Polymer clays?

[Paul Downes]

Have any of you folks used polymer clays to make pen blanks and if you have how do you like them?

 

[thewishman]

Hey Paul, there are several posts about polymer clay - the consensus seems to be that they tend to crumble after a year or so. They can be quite pretty and creative, but the thin walls cause durability problems.

Chris

 

[thewishman]

Just a thought, several people put a thin material on a tube and then cast it in clear resin. Pictures, snake skins, painting... That might make the polymer clay troubles a non-issue. <s>(I hereby claim this idea an demand a nickel for every pc pen made in this manner.)</s>

Chris

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

Here is one I made and finished with CA:

It has done me well so far. It was a pleasure to turn, but really drinks the CA when you are finishing it.

 

[Paul Downes]

Nice looking pen, It reminds me of how the globe looks from space.

 

[gwilki]

I've done a lot of them. I think that I do them differently than most because I don't form the clay around the tube and bake it. I roll a sausage of the clay, bake it, then drill it for the tube. I use epoxy to hold the tube. Then I turn it shy of the bushings and cast it in Alumilite. I tried a few using CA, but they didn't hold up to day to day use. No problems with the alumilite ones.

 

[Paul Downes]

Jeeze Grant, that's a long process. I would have to really like them to go to that length. But hey, I guess if they look outstanding and they sell at a good price.........

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

I would not trust clay enough to sell it.

 

[gwilki]

It is a long process, Paul. Most of those that I've done have been to get the colours that I wanted. You can do pretty much anything with clay as far as colour goes. Once I get better at colouring alumilite, I'll likely drop the clay. Like Scott, I wouldn't sell clay without casting it.