anybody. The blanks are now at my laser guy to be engraved. Will post the final assembled pen when I get it back.

Here is the cast block with the first blank cut off and being trimmed.
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Here the blank is rough turned. Notice the drop of CA to cover a bubble that showed up on the end of blank.
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Here the blank has been finish turned and ready for sanding and polish.
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Thuis is the blanks polished and ready to come off the lathe for engraving.
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Please comment and i will post the pen here when assembled.
 
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I think you did a great job! You have great color separation and flow. Now the trick is to try and duplicate it so you know you're on the right track! Bubbles are prone to happen, no matter what. If you're swirling you're putting air in. If the resin is too thick you know you've trapped air. If it's too thin then yea the bubbles will float out, BUT you won't get as good of a blank bc all the colors have blended together. You seem to have found that perfect middle ground (early on I might add! Took me months to get consistent blanks like that). What type of resin were you using btw? Again, great casting!
 
Charley- Great looking casting. After trying a few of my own, I can really appreciate yours. Looking forward to seeing the completed pen.

Cheers!!
 
I agree with above, you've achieved great color mix, and with two colors that go very well together. Nothing like when I started. Yours looks good! Keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing the finished pen.
 
You did good, Charlie. Remember how you did it now so you do not have to learn it all over. Thanks for the step by step photos.
Charles
 
HERE IT IS

well i picked up the barrel from the engraver last night and finished the pen. Finally got around to taking some picks of it and some others this afternoon. Well her it is. The first pen from my first use of mica powders;

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Well, let me know what you think and please be critical. Wont improve if you experts don't give me some tips.
Thanks
 
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