Here is my second pen made with my own epoxy blank. Whilst you can purchase a bewildering number of amazing "plastic" blanks there is nothing more satisfying than making them yourself. Like so much in woodworking you are only limited by your knowledge, imagination and experience. I found that purchasing silicone molds is quite expensive, so I made my own, again more satisfying! Most purchased blanks are typically ¾" x ¾" x 5¼" which is way more than enough for slimline pens. So, I decided to reduce to ⅝". It saves epoxy, turning time and reduces waste. However, in error (duh!) my mold turned out to produce 9/16" which is cutting it a little fine but worked out just OK. One year ago I likely would have had more difficulty in turning it without a disaster. Practice makes perfect! Also, I finally got around to making a pen display stand using my CNC. So many ideas and not enough time to explore them all. Such is the attraction and frustration of woodworking. Should have started when I was much younger
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