Thread: The Pen from Sturdee Casting Work in Progress

Good post, like the text in the pictures so I don't have to go back and forward to read whats going on.

This is looking like hard work, but I am sure you will produce something magnificent in the end. Would the cracking be related to the short time they were in the pressure pot?
Can't wait to see the finished product and then I might start on mine.

Thanks Amos.

These were cast in the pot under pressure, but released due to time constraints whilst resin was still rubbery, hence why resin separated. This is why you should leave in pot overnight to ensure it is completely set hard. Shame, but CA will fix without an issue, followed by a decent CA coating to finish.

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Thanks Amos.

These were cast in the pot under pressure, but released due to time constraints whilst resin was still rubbery, hence why resin separated. This is why you should leave in pot overnight to ensure it is completely set hard. Shame, but CA will fix without an issue, followed by a decent CA coating to finish.

Will explain my issues with my first WW cast today 1) didnt use pressure pot (in my defence my new cutting board mould doesnt fit) and 2) was a little impatient so started to turn today (about 3 hours after casting, obviously no long enough).

Will do a CA repair tomorrow. Hopefully will turn out ok.

Cheers

Shawn

Finished the pen, it has room for improvement, that will have to be another blank and another day, here it is. AmosPen 9 (Large).jpgPen 3 (Large).jpgPen 5 (Large).jpgPen 6 (Large).jpgPen 7 (Large).jpgPen 8 (Large).jpg

Amos

great photography

pen looks good

do these have to be finished with CA?
would you be able to nitrocellulose?

Amos,

It came out fantasic.
Hope you like it as much as I do.

Peter

Great effort Amos. It looks as though you hadn't even encountered any of those faults.
Not sure I like that green with the wood, but I am sure others will.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

..Not sure I like that green with the wood, but I am sure others will.

I like the green but not the red . I remember the cast now, not quite enough green, so we scraped out the container with semi set red and placed bits in the green to fill the mold . There was also some yellow too, but that seems to have turned off. There was a green & gold WW cast, the same as the pepper grinder cast, plus the red/yellow sheoak pods and hopefully someone will turn a pen from them too. I'm almost finished a small shaftless pepper grinder

Looiks great

Nick, I think that the majority of WW blanks need to be finished with CA, reason being- that with age the Resin/Wood shrinkage, no matter how slight, would cause problems with the Resin coming away. Neil, you put your input here please,; I find it enlightning to see my fellow pen turners comments, some like a colour others don't, I think the red makes a great little contrast and gives an interesting look, Neil doesn't like the red!!! someone likes green others don't, etc, gives a great insight to our individuality! Amos

Originally Posted by PenTurner

Nick, I think that the majority of WW blanks need to be finished with CA, reason being- that with age the Resin/Wood shrinkage...

Yes. Although a wax finish can be used, the joints can be felt in time as the wood moves.

Originally Posted by PenTurner

...no matter how slight, would cause problems with the Resin coming away...

Yes and No. The resin doesn't come away necessarily, but the joints open up sometimes. Even with 20 coats of CA, the CA coating (usually this method only gives you 0.2-0.3mm thick) can crack after a year or so, as the wood moves. The best way to avoid this is to use double glue up method for the tubes (ie soak drilled hole with thin CA and redrill, before gluing with epoxy, this stabilises inside of timber and glues joints - see first part of Aus Salt Water Croc Pen Blank Part3 Glue up & trim blanks - YouTube), then start finish with thin CA as a coating (to stabilise finished surface as much as possible) but progress to med or thick CA (or use lots and lots of thin coats) and ensure you have 0.5mm minimum finished CA coating.

Amos that looks fantastic. Is the gold lettering a reflection under the clip?? If so a tribute to the high polish you have achieved.

Dsel, the gold lettering is Laser Engraved and back filled with gold colour, Amos