James Combs
08-29-2011, 8:40 PM
In answer to Keith Westfall's request in my "A Couple First's.." thread, here are photos of my setup with some commentary. Currently my setup is only for the single barrel style pens such as Sierras and Wallstreets. Keep in mind also that this setup has produced only "one" pen so far.:D
This is my setup for applying items such as feathers to the tube. The clamp has been modified with pins that hold the UHMW tubing plugs in place while I work on the tube. I noted this earlier in another post but again I used water borne poly to wet down and glue on the feathers in the pen in the previous post. I read somewhere that WB-poly is becoming very popular with the more experienced "feather-ers"
206345206344
After the tube is doctored up (I am just showing a blank tube for demo purposes) I transfer it to the mold. At this point it would be ready for casting and setting into a vacuum or pressure chamber. I am considering standardizing on using both vacuum and then pressure.
206342
Here are some details on how the mold goes together and is set up.
It looks like this when taken apart. A necessity when removing the casting.
206338
I had some leakage problems gumming up my through bolts so I have added an o-ring seal where I "think" the trouble is.
206339
If you note on the left end there is a large bolt. The bolt is use to push on the tall follower (behind the washer - right pic) which pushes on one of the tubing plugs to make sure it is sealed. I don't want to get resin inside the tube. The end cap with the bolt is held on with wing nuts. The extra clamp is to insure there is no leakage past the follower.
206342206341
For the one pen blank I cast with it, it did a pretty good job other then leaking a little. In the left pic the tube plug has a through hole (red arrow) that lines up with the hole in the mold side (when it is inside the mold) and it also has a "tee-ing" hole that is use at the bench clamp (first pics). Resin came through that hole and enveloped my through bolt making it very hard to remove at dis-assembly.
206340206339
This is my pressure pot with the regulator locked at 40psi. I converted it from an old painting rig I had but never really used. I loaned it out a few times but never used it myself.
206343
Edit: I have mold release for use when I am casting but wouldn't you know I would forget to use it. However, to my surprise the resin did not want to stick to the UHMW that the mold is made from. I think I dodged a bullet on that casting. Still had to do a little scraping but nothing major. Both of the tube plugs came out quite easily with just a twist. I sawed off the two funnel ends created by the plugs and the blank was ready to trim and turn.
This is my setup for applying items such as feathers to the tube. The clamp has been modified with pins that hold the UHMW tubing plugs in place while I work on the tube. I noted this earlier in another post but again I used water borne poly to wet down and glue on the feathers in the pen in the previous post. I read somewhere that WB-poly is becoming very popular with the more experienced "feather-ers"
206345206344
After the tube is doctored up (I am just showing a blank tube for demo purposes) I transfer it to the mold. At this point it would be ready for casting and setting into a vacuum or pressure chamber. I am considering standardizing on using both vacuum and then pressure.
206342
Here are some details on how the mold goes together and is set up.
It looks like this when taken apart. A necessity when removing the casting.
206338
I had some leakage problems gumming up my through bolts so I have added an o-ring seal where I "think" the trouble is.
206339
If you note on the left end there is a large bolt. The bolt is use to push on the tall follower (behind the washer - right pic) which pushes on one of the tubing plugs to make sure it is sealed. I don't want to get resin inside the tube. The end cap with the bolt is held on with wing nuts. The extra clamp is to insure there is no leakage past the follower.
206342206341
For the one pen blank I cast with it, it did a pretty good job other then leaking a little. In the left pic the tube plug has a through hole (red arrow) that lines up with the hole in the mold side (when it is inside the mold) and it also has a "tee-ing" hole that is use at the bench clamp (first pics). Resin came through that hole and enveloped my through bolt making it very hard to remove at dis-assembly.
206340206339
This is my pressure pot with the regulator locked at 40psi. I converted it from an old painting rig I had but never really used. I loaned it out a few times but never used it myself.
206343
Edit: I have mold release for use when I am casting but wouldn't you know I would forget to use it. However, to my surprise the resin did not want to stick to the UHMW that the mold is made from. I think I dodged a bullet on that casting. Still had to do a little scraping but nothing major. Both of the tube plugs came out quite easily with just a twist. I sawed off the two funnel ends created by the plugs and the blank was ready to trim and turn.