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Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
Hi everyone.

Only 15 days to go before I traipse off to do a woodturning course with Neil Lawton and 16 days to go before I post photos of my very first attempts at woodturning.

Anyway that is not the reason for this post.

I have been following with interest the post by [MENTION=1612]DJB Penmaker[/MENTION] and his first attempt at casting accompanied with a wonderful photo of his results and that got me thinking, would it not be cheaper (per pen) to make a slab and cut it down to relevant sizes? I have it in my head that it would be as easy to cast one as it would be to cast a dozen from one slab (I am not insinuating that casting is easy as it is no doubt a difficult process). no doubt I am missing something, the problem is that I can't think what.

Gary
 

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,159
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Hi Gary,
Yes some people slab cast and cut up into sections, but if you are label casting or making resin hybrids it's often easier to cast them solo..... You still need a few single casts to fill the pot..... So it's horses for courses... :thumbs::thumbs:
 

21William

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Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
1,618
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Dorset
First Name
William
All casting is somewhat wasteful but cutting up slabs generates waste with every cut. The least wasteful of more economical way of casting is to cast round bars of resin.
 

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
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Dronfield
First Name
Gary
All casting is somewhat wasteful but cutting up slabs generates waste with every cut. The least wasteful of more economical way of casting is to cast round bars of resin.

I never even considered that but it makes perfect sense
 

DJB Penmaker

Full Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2017
Posts
308
Location
Cheshire
First Name
Derek
I'm not sure that it would be cheaper because you'd be using resin that then gets drilled out to take the tube, also the glitter ones I've made couldn't be cast as a slab. I do believe the vast majority of blanks are cast using the slab method though for technical reasons.
Btw thanks for the compliment in your post ��
 

Lons

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Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
I can't give advice about casting Gary but will say that you will have a great time on the course, Neil is a top bloke and he'll set you on the right track and have you turning with confidence in no time.
Please give him and the lovely Ali my regards if you remember.
Enjoy

EDIT

I think many of the commercial blanks are cast as slabs, certainly some of the knock off Conway Stewart types as I've had my hands on some in that form, others cast in longer lengths and cut later, I have a few of those in my stock but my thoughts are if you cast individually then every blank can be unique and different.
 

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
420
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
There are advantages to slab casting in that some of the patterns can't be duplicated in a single blank mould and some of the resins set quickly so you have to get it in the pressure pot before they start to form bubbles and cure. Vertical tube casting can produce effects that you can't get with horizontal casting. Individual blank moulds rule when you just want to make a blank or two. Tube in moulds are the only way you can cast imbedded objects (watch part, labels, stamps, paper, snake skin, foil etc). When you get to casting hybrid blanks you use either slab or individual depending on the size of the wood etc you are casting. There is no one better way as blank making involves so many types.

Pete
 

Gadget-UK

Graduate Member
Joined
May 18, 2018
Posts
820
Location
Nr Blandford Forum. Dorset. UK
First Name
Colin
Agree with Curly
"There is no one better way as blank making involves so many types"
I have used (and still do) single blanks, slabs, tubes right down to tube in blanks.
They all have different uses and drawbacks / benefits.
For hybrids I always make a slab, depending on the colours and style of blank it could be individual or slab

IMG_1530.jpg
IMG_4023.jpg
IMG_4024.jpg

Slabs a great for making a batch of similar colour blanks, though the patterns can vary so much even in a single slab.
Single blanks are unique and always a one off - same with tube blanks.
Picture blanks are always tube in blank.
Just experiment, you will find the best option for yourself, good luck :thumbs::thumbs:
 
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