ElMostro
Member
Blank Material: Roasted Coffee beans, Allumilite & Pearl-ex
Pen Kit: European Gold
Finish: Sanded to MM 12000 and CA finish, several coats
Idea came from: Question posted by "Underdog" in the penturning forum.
This is my 3rd attempt. The first and second attemps I cast in PR (I ran aout of Allumilite and could not wait to try) but since the PR does not penetrate the bean and PR is so brittle (coffee beans are also very brittle) the first two attempts the blanks flew apart on me. So I tried casting in my last bit of Allumilite and it worked! Like I said the resin will not penetrate the bean it just keeps the blank together. Once I was about 1/2 way done turning I added some CA as a precaution. As I continued to turn if I saw any dry spots I added additional CA. Things I learned:
-Coffee beans accelerate CA curing, In the first attempt I put the CA in the driiled hole of the blank and some more on the tube, when I went to insert the tube it stuck instantly only half way down.
-When sanding I used sandpaper on a popsicle stick. If you do it holding the sandpaper with your fingers you will end up with high spots at the Allumilite areas and low spots where the coffee beans are.
-If you pick up the shavings with a vaccuum every time you use it again your shop will smell like coffee
-Coffee beans turn like dust not shavings, if you use a white t-shirt while turning your t-shirt will end up with stains (DAMHINT)[:I]
-Snorting coffee dust is not the same as drinking it, seriously, use a dust mask the dust from the coffee beans is pretty fine
-Shameless plug, If you are interested in blanks let me know
Pen Kit: European Gold
Finish: Sanded to MM 12000 and CA finish, several coats
Idea came from: Question posted by "Underdog" in the penturning forum.
This is my 3rd attempt. The first and second attemps I cast in PR (I ran aout of Allumilite and could not wait to try) but since the PR does not penetrate the bean and PR is so brittle (coffee beans are also very brittle) the first two attempts the blanks flew apart on me. So I tried casting in my last bit of Allumilite and it worked! Like I said the resin will not penetrate the bean it just keeps the blank together. Once I was about 1/2 way done turning I added some CA as a precaution. As I continued to turn if I saw any dry spots I added additional CA. Things I learned:
-Coffee beans accelerate CA curing, In the first attempt I put the CA in the driiled hole of the blank and some more on the tube, when I went to insert the tube it stuck instantly only half way down.
-When sanding I used sandpaper on a popsicle stick. If you do it holding the sandpaper with your fingers you will end up with high spots at the Allumilite areas and low spots where the coffee beans are.
-If you pick up the shavings with a vaccuum every time you use it again your shop will smell like coffee
-Coffee beans turn like dust not shavings, if you use a white t-shirt while turning your t-shirt will end up with stains (DAMHINT)[:I]
-Snorting coffee dust is not the same as drinking it, seriously, use a dust mask the dust from the coffee beans is pretty fine
-Shameless plug, If you are interested in blanks let me know
