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New Pen Turning Addict

David M

David M

Full Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Posts
19
Location
St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK
First Name
David
Hello,
I've just joined the forum after becoming a new addict to pen turning. I am a retired Engineer and Company Director living in Cambridgeshire, UK . Married with two sons living locally, and a daughter in Geelong, Australia.
My previous obsession was carving traditional rocking horses but they take a long time and you can't really collect them unless you live in a barn! I have been an occasional wood turner for a while and needed a new use for the lathe and pens are definitely one answer....you can never have enough pens, they don't take long or cost that much and make great gifts....until your friends and family get sick of them! I would really like to cast my own hybrid blanks and have bought a casting pot but, so far, have just made a mess, wasted a lot of resin, and have failed to make a successful hybrid blank...but I will persevere!
I look forward to contributing and receiving some sound advice.
Cheers.
David Milner
 
flexi

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,457
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Welcome to the Forum, we have some excellent casters on here and what's even better is they are nice guys who share some great advice. Yes.....pen turning is addictive and has so many different directions it can take you, I am 10 years in and still learning loads.....enjoy!:banana::banana:
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
In the meantime show us pics of your Rocking Horses David. Has your daughter become a Geelong Aussie Rules fan yet?

Peter.
 
David M

David M

Full Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Posts
19
Location
St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK
First Name
David
Peter,
Collingwood Magpies is the team the family supports over there. We are due out there for some sun next m,month but not looking forward to 30 hours travelling! I have yet to work out how to attach images to posts...when I do I will show you some horses. If you fancy making one, visit this site ( rockinghorseshop.co.uk ) and they ship plans overseas.
DM
 
Dalboy

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,708
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Hi and welcome David.

When you make a new post scroll down before posting and you will see Manage attachments click on that and you can enter 3 picture you can also do another three after the first have been accepted following that another two So you can post 8 pictures in any one post.
If you want to add pictures to a post that you are replying to before posting press the advanced button and scroll down for the manage attachments
Once all picture and post is complete then press the post button
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
David M said:
Peter,
Collingwood Magpies is the team the family supports over there. We are due out there for some sun next m,month but not looking forward to 30 hours travelling! I have yet to work out how to attach images to posts...when I do I will show you some horses. If you fancy making one, visit this site ( rockinghorseshop.co.uk ) and they ship plans overseas.
DM
Click to expand...

Hi David my wife Wilma also supports Collingwood,has done for 58 yrs ,so far no images of the horses. Worth perservering with the pics mate.You could break the journey at Singapore.

Peter.
 
H

Harry

Full Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Posts
183
Location
Dunfermline
First Name
Harry
Welcome David, what a coincidence, I also have a daughter in Geelong! We have visited three times so I sympathize with you about the traveling.

I do a bit of casting, on a tight budget. I use polyester resin and home made moulds. I don't use a pressure pot and remove bubbles with a cocktail stick. What I have found is that casting is all about making mistakes and learning from them. Give us details of your problems and we can offer advice.
 
David M

David M

Full Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2019
Posts
19
Location
St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK
First Name
David
Hi Harry,
Yes, quite a coincidence. Brits over there often like to reminisce about the 'old' country so I am happy to let you have Beth's contact details (privately) if you think your daughter would welcome the contact. Has your daughter been there long? As usual, I have been over optimistic when it comes to casting (and many other things in my life)...I could have started with 100% resin but wanted to produce unusual hybrids. Some used plastic food containers make good moulds! I will keep trying.
Thanks for getting in touch.
David
 
Bammer

Bammer

Fellow
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Posts
1,494
Location
Cambridge
First Name
Brad
Hi David, welcome.

Yes temp and humidity can effect curing. PR does not need a pressure pot, you can remove bubbles without too much trouble. Vibration works such as the bed of a scroll saw, warming the resin helps, and warming your molds.

Epoxy and PU will require a pot to get rid of bubbles.

It's a learning curve and can be a long one
 
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