After joining the International Association of Penturners I have been highly impressed with the home brewed synthetic pen blanks that these artists are casting and turning. There is almost no limit to the types of materials that can be cast into pen blanks.

I have been called to the dark-side and have built my casting pressure rig. It consists of on old paint pressure pot on the right and a regulator with an oil / water separator. Once the cast mold is placed in the pot I can pressurize the pot, once I'm satisfied that the pressure is stable I have a shut off on the inlet side to the pot and a direct reading pressure so I can monitor the pressure and make sure I don't have any leaks. It's a pretty simple rig and somewhat straight forward process. Tomorrow I will make some molds. Thanks for viewing!

 

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Nice set up!  I have turned a number of blanks provided by Jonathon Brooks (Brooks803).  He doesn't use pressure while casting, but I know many that do.  There are some very creative artists on IAP.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

 

I have become interested in stabilizing lately.  I received some awesome burls from a member here.  I have turned a half dozens pens with it so fat.  I am stabilizing as I go with thin CA.  I plan on building a vacuum rig, and using Cactus Juice.  I have a vacuum pump but it needs a check valve I haven't found yet.

 

I look forward to seeing you creations.

Can you source parts for us?  I need to build one, too.

 

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Semper fi
www.swearingen-turnings.com

Years ago, I helped a friend develop a "cold casting" business. We worked primarily in cold cast Porcelain. We had a 2 step process that assured no trapped bubbles remained in the castings. The first step was to put the wet casting in a vacuum chamber for about 1 minute. Then transfer the castings to a pressure chamber- similar to yours- ours had a plexiglass window. The combination of the two processes completely eliminated any bubbles in our castings.

Lew 

My press pot will double as a vacuum chamber for stabilizing, I need to find a pump and plug the press gauge on the top to protect it.

This sounds interesting. I have wanted to do some casting, but just haven't. I even bought the resin and it is sitting on the shelf in the shop. I will be following this with close attention.

 

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com