29 - Casting Polyresin (PR) Pen Blanks

[@busterwest1644]

two years on so I guess your feeling much better now lol. Great video and tutorial Just started on turning pens and have made my first blank etc two distinct colors for a football team fan, Half Yellow and half Green, but was getting ready to try some more subtle blends and yours are a perfect example of what I want to do. Thank you

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Buster, thanks for watching and commenting. Best wishes on your pen turning, and check out penturners.org if you haven't already. Cheers!

[@busterwest1644]

Will certainly check them out and thank you once again.

[@johnnyspropshop]

Bill nice video, good looking blanks. Get well soon.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hey John, thanks for the well wishes. First flu I've had since starting the flu shot about 10+ years. Mostly good now, hope to get to a bowl soon! Cheers!

[@knothead6436]

Great video . I have watched half dozen video using the Casting Craft resin . This morn. I made my first cast. For my molds I am using pex tubing from Lowe’s. ID of approx 0.66 in. This will give me approx 1 oz. per tube. I was also able to get the Pearl Ex powder on line at Joann’s. Fabrics. The 32 pack was on sale and together with discount coupon cost ~ $42. Your video covered all of the main points I needed to get me going. Thanks.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi David, thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the video. Please let me know how your blanks release from the PEX, I'd be interested to hear what you did and how that turns out! Cheers!

[@josedelgado6510]

thanks for the information...i ordered it and will be picking it up today... your video is so well explained .. will let you know how things them out...

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Glad you found it useful Jose. Be safe turning. Cheers!

[@irresistablematt]

thanks for the video, this really helped me to make my own pen blanks very successfully.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

That's fantastic Matthew, glad you found the video useful. Be safe and have fun turning. Cheers!

[@robh063]

Very good video Bill. Thank you. Your castings come out so nice and smooth. Where did you buy the clear PVC tube? I made my molds using regular white PVC and my blanks tend to have crevices in them which causes problems for me when turning them. There must be trapped air bubbles. I don't know how to correct that issue but If I had the clear tube, I could see them and try to get rid of them before they harden too much.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Rob, thanks for watching and commenting. If I recall correctly, I special ordered the clear PVC tubing from Home Depot. However, I use the white PVC and the larger size to do my castings for handles, and haven't experienced the crevicing that you're describing. I'm wondering if you're letting the polyester resin set up a little too much before doing the pour. Cheers!

[@robh063]

@@BillRockwoodWoodturning If you don't mind, I have a question about resins. I know for this video you used the Castin Craft Clear Polyester Casting Resin but can you use other kinds of resins for this method? I don't have a pressure pot or vacuum tube to get the bubbles out so I haven't tried using anything else. I've only used the Castin Craft brand.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Rob, I haven't tried using other resins using this pour method yet without using a pressure pot because for me they are prone to more bubbles. For me the castin craft resin produces the fewest bubbles as I mix the Catalyst and pigment powder which makes this quick casting method useful. However, my result with polyester resin is a more rigid almost brittle casting, whereas another resin like alumilite produces a durable yet softer texture, most noticeable during turning. That is to say, the alumilite castings produce more shavings in my opinion, whereas the polyester resin casting can crumble if the tools aren't sharp or presented improperly. Cheers!

[@robh063]

@@BillRockwoodWoodturning Thanks for the reply Bill. I just don't want to spend $100+ for a pressure pot. I don't make that many pens or other castings to justify it so I guess Castin Craft will be the only kind of resin I use. Have a great Day!

[@knothead5]

Thanks from another knothead. Any advantage of the clear PVC over the clear? Did you get the caps from HD?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. No real advantage, I thought I'd be able to see the color mixing better. Cheers!

[@tonygray5824]

nice job Bill

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thank you very much Tony. Cheers!

[@Pentrove]

Thanks for sharing the video.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@RS_]

Gentle tap? Dont know what i am doing wrong, but I need not a gentle tap, but brute force to remove my blanks from molds. I even broke my mold once. Maybe its easy with only PR resin? Im using Epoxy resin and also some mold release

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi RS, thanks for watching and commenting. I've only ever used the PR resin, which seems to work fine so maybe epoxy resin isn't suitable for the PVC. You may need to try silicone or that high-density plastic material. Cheers!

