Ribbons in cast blanks

[Displaced Canadian]

How does one get the ribbons of solid color in a blank. I'm wondering about making something like a lucite blank. Solid color ribbon in a mostly clear blank.

 

[plantman]

How does one get the ribbons of solid color in a blank. I'm wondering about making something like a lucite blank. Solid color ribbon in a mostly clear blank.

Go on you tube and look up grub32. That's John Grabowski, a member of this site. He has a lot of videos there including a series on how to put ribbons in your blanks. There are also articles on this site about casting you could look at. Jim S

 

[PR_Princess]

Here ya go Chris -

http://www.penmakersguild.com/articles/ribbonprocess.pdf

Written by the legendary Jay Pickens. He is one of the first ones that I know of that ever did ribbons.

 

[its_virgil]

YEP! way before any one else!!! Read his article and watch the videos...hhmmmm.

I was at Jay's house just last week and we had a nice visit. Gave him a copy of the book. I've been trying to get him back to making pens again.I'm lucky he lives close to my daughter in the Ft. Worth area.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Here ya go Chris -

http://www.penmakersguild.com/articles/ribbonprocess.pdf

Written by the legendary Jay Pickens. He is one of the first ones that I know of that ever did ribbons.

 

[PTsideshow]

That info by Jay is first rate, nothing better out there!
:clown:

 

[Brooks803]

Instead of making my own ribbons (PITA!) I searched out some thin plastic sheets that would work. Did a couple trials that seemed to work out well. Never got around to finish turning them before my surgery & moving. Now I don't even know where they are. Gonna have to try and make some more I guess.

On a side note: If you can make your own thin ribbons go for it! This plastic worked, but I think the finished product would look better with PR ribbons.

 

[PTsideshow]

These are some of the perforated ribbon material I was asking about a while back. It can nice some great looks with the right colors.

These are the ones they sell at WC from beartooth woods
:clown:

 

[PenMan1]

IN THEORY, Jay's ribbons are simple to make and only require a mirror or pieces for framing glass in additional casting tools. I also like to use a couple of yardstick cut to the length of the mirror or glass to make a "template" for the ribbons to be a width that exactly matches the height of my horizontal mold.

IN REALITY, I agree with Jonathon. RIBBONS ARE A PITA. You spend a great deal of time watching resin cure, as the ribbons must be scraped up at exactly the right time. Too soon, and you end up with PR boogers. Too late, and the ribbons are to brittle to form interesting patterns in the mold.

 

[InvisibleMan]

I tried ribbons once. Once.

 

[ttpenman]

A question from someone who hasn't done any casting -- YET. Can you make a batch of ribbon with resin, bend them into shape in molds and then let them harden and do casting at a later date? Does that make sense? Seems it would be easier to do a bunch of ribbons at one time.

Just curious. I'm going to get up the nerve to start casting one of these days. (I have all the stuff!!)

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

 

[Craftdiggity]

A question from someone who hasn't done any casting -- YET. Can you make a batch of ribbon with resin, bend them into shape in molds and then let them harden and do casting at a later date? Does that make sense? Seems it would be easier to do a bunch of ribbons at one time.

Just curious. I'm going to get up the nerve to start casting one of these days. (I have all the stuff!!)

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

The short answer is yes. In fact, if I'm not mistaken that is what Jay does.

I prefer to cast the blanks while the ribbons are still a little bit tacky because I have it in my head that the bond will be better this way.