Goodonya John.

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I'm not fat, I'm just easy to see
Cheers John

And if we all sit around and wait for someone to tell us how to do it, this craft will never move forward and we'll all be doing the same thing. Not sure what's wrong with doing a little work ourselves and coming up with our own way. If I would have just copied what Shane Whitlock was doing, no one would have ever seen a ringneck pheasant, amherst or grouse pen. Just what Shane was showing us. I'm thankful he tried something. It and he inspired me.

Taking it a step further is what I hope to see from someone. Like Bruce did with the Franklin blanks
instead of just shredded money, or Dawn and Brooks with their resin, instead of just pouring a color.
Why do some sit and wait for the easy answer so to copy others. What's wrong with being original. Im sure the majority feel this way.

John

Firstly welcome to the forum.

I have been in awe of you, Marla and Les's blanks for some time. I understand where you are coming from and respect that you have some trade secrets, nothing wrong with that.

I also will be trying to cast feathers along with many other things but think like you said there is a lot of research and experimentation to happen.

I use Marla's blanks exclusively as we were partners in a pen swap, I doubt that I will ever be able to reach her standard but willing to try and see what happens. I have lots of other material that I am waiting to try so feathers are only a can I do this. In reality it would be cheaper to buy form you guys that have proven first class products.

As I do not make a business out of any of this pen crafting I am happy to share my knowledge. I have designed stuff and sent copied and that gives me a smile to know that what I did someone wants to copy.

You are correct if we all sit around then we never find out.

I tried casting sand recently and that was a big learning curve as the sand and the resin reacted and just made a bloody mess. some lessons learnt there.

Keep up the good work your blanks are fabulous

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Home page:
http://www.simomatra.com

Nobody is waiting for someone to come and tell us how to do anything, but a sharing of knowledge has gone on since time began otherwise we would still be back in the dark ages. Knowledge has been handed down from craftsmen for centuries so their craft wouldn't die and many of these fundamentals are used by our craftsmen and women of today.

I am sure you didn't teach yourself to read and write but had someone teach you those basics and progressed yourself from there like many others. It would be a sad world if our top surgeons in the world took up the notion not to pass on the knowledge to our future generations so we can progress even further on their techniques.

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I'm not fat, I'm just easy to see
Cheers John

Your absolutely right. Sharing of knowledge has brought us to where we are, and I support that. I enjoy reading all the posts and seeing what's new out there for inspiration. I guess too many times I see
others sitting there waiting for an easy way out. Most blanks out there, including mine, you can see and
figure out. I just encourage those to get their hands dirty. I've enjoyed seeing Les, Marla and others take feathers to a new direction. They are truly a work of art. I hope to see others do the same. I often
get a little offensive when I see others with their hands out, expecting something with never a trial and
error. I don't mean to offend, I'm just trying to encourage and support new ideas.

Thank you Simomatra. I've seen your pens and you do beautiful work. I can relate to having other material. There just isnt enough time in the day. Lol. Ive also tried the sand and came up with cement! I'm thinking of glueing the sand to the tubes and then clear cast. My first shell blank did the same before I spent 3 hours glueing those little things to the tube. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

San,

Flooding the sand with Thin CA after it is adhered to the tube will solve you problem with a reaction with the resin.
Works great for me with casing deer antler shavings and marrow.

Les

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Innovation is the process that renews something that already exists and not, as is commonly assumed, the introduction of something new.

After reading what has been said, I agree that people should get their hands dirty and try new ideas. But you allso have to see that it is not viable for some people to go out and buy all the equipment required to cast just a few blanks ( or should i say attempt to cast). Nobody is asking any one to provide trade secrets, but it does no harm to assist with some handy hints. Personally I would love to cast my blanks, but I allso understand that the costs are beyond my pocket. Hence I like to read these posts and see what people have to say. Please do not get defensive I am only expresing my view.