For those of you that like to make your own epoxy or resin pen blanks this rockler silicone pen mold is fantastic. It's made to do two pen blanks at a time. You can pour one big long blank, or use the blocks to make a two piece blank, or do what i did and add the tubes before pouring. As you can see the blocks have two different size cones that will fit pen tubes from 0.175" up to .05" and 7" long 3/4" x 3/4". It's recommended to use a mold release which for this first test i did not but will in the future to help increase the life span of the mold. I did over fill the mold though which ill have to cut down the blank on one side to get the blank square. first time, so ive learned. As you can see it does a great job giving you a flush tube requiring only minor sanding to square it up. I also bought a set of silicone mixing cups. Rockler also has several other molds for knife scales, handles, and others. If you like to make your own blanks these molds are perfect.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Indeed! I had intended to make pens and had purchased a lot of the necessary equipment. But I realized that I didn't have that high a priority for pen making, and donated it all.
i dont make as many as i used to when i sold them to customers at work. but i still make em now and then. easy quick projects that are great for gifts. i mean who cant use a nice pen ? those blanks are for cigar pens that ill make once the epoxy is fully cured.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Yeah that’s a cool bit being able to cast the tubes in place. Saves a lot of the tedious work. Now if they could figure out how to “cast” them into solid wood!
They seem like a helluva practical option... certainly a much better than these dedicated ones (Cigar & Sierra) I bought 17 years ago... when I was planning to be the next pen making mogul... and never used... I hate mixing 'poxy nearly as much as reading.
Stupid me never considered that I had enough timber and acrylic pre-cut blanks (and other offcuts) before I needed to cast my own... and I'm more a timber pen fan than plastic (un-)fantastic.
Since the decline of my "mogulate", I have deliberately avoided lurking at pens sites to avoid buying what I will never use... it was only Recycle 1943 that made me aware of the Rifle pens.
Be interested in seeing the final product assembled... just don't build a slimline... please... I'd rather turn a bowl.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
pen making is a lot of fun petey. it can get addictive though. time to put that stuff i sent you to work. if you wanna pour your own plastic blanks that mold is the way to go.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Pens are great. I only do it a couple of times a year but it’s something where you can batch out a dozen really nice finished products in a single day. Very good for instant gratification. And they are always good gifts. Who can’t use a pen?
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