Patriotic "Original Cactus Blank"™
- Thread starter MesquiteMan
- Start date
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jimbob91577
Member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2008
- Messages
- 280
Why not - at first glance they look amazing...
USAFVET98
Member
I like this one a lot. I like the other ones on your site, but on a VA income, cant really afford one. I will get one eventually though. Anyone who know me on here, knows I am very patriotic, so naturaly I am drawn to this blank.
The mix of red, white, and blue are elegantly placed. The natural cactus is an added bonus. A little piece of U.S. to boot.
Thanks for sharing, and if you decide to sell one, please let me know.
The mix of red, white, and blue are elegantly placed. The natural cactus is an added bonus. A little piece of U.S. to boot.
Thanks for sharing, and if you decide to sell one, please let me know.
Glass Scratcher
Member
Very Cool! Curtis.
leehljp
Member Liaison
"Tell me what you think!"
What, post something that nice and not offer it for sale? What do you think we think! :biggrin:
GREAT looking blank!
What, post something that nice and not offer it for sale? What do you think we think! :biggrin:
GREAT looking blank!
Jim15
Member
I think it will make a great pen.
GregHaugen
Member
You're the man Curtis! Very Cool!
Druid
Member
Amazing Curtis, definitely "top shelf". Too bad your not offering them for sale. I'm sure we all know some folks including ourselves who would like to own one :wink: It is a great looking blank and can't wait to see a pic of the final product.
alphageek
Former Moderator
Curtis - Thats pretty cool.. However, you asked for feedback.
The only thing that I would say is that if I were to make a pen from that, I would want the blank sized for the pen I was making and would think that single blank pens would be best... Zen, sierra, etc. However that would mean sizing the blank with the final pen in mind.
The only thing that I would say is that if I were to make a pen from that, I would want the blank sized for the pen I was making and would think that single blank pens would be best... Zen, sierra, etc. However that would mean sizing the blank with the final pen in mind.
broitblat
Member
I think it works well. The bright colors and the cactus complement each other. You always seem to come up with something new and creative.
-Barry
-Barry
kirkfranks
Member
I think it looks too square.
How about posting a rounded up one.
I looks like it should come out great.
GaryMGg
Member
I think you should make two: one to keep just as is and one for making into a pen.
Very very cool looking.
Very very cool looking.
Mather323
Member
Very nice casting work!
areaman
Member
The viening really turned out nice!
Skye
Member
You know I love everything you do, but I'm reserving judgment on this one until I see it turned. I'm thinking that powdercoating the barrel red-white-blue may have been the way to go, but you always produce, so I could be wrong.
mostangrypirate
Member
I "think" that if you won't sell the blank then post a picture of the finished pen and just rub it in the rest of the way.
USAFVET98
Member
MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
Mostangry,
I no longer have the blank! I sent it as an unexpected gift to a certain disabled vet that frequents this site as my way of telling him thanks for his sacrifice to this outstanding country! I think he will be posting the pen soon.
I no longer have the blank! I sent it as an unexpected gift to a certain disabled vet that frequents this site as my way of telling him thanks for his sacrifice to this outstanding country! I think he will be posting the pen soon.
jyreene
Member
And selfless acts like that which make me all the more proud to serve. Way to take care of our vets.
As to the pen, I think it will turn out nice but would agree that a future blank might turn out a little better if it were made for the size of the pen. However I think it will still look rather nice as a cigar or Toni Twist or such.
As to the pen, I think it will turn out nice but would agree that a future blank might turn out a little better if it were made for the size of the pen. However I think it will still look rather nice as a cigar or Toni Twist or such.
MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
Yeah, it would be nice to be able to make it the size of a certain pen but I did not have any control over the proportions of RWB. I basically mixed 3 different cups of Alumilite white. In one I added red dye and in another I added blue dye. With Alumilite white you have 2 minutes or so before it sets! I held and poured all three cups into the mold at one time. Where the resin went from there was up to nature!
jyreene
Member
That makes sense. I imagine it would be pretty nice but since I know very very little about casting and your stuff looks pretty nice I will believe until someone, or you are, able to prove otherwise.
