Thread: Future Feather Pens

G'day Les,

I know nothing about casting but they look good. I will be interested to see the final result.

Ady

Got the makings of some fine pens there Les a bit time consuming and fiddly ,but always worth the effort for the results cheers ~ John

Good job there Les. So do tell how do you do them.
David

Wow that's a nice tight wrap there. My several failed attempts at feathers have always resulted in the feathers lifting once cast, and air bubbles trapped around each piece of the feather. I still have a collection of nice feathers to try, but haven't been game to give it another go after my failures. Looks like you've got it down to an art though - well done.

Russell.

Originally Posted by dj_pnevans

Good job there Les. So do tell how do you do them.
David

David,

I almost have a tutorial finished, but will be reluctant to post as I know it will upset people who are marketing their feather blanks and want to keep the process a secret.

Les

Les ! I understand your reluctance to post in an open forum your methods ,although you have posted many fine examples of how you do things and I have found some of them very useful myself . Unless you have been given this information specifically regarding the feather blanks how can you be sure you use the same methods ? . Remember that there are more than one way to skin a cat . I have seen a great tutorial for instance on tying feathers on a tube for casting . The sort of people who would go to the bother of doing these things most likely wouldn't buy them in any case . Toni for instance does outstanding polimer blanks ,which she sells and gives information on the process freely ,could I make polimer blanks ,certainly ,and I have ,are they as good as Tonis,never in a million years ,when I started doing stainless blanks I had no problem sharing my methods ,not everyone has the time to do many of the things we see in the forums ,but they can lead to new ideas and directions in our craft .Opening others up to new horizons is all part of the sharing process ,otherwise the forums become merely "show and tell" without the tell part lol.
Cheers ~ John

Nice looking future blanks Les. Keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

Les ! I understand your reluctance to post in an open forum your methods ,although you have posted many fine examples of how you do things and I have found some of them very useful myself . Unless you have been given this information specifically regarding the feather blanks how can you be sure you use the same methods ? . Remember that there are more than one way to skin a cat . I have seen a great tutorial for instance on tying feathers on a tube for casting . The sort of people who would go to the bother of doing these things most likely wouldn't buy them in any case . Toni for instance does outstanding polimer blanks ,which she sells and gives information on the process freely ,could I make polimer blanks ,certainly ,and I have ,are they as good as Tonis,never in a million years ,when I started doing stainless blanks I had no problem sharing my methods ,not everyone has the time to do many of the things we see in the forums ,but they can lead to new ideas and directions in our craft .Opening others up to new horizons is all part of the sharing process ,otherwise the forums become merely "show and tell" without the tell part lol.
Cheers ~ John

John,

I have no problems sharing Ideas on how I do things with people who have at least shown some initiative doing some trial and error first.
Sharing information, after all, is what it's all about.

The ones I won't share information with are the ones that are too lazy to try it one their own and always ask "Would you mind sharing how you do that".

The first time I saw a feather pen blank I said to myself "I'm going to have to try that", and after some frustrating trial and error, I got some clues, not their exact process, from other makers and through some more trial and error came up with my own process.

Les

Most people want to try some thing new and once they can do it move onto some thing else. I myself have shown people how to lable cast. What is the best way to learn, by other peoples mistakes. If you would like to pm me your tutorial I would be happy to give it a go.
David

Les, beautiful work. I look forward to seeing the finished pens - I'm sure they will will be at your usual superb standard.
I am in awe of your skills and patience in doing these blanks. I have had quite a few tries at doing feather blanks but so far have not been able to find a glue that works for me. I usually end up with more feathers on me than on the tube. I'm not defeated yet though.

Most of my learning re pen making has come from shared information on this site or IAP. I would have been lost without it and I am extremely grateful to those people who were willing to share. I am remiss in not sharing the results of my work on this site but I do demonstrate locally and freely share any methods I use or develop. I'm always really happy if someone has a go at anything I've shown them.

Les, if you ever do decide to share, I for one would be extremely grateful. If you don't that's understandable. There is no doubt though that you are a superb pen maker and we've all benefited from seeing your masterpieces.

Coral

What I really, really want is a "Unƒversal Method for Avoƒdynge Ye Olde Aƒr Bubbles."

I spent ages working out how to cast grasses, clovers, etc. Mucked about with wetting agents, various weights of casting resins, vibrating laps, etc., etc. until finally... success!

Yelling EUREKA I tried the same 'formula' on some cloth... and it was an epic fail. As were other non-plant items I've tried.

I've given up casting; my experimental process was just too costly.


(And I'll echo the comments re your blanks, Les. They should make for some gorgeous pens!)

Les. I like the way you have explained your intentions. I allso like what you have cast and they will make very nice pens. You are the only one that can make the final chioce.