Hi All,
Time I tried some of this casting business. So I have a few questions?
Where do I get a casting mould for pens from (vic preferred). Or do I make one?
Second where do I get the casting resin for pens from (vic preferred)?
And which one do I get (what do most use), I've seen polyester and epoxy etc..
I guess I'm asking where in Melbourne can I go to talk to someone about it all..
Thanks in advance.

I get my polyester resin (PR) from Fibre Glass International (although looks like they may have changed their name), they have an office in Melb, see Springvale VIC | Nuplex Composites

If you are just starting I recomment using PR rather than epoxy, it is simpler and cheaper. You can make you own molds, do a search, there is plenty of info on the forums. Or, you can buy some that are well made from Handcrafted Pen and Bottlestopper Blank Molds. He may be from USA, but it is still cheaper than buying silicon here and making your own. NewLondon here on the forum also sells molds.

Good luck, you can have a lot of fun with casting, but it is addictive like pen turning.

Cheers

__________________

Thank You,
Going to order a mold tonight, I have made mold for lead casting before so may make the next ones. Which of the casting resins do I use for the pens or does it change if you make coloured casts and embedded casts? (I have a few bags of gum nuts and shells).
Guess I'm going to springy in the morning as well.
Thanks again.

I use the clear casting PR. Do a search on Dai Sensei, I cast anything and everything

__________________

Yes, I'm still trying to suppress my gag reflex after one of your recent efforts

Any chance of a list of the items you've cast?

__________________
-Scott

Men admire the man who can organize their wishes and thoughts in stone and wood and steel and brass - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Went past Nuplex Composites this morning but they are closed until next week. I can wait that long. There was nothing on their website saying closed over the week. Then I can experiment.

You may find this list helpful
Moulding & Casting Supplies - Scenery Supplies - Sets, Props, Scenery, Display, Special Effects, Staging, Rigging, Lighting, Audio, Theatrical Supplies

Cheers
Tony.

__________________
** Mechmate CnC 2440 x 1220 - 2.2Kw Spindle - Mach3 - Aspire 3 **
www.perfectpensandpencils.com.au
www.facebook.com/perfectpensandpencils

Yeh I rang them today but no answer. I used the last of my 20ltr drum boxing day

__________________

Neal,

I have a new 4lt tin here if you need it to get you out of trouble

Cheers
Tony

__________________
** Mechmate CnC 2440 x 1220 - 2.2Kw Spindle - Mach3 - Aspire 3 **
www.perfectpensandpencils.com.au
www.facebook.com/perfectpensandpencils

Thanks for the offer.

I have a visitor from Darwin to look after for the next few days, not a pen turner, that should keep the addiction away

__________________

Follow neil's advice. He's the Masterchef of casting

I too use FGI. My 20lt drum of Polyester Resin is running out fast though, so i'll have to get some more soon too.

One thing to watch out for, some Polyester Resin is supplied with wax in. You do not want the waxed variety.

Russell.

__________________
Pen Affair Craft Supplies - Cheapest Pearl Ex & Pemo Polymer Clay in Australia
http://craftsupplies.penaffair.com

Hmm - Wood, bark, gumnuts, gum flower caps, sawdust, rice, pasta, peppercorns, corn, coffee beans, coffee grinds, sheoak pods, cedar pods, pinecones, feathers, watch parts, labels, butterflies, spiders & other insects, reptile & animal skins, chilli, stainless steel, copper braid, ribbons, bones, crocodile jaws, banksia, Norfolk Island pine fron, palm seed fron, tree fern, metal filings .......... and doggy doo-doo

Probably more, just can't remember, been doing it for a while

__________________

Sounds like dried meal worms is next. Maybe maggots for a fisherman.
OK my next question is about the pressure and vacuum part.
If I'm embedding stuff for pen blanks do I need to do this for a good result? I've got a compressor I can use. I've also got a food vacuum machine (which I've used successfully used for veneering).

Yes pressure is best as it makes the resin get in every nook and cranny. Vacuum can be used to remove bubbles from the resin, but I don't use if for casting unless pure resin blanks, as it causes more bubbles than it removes.

The only thing I use vacuum for these days is for stabilization.

Cheers

__________________

I have already been thinking for pressure cure. Maybe an old pressure cooker with fittings in the lid. Nope pressure cooker is only good to about 15 psi and I've seen on a youtube that I'll need about 50. Went looking on ebay for something suitable. Not having much luck there either. Did find the big paint ones that go to 60 psi but 250 bucks is a bit rich and the 2 litre ones are 150 new. Need to hunt down a second hand 10-20 litre one of those I'm thinking.