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16th Aug 2011, 10:05 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 952
| | Making feather pen Blanks? Hi,
Have been looking on the web but have not really found any sort of tutorial. Any one know how to or have a web page to send to.
Regards Ben
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16th Aug 2011, 10:18 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 952
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17th Aug 2011, 11:38 AM
| | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: brisbane
Posts: 89
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Bupton | Hi Ben
I was doing some searching for feather casting yesterday and couldn't find anything.....glad you managed to get a tutorial. saved me lots more searching  .
Anyone else in the casting world know where to get feathers from? | 
17th Aug 2011, 01:01 PM
|  | Most Valued Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: gold coast
Posts: 2,907
| | Try a search on Ebay for feathers ,should be some there  cheers ~ John
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17th Aug 2011, 03:48 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 952
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18th Aug 2011, 09:53 AM
|  | Turned a Few | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Canada Age: 66
Posts: 1,269
| | The few of us who are casting feathers don't use thread to hold the feathers down due to the fact that the tie down threads shows through the PR casting as you can see in Shane's great casting.
You won't find any tutorials on the "Thread Free" feather casting for obvious marketing reasons.
Les
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19th Aug 2011, 10:40 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 952
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Les in Red Deer The few of us who are casting feathers don't use thread to hold the feathers down due to the fact that the tie down threads shows through the PR casting as you can see in Shane's great casting.
You won't find any tutorials on the "Thread Free" feather casting for obvious marketing reasons.
Les | Hi Les,
Do you mean the thread will show at the end of the tube when the pen is turned? Also does this "thread free" style involve some kind of magic?
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22nd Aug 2011, 02:23 AM
|  | Turned a Few | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Canada Age: 66
Posts: 1,269
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Bupton Hi Les,
Do you mean the thread will show at the end of the tube when the pen is turned? Also does this "thread free" style involve some kind of magic? | Obviously if thread is used on top of the feathers the thread will be seen through the PR after it has bee turned.
Thread Free feather casting doesn't involve any kind of magic, just some imagination and initiative.
Les
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22nd Aug 2011, 03:10 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ottawa, IL
Posts: 5
| | The few of us who make feather blanks put months into making it work, coming up with ideas full of trial and errors. I know it took me about 6 months to finally get a blank that worked for me in my set up. You won't find what works for you unless you put in the time to try. There's no easy magical answer, it's lots of work, hours and supplies, not to mention loads of blanks that didn't work out. Lol Jump in and come up with something that works for you. Put your own spin on it. It might be the next big thing. Good Luck, and hope to see something new. | 
22nd Aug 2011, 09:59 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hunter Valley
Posts: 768
| | I understand all of the info abouve and have read the tutorial in the IAP library and understand what les means and I also understand that alot of guys and girls (Marla) have put in hours and hours to work out and come up with new ideas and my hat goes off to all of them but the only qustion I really have is how are the feathers stuck on ? The rest of the process can be trial and no doubt alot of error  and when I have the courage to attempt this process I am sure it will be fun.
Cheers Ian | 
22nd Aug 2011, 10:07 PM
|  | Forum Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nerang Queensland Age: 55
Posts: 5,168
| | Ben, some members have developed the techniques necessary for feather blanks but they are secretive about it, as is their perogative and we must respect that.
I have done a few, but I am still no where near getting it down perfect. We don't have access to the glue ranges others have in the US, which may or may not be part of the problem. I'll keep percisting, and if I do perfect it, will make the knowledge available to all. I'm not a believer in making people go through product development over and over again when it can be avoided. It is hard enough to learn good techiniques when you are being guided by someone who knows what they are doing, let alone when you are on the dark.
IMHO it is better we share our knowledge, there are so many alternatives to pen making, why make others learn the hard way
Cheers
__________________ Neil ____________________________________________ Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new | 
22nd Aug 2011, 10:08 PM
|  | Most Valued Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: gold coast
Posts: 2,907
| | Dorno, in light of the lack of information due to "proprietary " reasons , a couple of us are looking into ways and means to make this process more accesable to them who want to try ,once done on a repeatable method we will share with any who wish to have a go, and as we are working blind cannot possibly infringe on any ones methods  , Cheers ~ John
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22nd Aug 2011, 10:24 PM
|  | Golden Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hunter Valley
Posts: 768
| | I understand where you are comming from and do completley respect the guys that put alot of time into these processes and did not mean that anyone doesn't want to pass on there skills  I know all info will filter through in due process. I remember john and I shared a hour long phone call with the topic being braided steel pens. That phone call was extremely well recieved on my part and appreciated. so i do know that everyone shares info when they can.
So i hope my earlier comment was not taken the wrong way
Thanks everyone
Ian | 
23rd Aug 2011, 04:00 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ottawa, IL
Posts: 5
| | I hope my first post wasn't taken wrong. It's not that I dont share or have some secret to keep. I started making feather blanks about four years ago and the only guy doing it then was Shane Whitlock. Our process and feather blanks are nothing alike. I created a business making feather blanks , which I spend hours a day on. It started as a fun trial and error and is now a second job. It supports my pen making. I don't sell pens, but rather give and donate them to fund raisers and charities. Ive also given blanks to new turners for them to try other materials. I encourage all who want to try and look forward to seeing some new ideas. I'll help anyone with anything, just not the process I created for me. There's more than one way to skin a cat, just find what works for you. As we've all learned in life, stick with it and dont give up, Which is how we've all gotten where we are. | 
23rd Aug 2011, 09:22 AM
|  | Most Valued Member | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Munruben, Qld Age: 71
Posts: 10,177
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by dai sensei IMHO it is better we share our knowledge, there are so many alternatives to pen making, why make others learn the hard way
Cheers | Here here. Well said Neil. With all due respects to other members who don't subscribe to that philosophy; I thought this is what this forum was all about, helping and sharing with others. I have had so much help and advice from others on this forum over the years and am forever grateful to them and it kinda goes against the grain when I hear someone say "Do the best you can, I had to learn the hard way, you do the same." (paraphrasing of course) Surely that's not what it's all about. Thankfully, 99% of the members on this forum don't subscribe to that line of thinking.
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