polarbear1
Member
I am in quite a predicament, hoping someone in the IAP community would have some suggestions. I have been casting personalized label pens for over a year with mixed results, almost exclusively cigar pens which seem to be one of the easiest to cast (due to the larger tube). About 4 months ago my oldest son asked me to make a pen for all the guest at his wedding (expecting about 70 guests) and I agreed to. He did not want the cigar pens, but wanted the designer/euro type pen. And I have been casting and turning the pens since, but due to different issues, only about 30% of my castings ever make it to the lathe, and some of them never make it to a completed pen for various reasons. I have a gallon of PR on the way (probably my 5th gallon since I started making label pens). I just brought and tried some alumilite, got it on Thursday and cast my first 8 blanks with alumilite, that stuff is incredible and worth the extra money if the castings turn out. But all 8 ended up with bubbles around the label.
To make a long story short, the wedding is February 27th, the final guests count who need regular pens is 58, plus 7 in the wedding party who we hoped to make an upscale pen for, and 7 small children I will make them either a kaleidoscope or top. I have only completed 19 pens. I need to complete at least 10 pens a week, I work full time, and with my success rate I would need to cast 30 or more per week. I thought about asking some IAP members to do some castings or make some pens, but I do not have the money to pay a fair price, I may be able to trade some pens blanks, bowl blanks, or pen kits, I have accumulated over the years.
I have my 2nd pressure pot on the way (my old one does not seal that well), I have watched all the tutorials.
Any suggestions you have how I can get 10-15 successful cast per week would be greatly appreciated
To make a long story short, the wedding is February 27th, the final guests count who need regular pens is 58, plus 7 in the wedding party who we hoped to make an upscale pen for, and 7 small children I will make them either a kaleidoscope or top. I have only completed 19 pens. I need to complete at least 10 pens a week, I work full time, and with my success rate I would need to cast 30 or more per week. I thought about asking some IAP members to do some castings or make some pens, but I do not have the money to pay a fair price, I may be able to trade some pens blanks, bowl blanks, or pen kits, I have accumulated over the years.
I have my 2nd pressure pot on the way (my old one does not seal that well), I have watched all the tutorials.
Any suggestions you have how I can get 10-15 successful cast per week would be greatly appreciated
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