[@michaelpearson4152]

like the vid. you could use a spray release agent inside your mould before poring the resin. this will help you out with the sticking.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thanks Michael , I appreciate you watching and commenting. The good thing about pvc is no sticking. I ended finding some cutting mat that was also nonstick, works a treat. Cheers!

[@michaelpearson4152]

i have an idea for you google glow in the dark powder look for the strong glow. works great with clear resin. never loos your pen in the dark.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

michael Pearson That sounds like a cool idea! Thanks for the tip, I'll have to see if I can find that.

[@tedspens]

Great casting video, thanks!

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thanks Ted, much appreciated. Cheers!

[@LynnLaceyLLWW]

Thanks Bill - Nice job.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thanks Lynn, Cheers!

[@josedelgado6510]

Hi Bill, the video is great, haven't been able to find the 3/4" clear PVC. home depot only carries 1" . if lyou got it some where else let me know, Thanks

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Jose, thanks for watching and commenting. I had to order it through Home Depot website and pick it up in the store. Search for "clear pvc" it's from Formufit, comes in 5ft length for a little over $10. You don't necessarily need clear, I just wanted to see how it would look. Cheers!

[@Caram0n]

you don't need to remove bubbles with a vacuum tank setup?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. I haven't done any clear casting with this material, only opaque colors, virtually bubble free. You may need a pressure pot for clear casting. Cheers!

[@TheSafecrkr1]

Great video Bill. I also cast pen blanks, but I use Alumilite. Have you used Alumilite & do you like PR better ? I made some silicone stoppers for my tubes that work very well., I would like to get some clear pvc, to get a better look at what I'm doing.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Jim, thanks for watching and commenting. I intend to give Alumilite a try but have held off on ordering because I can but the PR locally. Cheers!

[@jilliannitz1884]

Nice video. I just made my first blanks with casting craft 2 days ago. Have you ever tried using casting craft with wood as well?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thank you Jillian, appreciate you watching and commenting. I haven't tried castin craft with wood yet, but it's on my to-do list. I think it may require a pressure pot, and I have one set up, but haven't had time to work with it lately. Hope your blanks turned out well. Cheers!

[@bushwacker49]

Nice blanks and mold. What are the caps made out of and where can you find them and the tubes?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thank you, the tubes are clear PVC ordered through the plumbing/hardware store (Home Depot) and the caps are plain PVC caps. Cheers!

[@billk8579]

Lots of good ideas here and very nice blanks. I will try to give this a try. I do not have a pressure pot or vacuum chamber do this looks like a good way to get started. Do you have any significant problems with bubbles? Thanks for the videos...nicely done.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Bill, thanks for the kind words. I don't have a significant issue with bubbles since the casting is with mostly opaque colors, however there are sometimes one or two surface bubbles after the turning that can be treated with thin CA glue before you do the final sanding and polishing, which eliminates the issue. Cheers!

[@spencerbrown2594]

Nice Job of Casting

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Spencer, thanks for watching, I appreciate your kind comments. Cheers!

[@fiberinspector1304]

Hey Bill, the catalyst for the resin, which is $8. plus from the craft store , is the same catalyst you can buy at Walmart in the automotive section to harden Bondo for a cost of $1.88. Also I see you are not using a pressure pot, are you getting any air bubbles or voids in your blanks?.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thanks for the tip I'll have to try that in one of my next batches. I dont have void or bubble problems when doing a straight resin casting, and tend to only use my pressure pot for clear casting around something else (like worthless wood or mixed media). Cheers!

[@steveakka]

Hi Bill, nice blanks...where can I get those bottom caps from? Cheers, Steve.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Steve Atkinson Hi Steve, thanks for watching and commenting. The caps are available at any home supply store that sells PVC plumbing, in the fittings section. These are standard cap fittings for 3/4 inch PVC. I got mine at home depot. Cheers!

[@LarryDillon]

i like you video Bill. Nice job. do you have an issue with smell from the resin your using? I do casting also and think I am going to switch to clear PVC. I also use mold release because I have had a couple that could not get out.

