Drill Worms

[Todd in PA]

So I knocked out a set of Graduate fountain pens. You might have saw me complaining about this kit. The turned diameter is unreasonably thin and always cracks the barrel. Anyway, I wanted to no longer see kits these in my cabinet, so I built them to run them out of there. I used a tube expander to create a slip fit and glued in the parts with JB weld. Decent results.

But that's not what I want to talk about. As I drilled these out, I collected the acrylic worms coming off the drill bit. Then cast them in alumilite to create a new blank out of the scraps.

I'm sure it's not an original idea. But I was happy with the results. Put it on an $8 kit and gift it to a friend or maybe even list it on my website for sale.

 

[qquake]

Looks like success to me!

 

[KenB259]

So I knocked out a set of Graduate fountain pens. You might have saw me complaining about this kit. The turned diameter is unreasonably thin and always cracks the barrel. Anyway, I wanted to no longer see kits these in my cabinet, so I built them to run them out of there. I used a tube expander to create a slip fit and glued in the parts with JB weld. Decent results.
View attachment 347047

But that's not what I want to talk about. As I drilled these out, I collected the acrylic worms coming off the drill bit. Then cast them in alumilite to create a new blank out of the scraps.
View attachment 347048View attachment 347049View attachment 347050View attachment 347051View attachment 347052
I'm sure it's not an original idea. But I was happy with the results. Put it on an $8 kit and gift it to a friend or maybe even list it on my website for sale.

Awesome, I have a collection of the "worms", but haven't done anything with them yet. Your post makes me glad I saved some.

 

[David350]

That is amazing recycling . Great looking blank as well...

 

[Mike P]

That's a great idea for the drill worms! They made a great blank. I turned a graduate FP for the first time a couple weeks ago and agree its not my favorite kit. I love that atrax kit you used your new blank on though. That's a looker!

 

[Todd in PA]

Awesome, I have a collection of the "worms", but haven't done anything with them yet. Your post makes me glad I saved some.

Awesome, I have a collection of the "worms", but haven't done anything with them yet. Your post makes me glad I saved some.

Ken, these shrink a bit in the pressure pot because of the air trapped in them. I ended up with a .5" blank from a .75" mold. Pour a little deeper than you think you need.

 

[KMCloonan]

What a great idea! I have a large bin of these "worms" under my lathe. I will give this a try as well. Thanks Todd for the tip!

 

[thewishman]

Looks awesome! Beautiful blank - I wonder if some commercial blanks are made that way.

 

[BULLWINKLE]

Looks great