First Stamp Blank Pens

[mark james]

First: Thank you to ossaguy and marko50 and others for inspiration and friendly advice and comments in their threads! These pens are a result of the collective of IAP!!

OK, Wifey and I went on our Honeymoon to Grand Cayman in 1984 for a SCUBA diving trip... Yup, 30'th anniversary next month (She is responsible for our SCUBA interest).

This is part of my Anniversary present - (the other may be a bit more clear and faceted...and expensive).

For a first attempt, I'm pleased. Cast in Alumilite.

 

[plantman]

Great job Mark, both in pen making and married life. Jim S

 

[mark james]

Great job Mark, both in pen making and married life. Jim S

Pen Making is tough work!!! Many failures. Married life has been easy!

 

[bobjackson]

Great job Mark. Happy anniversary.

 

[Dalepenkala]

Great job Mark. Happy anniversary.

Cool pens! Congrats! I'm gonna have to try making a couple of those stamp pens!

 

[Indiana_Parrothead]

Very nice Mark you sure can't tell those are your first castings. You did a great job on those. But you hVe to watch out it gets very addictive....

Mike

 

[mark james]

Very nice Mark you sure can't tell those are your first castings. You did a great job on those. But you hVe to watch out it gets very addictive....

Mike

Mike... Your watch blanks were awesome inspiration also. I have local requests for these, but I still have a "job," so I will keep it low key. I love this HOBBY.

Question: Why West Systems Epoxy over Alumilite (I won't consider PR - Wifey is a Polymer Chemist and has banned it with my Medical issues - which is fine with me!).

Mark

 

[Indiana_Parrothead]

I just started with epoxy because it had a slow enough cure the it didn't require a pressure pot. There is very low or no odor or fumes, although neither does Alumilite. One of the few times I used Alumilite I had issues with adhesion to the paint I was using and cracking around the CA that I used to glue on the watch parts, but that I blame on the StickFast CA.

Epoxy does have it's down falls, it eats the silicon molds. It just pulls the oils out and the don't last very long. I still use Alumilite but just for embeds or color pours.

Mike

 

[mark james]

I just started with epoxy because it had a slow enough cure the it didn't require a pressure pot. There is very low or no odor or fumes, although neither does Alumilite. One of the few times I used Alumilite I had issues with adhesion to the paint I was using and cracking around the CA that I used to glue on the watch parts, but that I blame on the StickFast CA.

Epoxy does have it's down falls, it eats the silicon molds. It just pulls the oils out and the don't last very long. I still use Alumilite but just for embeds or color pours.

Mike

Thank You! Info is a great help.

 

[Tom T]

Really very nice pens. Beautiful for sure

 

[ossaguy]

Wow,those look super! Love the colors in those.

Happy Anniversary,too!



Steve

 

[mark james]

Wow,those look super! Love the colors in those.

Happy Anniversary,too!



Steve

Thanks Steve;
and thanks for some inspiration! I love your work!

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Nice work Mark. It's a pleasure to see what you're creating.

 

[ladycop322]

How romantic!

 

[mark james]

How romantic!

Yea... For us Old S..ts! But we have each other!

 

[mark james]

Hope to keep getting better!

Looking at George Watkins postings for inspiration...

 

[OZturner]

Great Pens, Mark.
Superb Blanks, Fit and Finish.
Congratulations for next months Anniversary, with 29 years now behind you, I think you know what it is all about and what it takes.
Brian.

 

[johncrane]

Very cool.