Why not?

[Garno]

Hi everyone.

Only 15 days to go before I traipse off to do a woodturning course with Neil Lawton and 16 days to go before I post photos of my very first attempts at woodturning.

Anyway that is not the reason for this post.

I have been following with interest the post by [MENTION=1612]DJB Penmaker[/MENTION] and his first attempt at casting accompanied with a wonderful photo of his results and that got me thinking, would it not be cheaper (per pen) to make a slab and cut it down to relevant sizes? I have it in my head that it would be as easy to cast one as it would be to cast a dozen from one slab (I am not insinuating that casting is easy as it is no doubt a difficult process). no doubt I am missing something, the problem is that I can't think what.

Gary

 

[flexi]

Hi Gary,
Yes some people slab cast and cut up into sections, but if you are label casting or making resin hybrids it's often easier to cast them solo..... You still need a few single casts to fill the pot..... So it's horses for courses...

 

[21William]

All casting is somewhat wasteful but cutting up slabs generates waste with every cut. The least wasteful of more economical way of casting is to cast round bars of resin.

 

[Garno]

All casting is somewhat wasteful but cutting up slabs generates waste with every cut. The least wasteful of more economical way of casting is to cast round bars of resin.

I never even considered that but it makes perfect sense

 

[21William]

Here’s one way.

Casting resin pen blanks with PVC pipe

 

[DJB Penmaker]

I'm not sure that it would be cheaper because you'd be using resin that then gets drilled out to take the tube, also the glitter ones I've made couldn't be cast as a slab. I do believe the vast majority of blanks are cast using the slab method though for technical reasons.
Btw thanks for the compliment in your post ��

 

[Lons]

I can't give advice about casting Gary but will say that you will have a great time on the course, Neil is a top bloke and he'll set you on the right track and have you turning with confidence in no time.
Please give him and the lovely Ali my regards if you remember.
Enjoy

EDIT

I think many of the commercial blanks are cast as slabs, certainly some of the knock off Conway Stewart types as I've had my hands on some in that form, others cast in longer lengths and cut later, I have a few of those in my stock but my thoughts are if you cast individually then every blank can be unique and different.

 

[Curly]

There are advantages to slab casting in that some of the patterns can't be duplicated in a single blank mould and some of the resins set quickly so you have to get it in the pressure pot before they start to form bubbles and cure. Vertical tube casting can produce effects that you can't get with horizontal casting. Individual blank moulds rule when you just want to make a blank or two. Tube in moulds are the only way you can cast imbedded objects (watch part, labels, stamps, paper, snake skin, foil etc). When you get to casting hybrid blanks you use either slab or individual depending on the size of the wood etc you are casting. There is no one better way as blank making involves so many types.

Pete

 

[Gadget-UK]

Agree with Curly
"There is no one better way as blank making involves so many types"
I have used (and still do) single blanks, slabs, tubes right down to tube in blanks.
They all have different uses and drawbacks / benefits.
For hybrids I always make a slab, depending on the colours and style of blank it could be individual or slab





Slabs a great for making a batch of similar colour blanks, though the patterns can vary so much even in a single slab.
Single blanks are unique and always a one off - same with tube blanks.
Picture blanks are always tube in blank.
Just experiment, you will find the best option for yourself, good luck

 

[Geoff Kent]

Phew.I'm glad I only turn wood.Casting blanks looks a bit of a minefield.Achtung minen!