Hi, I'm Brad, and I'm now addicting to pen casting.

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jbswearingen

jbswearingen

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
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752
Location
Bowie, MD
Yeah, I like it. I think I'm gonna start putting these on my ETSY page...I've had the site for three years, I think, and have never used it.

Wonder if I can start selling these to help pay for my addiction?

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I love it!
 
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Yep, me too.........

Those are beauties !

I've just done my first castings, and I though pen turning was addictive ! Now these..........when will it stop :biggrin:
 
Ha! Sadly it doesn't work well when the blank is still square...works a dream once it's round and the shavings are many feet long!

This stuff is more addicting than heroin...
 
Hi Brad, very nice looking blanks. Do you have any video of how you achieve this effect? How much resin are you using to get 5 blanks? Have you tried casting in tubes? I get 18 x 3/4" blanks from 20oz of resin when done in tubes. I have some of the 9oz oblong molds that give 3 blanks @ 3/4" but they are far too wasteful.

Have a look here and see what you think.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f43/my-first-batch-castings-100939/

Eric...
 
If you start selling them then you have to deal with taxes and all that garbage. I think you should give them away to all your friends here on IAP. LOL
 
Wow!! Looks great Brad. Never could get the hang of horizonal molds. I use mainly PVC in vertical. What is the secret?????????????

Dave
 
ericofpendom said:
Hi Brad, very nice looking blanks. Do you have any video of how you achieve this effect? How much resin are you using to get 5 blanks? Have you tried casting in tubes? I get 18 x 3/4" blanks from 20oz of resin when done in tubes. I have some of the 9oz oblong molds that give 3 blanks @ 3/4" but they are far too wasteful.

Have a look here and see what you think.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/f43/my-first-batch-castings-100939/

Eric...
Click to expand...


Eric--

Thanks! I want to say I'm using 12.5 oz for this one cast, but it's on the thick side, so I'll probably take it down to 11.5 oz. That gets me five blanks that are >3/4" square and 5" long. I don't have any video; I simply watched all that I could find on YouTube on PR casting and adapted to suit what I have on hand. I haven't tried casting in PVC yet, but that's my next thing--I want to start selling these, and need to figure out how to sell them at a good price AND make a profit...I have a motorcycle trip this summer and I promised the missus I'd do my best to pay for it through pen sales. This is just an extension of that desire.

I read your page, and have seen videos on YouTube explaining your method. My problem is that it's in the teens and low twenties right now. I have an attached garage I work in, which means I have to leave the garage door open when I pour, else the house stinks. I can put the square molds in my toaster oven and have them cured an hour after I pour...I don't think PVC tubes standing up will fit. I'll figure something out, otherwise it'll take days, at best, for them to cure at these temps.

Boz said:
If you start selling them then you have to deal with taxes and all that garbage. I think you should give them away to all your friends here on IAP. LOL
Click to expand...

:wink:

I sell the occasional pen here and there, really just enough to sometimes pay for the hobby. If I get "big enough" that I have to worry about taxes, I may see that as a blessing in disguise!

cnirenberg said:
Great looking blanks. Keep us posted if you start selling them off.
Click to expand...

Actually, I'd start selling them now if I knew the price per blank for production. In a couple weeks I should have a definitive answer--I know how much similar blanks are going for, but I need to know whether those prices are sustainable.

Send me a PM with color combinations you're interested in. I plan on making others.
 
Eric--

I tried casting in PVC over the weekend, but found that I can't get the same swirling patterns. Oh well. The round saves nearly a whole ounce of PR over the square blanks.

Now that I know that, I can continue on. I've ordered another gallon to keep going (I burned through that first gallon quickly while experimenting). I've also ordered more colors of Pearl Ex. I'll soon put an ad up in the Classifieds here selling them for $3.50/$3.25 individually/5-pack once I have a good, varied selection of colors.
 
Okay, so I think I've figured out my method--Wait until it *just* starts to gel, pour in the first color, then pour the other color over that. Swirl like you would marble a cake batter, and then toss in the oven.

Whatcha think? I didn't polish the second one, just wet sanded with 600 to get it smooth.

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"I can put the square molds in my toaster oven and have them cured an hour after I pour...I don't think PVC tubes standing up will fit. I'll figure something out, otherwise it'll take days, at best, for them to cure at these temps."


Just a word of caution. I have been addicted to the casting lately as well and am using the PVC method for molds. I tried to complete the curing in my toaster over and the darn thing nearly burst into flame! the PVC DOES NOT DO WELL in that thing. :eek: anyway, lost that batch, but have been continuing to see what else works and how to get the swirls and such into the round tube molds. the wife found some cake decoration syringes (for lack of a better term) and I have learned to use those to get more than 2 colors in the molds as well. at least one time, haven't tried to use them again due to weather....:rolleyes:
 
Will someone please take Charlie W out behind the shed and teach him what it means to share !!!!

"......sell only to the local guys."

Didn't your Momma teach you how to play nice?

ROTFLMAO.
 
Well my friend,..........

.........since I so graciously helped you with your photos, directed you to the proper FREE photo editing program I am expecting a blank or two also! ??? LOL Be well, nice blanks.....Jan
 
Is this..........

jbswearingen said:
Okay, so I think I've figured out my method--Wait until it *just* starts to gel, pour in the first color, then pour the other color over that. Swirl like you would marble a cake batter, and then toss in the oven.

Whatcha think? I didn't polish the second one, just wet sanded with 600 to get it smooth.

2013-01-30165501.jpg
Click to expand...

...the Silver and Gold?
 
Janster--

Yes, and the second one from the left became this:

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Mike--

No, it's a 1971 Delta Rockwell 46-201 that I found on CL a few years ago.

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