[@LarryDillon]

also how long do wait before pouring into the pvc. do you let the resin start to thicken?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Larry, thanks for watching and commenting. The Castin' Craft resin does have a "chemical" smell, but I have good circulation and ventilation to mitigate. I haven't needed the mold release yet, but I'll watch for this over time. I wait 10 minutes based on the normal conditions in my shop, and not waiting until any thickening occurs, because once it starts to kick, it goes so fast that it will be like pouring molasses that is turning into rubber. Cheers!

[@josedelgado6510]

what is the brand name of the "Black Dye" you're using ?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

It's actually a Pearlex black pigment in a bottle I had left over from some black dye I had used in the past. For the formula I use to cure properly, both colors mixed must be Pearlex. Cheers!

[@robertjohnston4304]

Nice video Bill. I am new to the resin casting world. With your three-quarter inch clear plastic PVC pipe where did you find that? And in your video it says that you do not need a release agent for the PVC pipe correct? Then my only other question is will this work with all types of resin?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Robert, thanks for watching and commenting. I ordered the clear PVC from our home store (Home Depot). I'm not sure what the magic is, but I and other PVC users haven't needed a release agent, the PR doesn't stick to it. Cheers!

[@robertjohnston4304]

Bill Rockwood Hi Bill do you think I could use a cork or silicone stopper at the bottom instead of a pvc. Cap?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Sure, might even save you a little bit of resin from that knob I get from using the caps.

[@JohnSmith-il4wi]

That would be a cool way to use saw dust.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi John, thanks for watching and commenting. I've thought from time to time about adding other media, like sawdust, into the PR, but I've heard that this can sometimes introduce bubbles around the media that requires a pressure pot to eliminate. At the time of this video, I didn't have a pressure pot, but have since assembled one, so I may have to give this a try. Cheers!

[@halitsenturk5265]

hello we need a material that we can cast in the furniture sector so that we can make table legs and mirror frames we can make unbroken, light, screw and nails and we can process it in carpenter machines.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Halit, depending on the type off casing you plan to do, you may want to try a product such as Alumilite, which you can buy online and in larger quantities. However, it will likely need to be cast under pressure to mitigate bubbles. Cheers!

[@kurt5213]

This looks pretty cool (and simple!). Do you know what your cost-per-blank comes out to be, roughly?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Kurt, thanks for watching and commenting. Because I buy the resin only when I have the 40% off coupon, that brings the price of the resin down to about $21usd bucks. The Pearl ex pigments I get for about $20usd for the package of 12 colors, and those will make at least four lots of the blanks. I get a lot of 16 blanks out of each can of resin, so that gives me roughly a per blank cost of about $1.70usd. Cheers!

[@ronaldomazzini6188]

Hi, my name is Ronaldo and I live in Brazil, I would like to know the diameter of the tubes? thank you

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Ronaldo, thank you for watching, subscribing and commenting. The tube is 3/4 inch PVC plumbing. Cheers!

[@Е.Николаич]

Good afternoon, and whether you have Skype and whether it is possible to ask there a question?

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Greetings, thanks for watching. Unfortunately, I am not set up for Skype. If it is more comfortable for you to email me your question directly, you can contact me at [e-mail]. Cheers!

[@Е.Николаич]

@@BillRockwoodWoodturning Thank you, necessarily write

[@kaieteurcanada]

LMAO... you filled six and 24 hrs later you have eight....

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Thanks for watching and commenting. The magic of video and off-camera work! Cheers!

[@donna1015]

What a load of crap! I've poured 4 of these, the first two without a release agent as you didn't say anything about needing it, the last two with a release agent and I've had to throw away all 4 because I couldn't get them out of the pvc tubes you recommended. This is just a waste of time and money.

[@BillRockwoodWoodturning]

Hi Donna, I'm sorry that this didn't work for you. I don't know which polyresin you're using, but the Castin Craft resin I use, I have never used a release agent with the PVC tubes, same tubes still working fine today without any release agent. Wish I understood what variables are affecting your outcome. Cheers!