Alumilite Blanks

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SugarKaneBlanks

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2025
Messages
6
Location
MI USA
Hey everyone!

I'm fairly new to selling pen blanks and wanted to introduce myself and share some of my work — and also get some honest feedback from folks who've been doing this a lot longer than I have. My day job is healthcare and casting resin has turned into a massive stress relief for me and creative outlet.

I've been casting Alumilite resin pen blanks specifically for fountain pens, rollerballs, and custom builds. All blanks are pressure cast at 50 PSI.

I recently opened an Etsy shop (SugarKaneBlanks) and listed a few styles to test the waters. I'm not here just to advertise — I'd genuinely appreciate advice on:
  • What colorways or styles you've seen actually sell consistently
  • Sizing preferences (oversized vs kit-specific vs "universal")
  • What you look for in a resin blank before you'll buy
  • Any red flags you see in my listings, photos, or descriptions
If anyone wants to check them out, here's the shop link:

SugarKaneBlanks

Thanks in advance, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts (good or bad).

Blanks are approximately $10 depending on size.
IMG_9142.JPEG


— Kane
 
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Hi Kane,

Welcome, and I appreciate the work you do in healthcare and the reasons having a hobby like resin casting gives you an avenue for stress relief. My comments are from the perspective of a self-caster who doesn't sell commercially or choose to sell through an online platform. If somebody sees a pen I make from a self-cast, and they like what they see and want to purchase a blank, I'll sell through a private arrangement. That's to say, I'm not a competitor and generally not a blank purchaser. I am, however, well aware of what's available on vendor websites.

You're in a tough market, which appears to be nearing oversaturation if it isn't already saturated. Vendors of casting supplies might not like me saying this because casting supplies (resin, molds, powders, etc) are a money maker from people who discover casting and think, "I could do this as a side hustle and make a little money after the cost of supplies." I'm betting everybody who "gets into" casting thinks this at some point. I did and have some sunk costs that I likely will never recover. Casters come and go, but sometimes unload their supplies here at a good price for the next wave. I benefitted in that regard.

Sometimes feedback can be instructive; sometimes it can be vague but encouraging; sometimes it can be blunt. Getting the last out of the way first, my sometimes cynical side breaks through my inner filter and interprets queries like this as, "Hey all, I'm embarking on a new money making venture, tell me what mistakes and successes you all had on your journey so I can shortcut mine and not make the same errors and enjoy the successes without learning the hard way and wasting time and money." Yes, that is harsh on my part. I feel the need to say it because it's naive for anyone to think the more successful casters are willing to be open books. It's true there are a few here who are above and beyond gracious with their help, guidance, and encouragement. They are also the ones so good at what they do they are not likely to put themselves out of business by offering help.

To your query plus some general comments:

  • "Alumilte resin pen blanks" is not specific enough. "Alumilite" is a company that produces specific types of casting resin. Your description should state whether the pen blanks are urethane or epoxy or whatever other resin you might use.
  • Colorways or styles are a personal choice. I'm doubtful you'll get much feedback from other makers on this, because that only dilutes their potential sales. If you peruse vendor sites, you'll probably come up with some ideas. I periodically look through some of the mailorder clothing catalogs my spouse gets to find color combinations I normally wouldn't think of. Spouse wrinkled her brow at first wondering why I took such an interest in women's clothes until I explained. Bright, colorful, and complementary blends are a good target. Next time you're in a big box store, go to the paint section and grab a few color pallette cards/pamphlets. Those should help. I've even used the colorways of my running shoes as a model colorway. They usually are three colors, and to me more than three colors gets too busy.
  • I can't help much with size. I understand kitless makers like long blanks (probably 10" minimum). That length would generally be long enough to make two, two barrel pens or four Sierra-style. The 5-3/8"-ish commercial molds work, but some single barrel pens are longer than Sierra-style and leave me with lengths too short for much of anything. If you want a possible niche market, consider making 5/8" rounds for slimmer pens. Everything round I make 3/4" round, and this results in wasted resin. In retrospect, I wish I had purchased at least one 5/8" round mold instead of two 3/4" round molds. That's a live and learn.
  • If I wanted to buy somebody else's blanks, I'd want to see what the turned blank looks like. Straight out of the mold is not representative. I've had some that I thought were going to look great, but they were nothing more than "meh" on the inside. I've had some that I thought were likely duds because the outside looked plain and boring, but came out stunning on the inside. I guess pen blanks are like people in that regard. The square blanks are even more difficult to envision as a pen. I suggest making one extra from each set you make whether round or square, turning it to pen diameter, and including it as part of your photograph. Keep it as part of your reference library. This also give you an opportunity to check quality control to be sure you mixed your resin properly, evaluate your pouring techinique, make any adjustments to ratios, and check for air bubbles. That last part is important. A bubble here and there might happen, but no purveyor of blanks should be selling blanks with air bubbles. By turning a sample, you will have assurance you do not have bubbles.
  • Rather than trying to come up with names for each colorway, use a number or some short code. Maybe people like coming up with names, but I don't think names like "Nebula Abyss," "Cantakerous Clown," "NB880 Flame Shoes" or "Smurfs in a Blender" are what sells a blank. ALU#1 (for Alumilite urethane colorway #1) or ALE#1 (for Alumilite epoxy colorway #1) or something like that works just as well. Purchasers are likely to remember a short number than the are a funky name.
  • I don't buy stuff on Etsy, so I'm passing on suggestions for that platform
That might be harsh, might be helpful, or might not be of much use. I am sincere in wishing you success.
 
