Ten Inch Brass Tube Pen Barrel Mold

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

JD Combs Sr

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
767
Location
Owingsville, KY
I wanted to cast pen barrels but use 10inch long brass tubes which I could then cut to pen barrel length requirements depending on the pen. I made one from 5/8" ID PVC tubing.
IMG_3607.jpg

The saw kerf and pour holes were added after everything else was done, fitting, threading, etc.
IMG_3621.jpg

The PVC tube is threaded 7/8-14 on both ends. The white blocks are nylon and are female threaded 7/8-14 to accept the PVC.
The short piece of PVC on the outside of the blocks is only there to make the blocks wider. If I had had 1 to 1-1/4" nylon I would not have need them. The are also threaded 7/8-14 to make them part of the nylon. They are lined with smaller glued in PVC which is thread 1/2"-20 to accept the "plugs" that plug the ends of the brass tubes to prevent resin from entering into the tube. Again if I had had thicker nylon I would have threaded it on onside with the 7/8-14 and on the other with the 1/2"-20 but you use what you have.
IMG_3627.jpg IMG_3630.jpg

This pic is prior to the pen mode but shows all the components disassembled. It was taken just after my first cast. There is a casting inside the mold. The black on the ends are oring seals that are place between the PVC and the plug holders to prevent fouling the 7/8-14 threads.
IMG_3611.jpg

I have made 3 castings with it in the pressure chamber I made for it and it has worked well. Had to make some minor changes to the plugs to prevent casting resin material into the 1/2"-20 female threads and had to add extensions, the metal pens, to the plugs to allow for easier loading of the tube but as a concept it worked well.

All comments are appreciated.
 

Skie_M

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
2,737
Location
Lawton, Ok
1 ... how do you get the casting OUT of the mold?

2 ... how does your mold fit in the pressure pot when it's that long? Is your pressure pot laying on it's side or something?

3 ... wouldn't things have been SO much easier to have designed one to be used/filled vertically?
 

JD Combs Sr

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
767
Location
Owingsville, KY
That is an intriguing idea. Do you paint the tubes before casting them?
Hi Randy, thanks for responding. Yes I will paint tubes when there is a need like casting a translucent color or need a background color for embedded objects, just depends on the blank.

1 ... how do you get the casting OUT of the mold?
2 ... how does your mold fit in the pressure pot when it's that long? Is your pressure pot laying on it's side or something?
3 ... wouldn't things have been SO much easier to have designed one to be used/filled vertically?
Hi Skie,
1. I was wondering if someone would ask that question. Since the PVC is split along the top it is fairly flexible in its diameter. A simple tap of a wooden dowel with a mallet or hammer will dislodge it and it will slip out one end. Never really had an issue with this type of mold and have used them a lot. The main new components of this particular one is its length and the fact that it has screw in stoppers to plug the tubes. Others I have just stuck a cork or some other disposable plug in the tube but that does use up corks.:biggrin:
2. I noted that you commented on my new pressure chamber post so that should answer this question.:)
3. My response to comments on the P.chamber should also answer this question.

Thanks again guys for commenting.
 
Top Bottom