Using ChatGPT to create Alumilite Pen Blanks

[eharri446]

I have been playinh around with ChatGPT and decided to ask it to create pen blanks using alumilite as a casting resin. Below re the ChatGPT question that I used, and the response that it generated,

Question:

Create pen blanks approximately .75 x .75 inches square and 6 inches long using a color blend of three colors using alumiilite as the casting resin.

Result:


For pen blanks measuring 0.75 × 0.75 × 6 inches, a three-color swirl should have enough contrast to remain interesting after the blank is turned down to the final pen diameter. Using mostly transparent dyes with one pearl or metallic pigment creates excellent depth.

5

Blank Dimensions

Each blank measures:

• 0.75 × 0.75 × 6.0 inches

The volume is:
𝑉=𝑙𝑤ℎV=lwh
𝑉=4×3×2=24V=4×3×2=24
𝑙l
𝑙l
𝑤w
𝑤w
ℎh
ℎh
l = 4h = 2w = 3
which equals 3.375 cubic inches (about 1.9 fl oz / 56 mL of mixed resin). In practice, mix about 2.1–2.2 fl oz (62–65 mL) per blank to account for mixing and mold loss.

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Blend 1 – Blue Lagoon (Highly Recommended)

6

Colors

• 45% Transparent Sapphire Blue
• 35% Transparent Caribbean Teal
• 20% Pearl White Mica

Produces:

• Deep blue pockets
• Bright turquoise ribbons
• White "sea foam" highlights
• Excellent depth after polishing

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Resin Mix (per blank)

Component	Amount
Alumilite Part A	31 mL
Alumilite Part B	31 mL
Total Mixed Resin	62 mL

Divide into three cups:

Cup 1

• 28 mL resin
• 2 drops Sapphire Blue

Cup 2

• 22 mL resin
• 2 drops Transparent Teal

Cup 3

• 12 mL resin
• 1/16 tsp Pearl White mica

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Pour Technique

1. Pour sapphire into one corner of the mold.
2. Pour teal into the opposite corner.
3. Drizzle pearl white in a thin ribbon down the center.
4. Use a bamboo skewer to make only 2–3 gentle figure-eight passes.
5. Pressure-cast at 40–60 psi until fully cured for a bubble-free blank.

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Blend 2 – Emerald Galaxy

• 50% Emerald Green
• 30% Transparent Black
• 20% Bright Gold Mica

Produces a dramatic marble effect with shimmering gold veins.

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Blend 3 – Fire Opal

• 40% Ruby Red
• 35% Transparent Orange
• 25% Gold Pearl

Creates warm flame-like swirls that become especially striking on polished pens.

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Blend 4 – Northern Lights

• 45% Transparent Purple
• 35% Turquoise
• 20% Silver Pearl

Produces vibrant, luminous ribbons with a metallic shimmer.

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Tips for Turning Pen Blanks

• Use transparent dyes for two of the colors to maximize depth.
• Use mica for the third color to create crisp highlights.
• Keep pigment loading below 5% of the resin volume.
• Warm the resin to 75–80°F (24–27°C) before mixing to reduce viscosity.
• Avoid over-stirring after pouring—natural flow gives cleaner, more attractive marbling.
• Pressure curing is preferred over vacuum degassing for small pen blanks because it preserves the swirl pattern while eliminating bubbles.

These four combinations have proven to produce visually appealing pen blanks where the swirl remains visible even after the blank is turned to the smaller diameter of a finished pen.

 

[Leonardo]

Are the blanks pictured what you made from the prompt or are these reference photos?

Edit to add: Ah I see now that the pictures were part of what ChatGPT spit out.

I agree with everything John said below.

Also, at least for me, picking out the colors and experimenting is the most fun part about casting. Starting from a photo reference or using a color palette generator can be a good way to get some inspiration too.

 

[JohnU]

This is funny. The problem with AI is it refers to posted material on the web to come up with answers that are often lacking specific information… in this instance…
Temperature of resin prior to pouring, pouring technique - direction of pour, amount of resin each time, heavy or light flow, distance above mold for gravity influence, Types of mold, depth of mold, and pressure for urethane is a must not an option, etc. it's a great start but it simply can not fill in all of the facts for the many variables that help crest character in a blank, but it makes for a fun read and a general starting point for someone just starting out. Nothing will compare to the experience you get by getting your hands dirty.

 

[eharri446]

Thanks for the feedback. I posted this as an interesting result for a simple query to ChatGpt that I made to see what it came up with.