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Fantastic feedback Brian,
I appreciate the time and expertise you put into this. I totally agree with you about the market saturation and the vendors of the various things. Thankfully I like to tinker and am just building most of my own molds and already had the turning tools. Also unfortunately seem to just have expensive hobbies 😅. I am very realistic about this never turning a profit, but mostly just hoping to stay relatively sane and offset the costs while also sharing some creativity. Work can really take the creativity out of you.

Great point about the type of alumilite, I mostly use clear slow urethane. I will have to get that updated.

Im still laughing about the colorways and styles comment. I will have to look at the womens clothing, but might have to bring my wife with me to avoid conflict.

I appreciate the need for some turned examples. Currently working overtime turning up a few of them to get some examples.


I guess I hadnt thought much about the naming vs numbering, I do think personally smurfs in a blender might sell me over ALE#1, but I have been know to choose sports teams based on the mascot. I might have to reconsider and go with a logic system.

Not harsh at all and I really do respect and appreciate these recommendations. Thank you.
 
Everyone will have different preferences, but I always liked seeing the names of blanks people come up with, and I enjoying naming them too. It's fun. I personally would remember a catchy name over a number, but different brains are wired differently I suppose!
 
@Brian G hit it good! I agree with lots of what he said, but wanted to comment on only one thing he mentioned -

I pour a fair amount of blanks because I enjoy it too. I don't sell my work to the public but do occasionally offer blanks to my fellow turning club members who make pens at the cost I incur for materials to make them. I poured a bunch of Clear Slow urethane recently and pulled them from the mold and was not at all impressed with what they looked like, so I gave them away to a few of the club members to use for practicing. At the next meeting one of the people I had given my 'disappointing' blanks away to came up to me to show me his latest creation. It was a really pretty pen, well-made and nicely polished. But what was really striking about it was the pen body - very colorful, lots of drama in the colors, and quite unique. Turns out he was showing it to me because it was made from one of the giveaway 'disappointing' blanks!

I've really found that what the blank looks like on the outside is somewhat representative of what is on the inside, but not typically. The pouring method, temp, and swirling all allow changes along the length of the blank as well as across its diameter, not always obvious from outside.

So, now I turn one down, or on longer blanks, turn an inch or two to see what is inside. You never know.....

Kevin
 
Todd in PA said:
These blanks look muddy to me. What temperature are you pouring? How many are you pouring in a batch? My guess is you're pouring too many at a time, causing you to pour below temp.
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Pouring 4 at a time (1 mold) and typically pouring around 90-105 degrees. The hardest part is running from the basement to garage to get it under pressure in time. Weather has been all over the place here which is making it difficult to keep a consistent starting temp but getting some improvements after starting to work in the basement. Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it.
 
NJturner said:
@Brian G hit it good! I agree with lots of what he said, but wanted to comment on only one thing he mentioned -

I pour a fair amount of blanks because I enjoy it too. I don't sell my work to the public but do occasionally offer blanks to my fellow turning club members who make pens at the cost I incur for materials to make them. I poured a bunch of Clear Slow urethane recently and pulled them from the mold and was not at all impressed with what they looked like, so I gave them away to a few of the club members to use for practicing. At the next meeting one of the people I had given my 'disappointing' blanks away to came up to me to show me his latest creation. It was a really pretty pen, well-made and nicely polished. But what was really striking about it was the pen body - very colorful, lots of drama in the colors, and quite unique. Turns out he was showing it to me because it was made from one of the giveaway 'disappointing' blanks!

I've really found that what the blank looks like on the outside is somewhat representative of what is on the inside, but not typically. The pouring method, temp, and swirling all allow changes along the length of the blank as well as across its diameter, not always obvious from outside.

So, now I turn one down, or on longer blanks, turn an inch or two to see what is inside. You never know.....

Kevin
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Thank you Kevin, I just had a similar experience myself turning down a blank that was pretty meh... came out looking fantastic as the internals were much more beautiful.
 
What Brian said was spot on.

As a consumer only, I am getting back into buying after years away. I looked up my favorite bank makers and ordered what I wanted. "Here are the colors I want I trust your style"

That being said if you had a bunch of "leftover" from pours and you posted on here a mix and match style offering. That is the only other way I would see them and possibly pick up a few.

With the option of custom orders for no extra charge I have no need to shop for something that looks good.

I do keep an eye on the for sale forum. 😅

Wade
 
SugarKaneBlanks said:
Pouring 4 at a time (1 mold) and typically pouring around 90-105 degrees. The hardest part is running from the basement to garage to get it under pressure in time. Weather has been all over the place here which is making it difficult to keep a consistent starting temp but getting some improvements after starting to work in the basement. Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it.
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Why don't you just store the resin in a consistent environment, but still do the pouring in your garage? From my understanding, but could totally be wrong, it's less about the ambient temperature and more about the temperature of the resin itself.
 
dschem said:
Why don't you just store the resin in a consistent environment, but still do the pouring in your garage? From my understanding, but could totally be wrong, it's less about the ambient temperature and more about the temperature of the resin itself.
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Was doing that, but then I was freezing. Im from the desert still adjusting to the midwest. Maybe someday I will be tough, but today is not that day. Never in my wildest dreams did I think i would learn what an "ice storm" is.
 
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