Casting pen with feathers

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butcherjb

Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6
Location
Akron, Ohio
My brother is an avid fly fisherman and gave me some beautiful feathers and very small hooks. I'd like some advice on creating acrylic pen casting using the feathers and hooks.
 
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Sure thing. I retired from teaching with 35 yrs. i've been turning (making chips) for about 5 years. I belong to the Buckeye Wood Workers and Turners club near Akron, Oh. I really enjoy most any kind of turning and do it for a hobby and to stay out of my wife's hair. My shop is in my garage and it gets pretty cold during the winter. Glad to learn anything I can from this group.
Jerry
 
Very cool Jerry! thanks for sharing, I dont cast feathers myself, but im sure someone that does may chime in. Have you looked through the library under casting and read the tutorials? How much experience do you have if any on casting in general?
 
Welcome to the forum … I also taught for 35 years!

I have some experience at casting feathers; this is the process I use

Use relatively short (flat) feathers from a ring neck pheasant. Strip off the 'fuzzy' down from the shank. I am using fly head cement to attach the feathers to the tube … tried glue sticks, without much success. The fly head cement has work well for me but do not use the water based cement, go for the 'high test' … stinks more but dries clear (& faster). I put a several drops of fly head cement on the back of the feather, soak it pretty good. I then use a small dowel rod to roll the feather flat to the tube. Then I clip off the rest of the shaft using a razor blade. I use the preprinted tubes, powder coated tubes or the black nickel tubes. I use a 'helping hands' clamp from HF and a small dowel rod to hold the tubes. http://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-319.htm
After the tube is covered with feathers I coat the feathers with several drops of thin CA after gluing them to the tube to help avoid air bubbles. I let the CA set overnight before casting.
I used the article from the library "Casting Bubble Free by Don Ward" to get started on casting. http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?t=48807

I use Silmar 41 Clear Polyester Casting Resin from US Composites http://www.uscomposites.com/polyesters.html and resin saver molds from this site

I am certain there are other methods and materials … I hope this gets you started.

Jeff
 
I assume since your brother gave you fly tieing parts he ties his own flies. If so you might cast a pen made out of a fly he made, it might be a little more personable. Just trim the fuzz off the side that goes to the tube glue it down and cast.
 
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