Blank length trends??

[alinc100]

Hi All,
I've went down a rabbit hole while waiting for an order from Bullseye Turning Supply I watched a couple of their videos. I was then that I realized their kits utilize a 6 inch blank. I see many of the pours/castings available are only 5-1/4" to 5-1/2" .Do you see the casters changing to increase length or do I just have to be very selective ? Segments and bands?

 

[Sugar Creek Pen Co.]

I've always just added on to the ends of the blanks I have. Usually some complimentary or contrasting material. Gives it a nice look. The other option is to look for "kitless" blanks, they are typically 9" long and would be plenty long for anything from Bullseye.

Here is one I'm working on now, just added a little here and there to get the length.

 

[d_bondi]

Most component (kit) pens can be made with a 5" blank.

I assume that the kits you are referring to at Bullseye Turning Supply are the Artemis and Apollo. They need a minimum 6" blank because they are closed end pens.

When I am making a kitless pen and using resin or ebonite blank I want ~8 1/2" of material to work with.

When I am making a kitless pen with wood and sleeving it with resin or ebonite, I want 6 1/4" of wood and 8 1/2" of the resin or ebonite.

 

[egnald]

Most kitless blanks are poured to be about 8 1/2" long, so those are the blanks I use when I'm building Kate's pens. I pour both 5 1/2" and 8 1/2" long blanks for my own use, but there are a lot of kitless blanks available on the market too. - Dave