Ever since my eyes were opened to the world of penmaking beyond the slimline kit (everyones first kit) I've been fascinated by all things you can do with pens. Casting in particular has been something I've been wanting to get into, but have lacked the motivation / project to use it for. Well the casting card has been pulled. A buddy of mine has been helping me with making some metal "sleeves" to help perfect my pen turning even more and when asking him how I could repay him the subject of a pen came up. Knowing that he is a fella who likes cars I asked if he would like me to make him a pen from carbon fiber. He thought it was a neat idea, but wasn't sold. I then sent him a picture of a pen I'd seen elsewhere made of it and his response was more what I expected the first time. He was sold, now I just needed to either find someone who would sell me a premade carbon fiber blank or... OR make one myself !
I decided to start my research and found out that doing clear casting is fairly simple. My biggest nemesis will be air bubbles. Since I don't have a pressure/vacuum pot I will have to make sure to eradicate all air bubbles from the resin before it sets, otherwise I could run the risk of having a trapped air bubble between my cast and carbon fiber, which of course would be a deal breaker. So to get started I need to get all the materials and something to cast it in. In any case it should be fun AND a learning experience. And if it works out I could make more in the future, but I'd also really love to experiment with color casting, which would be making entire pen blanks from scratch!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The PenMakers Dilemma
As a pen maker it is very common for my best work to be sold, sort of a hazard of the trade you could say. Typically it is a little painful to let said treasures go but extra cash lining my pockets help ease the pain. This is not to say I don't carry nice pens myself, just maybe not as nice as some of the ones I've made for others.
I've had a particularly nice 2 toned piece of Amboyna laying around for a year or so now and finally decided it was time to turn it into a Gentlemens Kit to sell to get some more money for new tools ect... Well I finished it a weekend or two ago and have been having a serious issue deciding whether or not to sell it. It is a larger kit designed and weighted specifically to be a desk pen. The cap does not post (screw on to the end of the pen) so it isn't realistic to carry it around, it would have to sit at my desk at work where it would see much use. I don't know why but something about the combination of sapwood and heartwood here really does it for me. I forgot to take pictures of the back because I am so drawn towards the front. The back is all heartwood (non-white) and is also gorgeous, but its truely the front I'm fixated with.
Most people who do some type of craft will keep a showcase of their best work. I feel this would be a great first piece to add to that but I also feel I'm early enough in my career that more like it will come.
On the side note of my inlay kit I started a while back, I am waiting on a good friend to complete some metal "sleeves" for me in order to help get it perfect. Once the sleeves are complete I will post about what they are and how they work and why they are neccesary for someone as anal about getting things right as I am.
I've had a particularly nice 2 toned piece of Amboyna laying around for a year or so now and finally decided it was time to turn it into a Gentlemens Kit to sell to get some more money for new tools ect... Well I finished it a weekend or two ago and have been having a serious issue deciding whether or not to sell it. It is a larger kit designed and weighted specifically to be a desk pen. The cap does not post (screw on to the end of the pen) so it isn't realistic to carry it around, it would have to sit at my desk at work where it would see much use. I don't know why but something about the combination of sapwood and heartwood here really does it for me. I forgot to take pictures of the back because I am so drawn towards the front. The back is all heartwood (non-white) and is also gorgeous, but its truely the front I'm fixated with.
Most people who do some type of craft will keep a showcase of their best work. I feel this would be a great first piece to add to that but I also feel I'm early enough in my career that more like it will come.
On the side note of my inlay kit I started a while back, I am waiting on a good friend to complete some metal "sleeves" for me in order to help get it perfect. Once the sleeves are complete I will post about what they are and how they work and why they are neccesary for someone as anal about getting things right as I am.
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