Casting a Laser Cut Wood Blank

woodgraver · 07-16-2011, 11:55 PM

The odd things you come up with when you mix together different parts of the hobby. This was my first attempt to cast a pen blank that I had cut with a laser. I just used silmar 41 and coastal scents orange glitter. I did the casting upright in a pill bottle. I should have used my sierra mould because I had some air entrapment in the bottom of some of the flames. I'm going to try and fill those spots with some epoxy mixed with the same glitter...if it doesn't match up, I'm sure the next try will come out better. I've got another blank where I cut the flames from a piece of paduak and then used black mica powder and some silver glitter...I used a lot more coloring trying to make it opaque so it didn't set up as quickly as this one.

LarryDNJR · 07-17-2011, 12:25 AM

Looks good!

ctubbs · 07-17-2011, 12:47 AM

James, that is a good looking first try blank. Keep up the great work.
Charles

Canadian_Kid · 07-17-2011, 08:08 PM

Very cool look. Did you use any pressure for the casting?
Don.

MarkD · 07-17-2011, 09:51 PM

Great first casting! Nice flames!

Craftdiggity · 07-17-2011, 10:04 PM

Nifty idea, James.

woodgraver · 07-17-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian_Kid

Very cool look. Did you use any pressure for the casting?
Don.

Don, no pressure I just set a pill bottle with 1.5oz of silmar 41 in a hot bath. Once it was the viscosity of water, I added the glitter and 7 drops of MEKP. I then plunged the pen blank down into the pill bottle...the blank had rubber stoppers in each end. This is where I think air bubbles were trapped as I put the blank in flame tips down. I'm not sure if pressure would have helped. I think maybe I would have had better results with alumilite in a pressure pot. The second cast didn't fare nearly as well as this one...I should have put it in a toaster oven...the deep inside didn't set up and when I turned it...well, you get the picture ;)

I'll keep trying...I have an alumillite starter kit...this would be the perfect time to give that a try.

Jim

navycop · 07-18-2011, 12:20 AM

Pretty cool. I would like to see the flames red and background black.

woodgraver · 07-20-2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navycop

Pretty cool. I would like to see the flames red and background black.

Mike, I tried that but the blank didn't setup. I'm going to give it another try this weekend before I head out to a conference in Norfolk next week! Jim

07-16-2011, 11:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
woodgraver Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 223 Photos: 14	Casting a Laser Cut Wood Blank The odd things you come up with when you mix together different parts of the hobby. This was my first attempt to cast a pen blank that I had cut with a laser. I just used silmar 41 and coastal scents orange glitter. I did the casting upright in a pill bottle. I should have used my sierra mould because I had some air entrapment in the bottom of some of the flames. I'm going to try and fill those spots with some epoxy mixed with the same glitter...if it doesn't match up, I'm sure the next try will come out better. I've got another blank where I cut the flames from a piece of paduak and then used black mica powder and some silver glitter...I used a lot more coloring trying to make it opaque so it didn't set up as quickly as this one. Attached Thumbnails

07-17-2011, 12:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
LarryDNJR Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 613 Photos: 10	Looks good! __________________ Larry D Nance Jr LDNJ WoodWorking http://www.ldnjwoodworking.com pens@ldnjwoodworking.com

07-17-2011, 12:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
ctubbs Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 3,366 Photos: 2	James, that is a good looking first try blank. Keep up the great work. Charles __________________ Experts hit what they aim at......I aim at what I hit Respect - Never given, must be earned Smile, it makes people wonder what you have been up to or what you are on. Keep then guessing and you keep smiling.

07-17-2011, 09:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
MarkD Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sayre, PA Posts: 1,174 Photos: 13	Great first casting! Nice flames! __________________ Mark

07-17-2011, 10:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Craftdiggity Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Egg Harbor Township, NJ Posts: 1,329 Photos: 0	Nifty idea, James. __________________ Chris Merlino If at first you don't succeed... Deny you ever tried. www.woodntreasures.com

07-17-2011, 08:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Canadian_Kid Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Langley BC Posts: 130 Photos: 0	Very cool look. Did you use any pressure for the casting? Don.

07-18-2011, 12:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
navycop Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,442 Photos: 0	Pretty cool. I would like to see the flames red and background black. __________________ Mike U.S.Navy (ret) Shopsmith 510

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode