• Thanks for visiting The Penturners Forum today.

    There are many features and resources that currently you are unable to see or access, either because you're not yet registered, or if you're already registered, because you're not logged in.

    To gain full access to the forum, please log in or register now. Registration is completely free, it only takes a few seconds, and you can join our well established community of like-minded pen makers.

Making resin blanks

AGardener

Apprentice Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2019
Posts
11
Location
Cape Town
First Name
Andrew
I have experimented with casting blanks - see attached photo. These are simply blue tinted epoxy resin with slivers of rooikrans wood - what we braai with here. The resultant pen, not a great effort, reveals the tiny air bubbles in the blank (when you zoom in - luckily past the focus level of most people's eyes).

I haven't used a pressure pot - would this get rid of all the bubbles ? Can a normal pressure cooker pot be used with a compressor attachment ?

Thanks
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8555.jpg
    IMG_8555.jpg
    73.7 KB · Views: 91
  • Firewood.jpg
    Firewood.jpg
    88.5 KB · Views: 90

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
Hi Andrew,
a pressure pot doesn’t eliminate the bubbles it compresses them to a microscopic size that cannot be seen with the naked eye. As for using anything else other than a dedicated resin pot, I wouldn’t IMHO. :thinks:
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
Walter did an article for one of the magazines converting a pressure cooker a while ago and it was mentioned on here. Have done a quick search as I thought it might be in the tutorials but not. I don't have time to search posts this morning but you might find it if you try otherwise mayby drop Walter a message and he can probably tell you which issue mag it was featured in.
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
I bought the 10ltr pot from the same place, and I must say, it’s an excellent piece of kit. Well worth the money.
I also bought a filter from Amazon. :thumbs::thumbs:
 

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
0D39BAC6-CA83-475E-93E9-74ED8B39D5D5.jpg

Hi Paul, I hope you can see the image. If you have a female coupling on the compressor airline, you will have to fit a compatible male onto the filter. ( the filter screws onto the air intake on the pot)
I hope this all makes sense. :thinks:
 

Paul hd

Fellow
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Posts
1,299
Location
Buckinghamshire
First Name
Paul
Hi Paul, I hope you can see the image. If you have a female coupling on the compressor airline, you will have to fit a compatible male onto the filter. ( the filter screws onto the air intake on the pot)
I hope this all makes sense. :thinks:

Thanks John,
That makes sense. I do drain the tank now and again but it would be a good addition to have the filter.

Cheers,
Paul.
 

Skil Phil

Full Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Posts
226
Location
South Africa
Adendorffs sell a very reasonably priced paint pot setup.
I bought one and modified it by taking out the suction tube.
Works fine. There must be an Adendorffs in CT.
Phil
 

Skil Phil

Full Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Posts
226
Location
South Africa
Hi Peter,
Pop in now and again and comment when I can.
As mentioned elsewhere got somebody interested in Corporate gifts so may get back to making pens after a long layoff.
Keep well.
Cheers
Phil
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
420
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Pressure cookers are designed to work with less than 10psi. Casting wood/resin mixes like yours are usually done at 40psi or more. Therefore converting a pressure cooker is a really bad idea and the reason most are using spray painting pots that have been modified. Your best bet is to look for a used one and convert it after thoroughly checking it out.

Pete
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
Top