
Friday, March 5, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z
Join Stream1. Material & Pen Kit Selection, Drilling Techniques (Wood & Acrylics)
· Pen Kit Selection
o Taiwan vs China
o Single barrel / two barrel pens
· Wood – stabilized / non-stabilized
· Acrylic – polyester, acrylic acetate, Alumilite clear, Alumilite White
· Drilling – Bladecote, Colt Drill Bits, Norseman Drill Bits
o Acrylics
§ Polyester
§ Acrylic Acetate
§ Alumilite Clear / Hybrid
§ Alumilite White Blanks
o Wood
§ Stabilized vs Non-stabilized
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream1. Mold Selection & Clear Casting – No Pressure Pot
• Silicone Molds vs HDPE – high-density polyethylene – high strength to density ratio
• Tube-in silicone molds vs DogBone / DinoBone
o Leaks – plugs
o Silicone Molds are tube specific / DogBone accommodates all sizes.
o Stackable
o Cast-A-Blanka System
• Polyester resin – no pressure pot
• Label casting (Fuente labels)
o Wrap tube & cast it / demold
o Turn & finish a polyester blank with a negative rake carbide tool
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z
Join Stream1. Material & Pen Kit Selection, Drilling Techniques (Wood & Acrylics)
· Pen Kit Selection
o Taiwan vs China
o Single barrel / two barrel pens
· Wood – stabilized / non-stabilized
· Acrylic – polyester, acrylic acetate, Alumilite clear, Alumilite White
· Drilling – Bladecote, Colt Drill Bits, Norseman Drill Bits
o Acrylics
§ Polyester
§ Acrylic Acetate
§ Alumilite Clear / Hybrid
§ Alumilite White Blanks
o Wood
§ Stabilized vs Non-stabilized
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream1. Mold Selection & Clear Casting – No Pressure Pot
• Silicone Molds vs HDPE – high-density polyethylene – high strength to density ratio
• Tube-in silicone molds vs DogBone / DinoBone
o Leaks – plugs
o Silicone Molds are tube specific / DogBone accommodates all sizes.
o Stackable
o Cast-A-Blanka System
• Polyester resin – no pressure pot
• Label casting (Fuente labels)
o Wrap tube & cast it / demold
o Turn & finish a polyester blank with a negative rake carbide tool
Friday, March 12, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Step 2 Gluing
Join Stream2. Gluing Issues
· When to use CA Glue vs Epoxy Glue
· Gluing acrylics – 5 minute epoxy
· Painting tubes –
o When to paint and what type of paint – When In doubt paint it!
o What type of glue to use
· CA Glue, 5 minute Epoxy, Wood, Acrylic – Painting tubes
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream2. Clear Label Casting Alumilite Resins & New UV Curing Resin
• Alumilite Clear & Clear Slow Resins
• Making Colored Blanks
o Mold Release – Stoner / Wax Mold Release / Ultra 4 Mold Release
o Alumilite Dyes & Casting Pigments
o Block Mold Casting ( shredded credit cards)
• Turn & finish an Alumilite blank
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Step 2 Gluing
Join Stream2. Gluing Issues
· When to use CA Glue vs Epoxy Glue
· Gluing acrylics – 5 minute epoxy
· Painting tubes –
o When to paint and what type of paint – When In doubt paint it!
o What type of glue to use
· CA Glue, 5 minute Epoxy, Wood, Acrylic – Painting tubes
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream2. Clear Label Casting Alumilite Resins & New UV Curing Resin
• Alumilite Clear & Clear Slow Resins
• Making Colored Blanks
o Mold Release – Stoner / Wax Mold Release / Ultra 4 Mold Release
o Alumilite Dyes & Casting Pigments
o Block Mold Casting ( shredded credit cards)
• Turn & finish an Alumilite blank
Friday, March 19, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Step 3 Squaring
Join Stream3. Squaring Your Pen Blank
· Barrel Trimmer Set
o When not to use
· Squaring Jig – demonstrate 5in. Benchtop Disc Sander
· Turning Tool Selection & Demonstration
o High Speed Steel
o Carbide
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream3. Making Hybrid Burl Pen Blanks & Stabilizing Wood
• Material Selection
o Stabilized vs non-stabilized material
o Stabilizing Your Wood for hybrid blanks
o Mold Selection – single / multiple channels / block
o Securing burl to mold
• Casting your Hybrid
• Tool Selection
• Turning & Finishing a hybrid pen blank
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Step 3 Squaring
Join Stream3. Squaring Your Pen Blank
· Barrel Trimmer Set
o When not to use
· Squaring Jig – demonstrate 5in. Benchtop Disc Sander
· Turning Tool Selection & Demonstration
o High Speed Steel
o Carbide
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream3. Making Hybrid Burl Pen Blanks & Stabilizing Wood
• Material Selection
o Stabilized vs non-stabilized material
o Stabilizing Your Wood for hybrid blanks
o Mold Selection – single / multiple channels / block
o Securing burl to mold
• Casting your Hybrid
• Tool Selection
• Turning & Finishing a hybrid pen blank
Friday, March 26, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Final Step
Join Stream4. Turning, Sanding, Finishing & Assembling Your Pen Blank
· Turning Acrylic Blanks
o What Tools to use
o Polyester
o Acrylic Acetate / Alumilite
· Turning Wood Blanks
o What tools to use
o Stabilized Blank
o Non-Stabilized Blank
· Sanding & Finishing Wood Blanks
o Friction Finish
o CA Glue Finish
· Assembling your pen blank
o Dis-assembling you pen blank
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream4. Making Color Pen Blanks
• Resin Selection
o Alumilite Clear or Alumilite White
o Polyester Resin
o Best dyes to color resin
• Mold Selection
• Turning Alumilite clear resin vs Alumilite White
• Proper tool selection
• Finishing techniques for each resin
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Making Pens From A to Z - Final Step
Join Stream4. Turning, Sanding, Finishing & Assembling Your Pen Blank
· Turning Acrylic Blanks
o What Tools to use
o Polyester
o Acrylic Acetate / Alumilite
· Turning Wood Blanks
o What tools to use
o Stabilized Blank
o Non-Stabilized Blank
· Sanding & Finishing Wood Blanks
o Friction Finish
o CA Glue Finish
· Assembling your pen blank
o Dis-assembling you pen blank
Casting Pen Blanks
Join Stream4. Making Color Pen Blanks
• Resin Selection
o Alumilite Clear or Alumilite White
o Polyester Resin
o Best dyes to color resin
• Mold Selection
• Turning Alumilite clear resin vs Alumilite White
• Proper tool selection
• Finishing techniques for each resin
Download these images to your phone and post using the Instagram app.