I'm going to have to remember your site because I plan on ordering some when I get back.
I'm going to have to remember your site because I plan on ordering some when I get back.
RHossack
Member
Outstanding!
As a Vet (semper fi) I can't thank you enough ... I was fortunate to go through 2 tours across the pond and escape with most of my faculties in place ... Thanks Curtis ... can't wait to see the finished product.
jyreene
Member
Ah, a fellow Marine. Having seen a few of the products Curtis offers on his site I can't wait to order a few when I get back home and show off some of my work on this site.
pianomanpj
Member
Curtis,
I love that blank, but you made it backwards! The red should be on the left side! :bulgy-eyes::laugh:
I've never worked with Alumilite, so I don't know it's consistency. With that said, here's an idea that MIGHT work... (YMMV)
Build a "vertical" mold that will hold your cactus blank on end. Only the end on the top would be open. A silicon mold, or other flexible mold, would be best for ease in removing the finished blank. First, put the cactus blank, sized for a snug fit, into the mold. Then pour the blue resin, followed by the white and red. I would think that by virtue or running down the skeleton of the cactus there would be more than enough resistance to keep the colors from mixing a lot, if at all. You could either premeasure the exact quantity for each color and make that amount, or just make a bunch and eyeball it.
Anywho.... my moment of inspiration has passed. Do with it as you will. :bashful:
I love that blank, but you made it backwards! The red should be on the left side! :bulgy-eyes::laugh:
I've never worked with Alumilite, so I don't know it's consistency. With that said, here's an idea that MIGHT work... (YMMV)
Build a "vertical" mold that will hold your cactus blank on end. Only the end on the top would be open. A silicon mold, or other flexible mold, would be best for ease in removing the finished blank. First, put the cactus blank, sized for a snug fit, into the mold. Then pour the blue resin, followed by the white and red. I would think that by virtue or running down the skeleton of the cactus there would be more than enough resistance to keep the colors from mixing a lot, if at all. You could either premeasure the exact quantity for each color and make that amount, or just make a bunch and eyeball it.
Anywho.... my moment of inspiration has passed. Do with it as you will. :bashful:
jyreene
Member
...so if he just turned the blank the other way....is that what you mean? :biggrin:
cinder_ladylocket
Member
I would call you a darn tease then, offering just to look at this marvelous blank that we all want and then squelching our desires just like that. Pffttttttt not nice, not nice.....I shall remember ......Cinder_LadyLocket
Texatdurango
Member
Assuming that is a 5"+ blank, for a single long pen such as a desktop pen the blank would look nice but for a two part pen such as a Jr Gent for example, where each half is about two inches long, a lot of one color will be cut away. I think the same idea in a 4 1/2" blank would work very well and still leave the same proportions of color.
Did you pour all three colors at once using a third hand for the third color?
pianomanpj
Member
Pretty much... I meant it in the same spirit as an old Three Stooges bit where Curly is trying to pound a nail into a wall head first. Moe informs him that that nail is actually for the opposite wall...
:biggrin:
MesquiteMan
Retired Head Moderator
George,
That obstacle is pretty easy to overcome. Simply cut a swath out of the white part in the middle to get each color to be wherever you want it on the respective parts. Cactus is so busy that you really don't have a real "grain" pattern to worry about as long as they generally line up.
And yes, all three colors were poured at the same time by me alone! Pretty tricky, that is why I can't produce them for sale at a price anyone would want to pay!
That obstacle is pretty easy to overcome. Simply cut a swath out of the white part in the middle to get each color to be wherever you want it on the respective parts. Cactus is so busy that you really don't have a real "grain" pattern to worry about as long as they generally line up.
And yes, all three colors were poured at the same time by me alone! Pretty tricky, that is why I can't produce them for sale at a price anyone would want to pay!
penhead
Local Chapter Leader
Curtis, you never cease to amaze me 8>)
I did three tours in SEA...thanks from another vet..!
I did three tours in SEA...thanks from another vet..!
Texatdurango
Member
Tricky.... that's an understatement! I am nervous enough using the clear in four colors in four cups, getting them mixed well then poured and swished just right let alone the time constraint of the white and trying to keep colors seperated.