Ladies and Gentlemen,
I've been purchasing kits for rollerballs, ballpoints and mechanical pencils at a local woodcraft shop for two years and I've enjoyed turning these products, but I'd like to find other material(s) for the blanks and better metal components. Eventually, I'd like to make fountain pens with quality components, but the journey has to begin somewhere.
Any suggestions for other resin or hard rubber sources?
Thanks,
Ed
Full Version: Rookie Question on Pen Blanks
M3 metal blanks. turned using wood lathe and tools. Interesting Mokume Gane, Damascus Steel type of blanks.
http://www.metalpenblanks.com/mokume_gane_standard.htm
ebonite, cumberland, lucite supplies:
http://shop.hermanns.dk/default.asp?lang=uk
http://www.pipemakers.org/rods02.htm (click rods ans more at bottom of page)
if you haven't already had a look at http://www.penturners.org/forum/portal.asp take a look there for ideas.
http://www.metalpenblanks.com/mokume_gane_standard.htm
ebonite, cumberland, lucite supplies:
http://shop.hermanns.dk/default.asp?lang=uk
http://www.pipemakers.org/rods02.htm (click rods ans more at bottom of page)
if you haven't already had a look at http://www.penturners.org/forum/portal.asp take a look there for ideas.
QUOTE(aurrida @ May 20 2008, 08:11 AM) [snapback]616561[/snapback]
M3 metal blanks. turned using wood lathe and tools. Interesting Mokume Gane, Damascus Steel type of blanks.
http://www.metalpenblanks.com/mokume_gane_standard.htm
http://www.metalpenblanks.com/mokume_gane_standard.htm
My goodness. They look gorgeous. Shame they're a bit expensive!
Regards
Richard.
Thanks Aurrida.
I have to agree with Richard - they are really tasty
Gets you wondering about twisting some copper brass strips together and infilling with white model metal for instance.
Just a passing thought (and not an original one at that)
Someday I wish my damned head would stop going "I wonder if ....."
Cheers,
Ruaidhrí
BTW - I vaguely remember an article somewhere about making up a blank sized mould and using it to cast a huge variety of blanks with fi-glass resin, misc metal fragments, woods etc. Food for thought?
I have to agree with Richard - they are really tasty
Gets you wondering about twisting some copper brass strips together and infilling with white model metal for instance.
Just a passing thought (and not an original one at that)
Someday I wish my damned head would stop going "I wonder if ....."
Cheers,
Ruaidhrí
BTW - I vaguely remember an article somewhere about making up a blank sized mould and using it to cast a huge variety of blanks with fi-glass resin, misc metal fragments, woods etc. Food for thought?
Hello, everybody
Richard, I have never seen this stuff before, but being a knifemaker, I am used to damascus and mokume prices and assure you these damascus and mokume blanks are interestingly priced, though I have not tried the material or dealt with the company yet. Check this site and you will understand what I mean: http://www.damasteel.com/ .
By the way, I spent some time away from FPN and am very happy to find this new forum on pen turning. It was a great time as I have finally bough me a lathe and want to get serious about penmaking, and I have learned a lot here.
Richard, I have never seen this stuff before, but being a knifemaker, I am used to damascus and mokume prices and assure you these damascus and mokume blanks are interestingly priced, though I have not tried the material or dealt with the company yet. Check this site and you will understand what I mean: http://www.damasteel.com/ .
By the way, I spent some time away from FPN and am very happy to find this new forum on pen turning. It was a great time as I have finally bough me a lathe and want to get serious about penmaking, and I have learned a lot here.
Well, when it comes to that M3 Mokeme Gane stuff, let's keep in mind that it IS workable with wood tools.
This is an obvious difference from true mokume gane and this stuff, just based on hardness.
I've never used the stuff, but I'm about to.
I'm just curious as to how it will hold up long term. I have to assume that it's about the same durability as brass or aluminum, which is not great, long term, if you ask me.
If you are looking for true mokume gane, Rio Grande carries it, but get ready to shell out for it!
This is an obvious difference from true mokume gane and this stuff, just based on hardness.
I've never used the stuff, but I'm about to.
I'm just curious as to how it will hold up long term. I have to assume that it's about the same durability as brass or aluminum, which is not great, long term, if you ask me.
If you are looking for true mokume gane, Rio Grande carries it, but get ready to shell out for it!
Still on M3 metals, I wonder who would buy a brass or iron blank for US$ 20.00. The metal may even have some properties I am unaware of for some other applications but, for pen turning, where the main foucs is aesthetics, I can´t see the point of using these blanks at these prices.
Thank you very much for the leads and ideas. In searching this forum, I am impressed with the wealth of knowledge represented in many of the posts. I'll work with this information and continue to do my homework.
Ed
Ed
I'm not too sure it is evident from the previous posts, but the "M3" pen blanks are not real forged and layered metal blanks. They are powdered metals mixed with a casting resin.
QUOTE(Ed Palumbo @ May 20 2008, 05:35 AM) [snapback]616473[/snapback]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I've been purchasing kits for rollerballs, ballpoints and mechanical pencils at a local woodcraft shop for two years and I've enjoyed turning these products, but I'd like to find other material(s) for the blanks and better metal components. Eventually, I'd like to make fountain pens with quality components, but the journey has to begin somewhere.
Any suggestions for other resin or hard rubber sources?
Thanks,
Ed
I've been purchasing kits for rollerballs, ballpoints and mechanical pencils at a local woodcraft shop for two years and I've enjoyed turning these products, but I'd like to find other material(s) for the blanks and better metal components. Eventually, I'd like to make fountain pens with quality components, but the journey has to begin somewhere.
Any suggestions for other resin or hard rubber sources?
Thanks,
Ed
Hi Ed
You could also check out the polyester pen blanks at www.theturnersworkshop.co.uk,
in a different league to all the acrylics out there
regards vince
QUOTE(Ivan Campos @ May 20 2008, 11:04 AM) [snapback]616802[/snapback]
Still on M3 metals, I wonder who would buy a brass or iron blank for US$ 20.00. The metal may even have some properties I am unaware of for some other applications but, for pen turning, where the main foucs is aesthetics, I can´t see the point of using these blanks at these prices.
Ivan,
The M3 solid metals make for some beautiful pens in their own right, but many times they are cut into segmented blanks or accent rings. Remember that they are metal that can be cut and worked with wood tools. There are some photos of solid metal pens in the "Gallery" at http://www.MetalPenBlanks.com
Mike
QUOTE(bgray @ May 20 2008, 10:34 AM) [snapback]616779[/snapback]
Well, when it comes to that M3 Mokeme Gane stuff, let's keep in mind that it IS workable with wood tools.
This is an obvious difference from true mokume gane and this stuff, just based on hardness.
I've never used the stuff, but I'm about to.
I'm just curious as to how it will hold up long term. I have to assume that it's about the same durability as brass or aluminum, which is not great, long term, if you ask me.
If you are looking for true mokume gane, Rio Grande carries it, but get ready to shell out for it!
This is an obvious difference from true mokume gane and this stuff, just based on hardness.
I've never used the stuff, but I'm about to.
I'm just curious as to how it will hold up long term. I have to assume that it's about the same durability as brass or aluminum, which is not great, long term, if you ask me.
If you are looking for true mokume gane, Rio Grande carries it, but get ready to shell out for it!
M3 composite metals are much more durable than brass or aluminum which is why they are used in industry for their outstanding physical properties. Generally M3 is lighter, stronger and more durable than the source metal alone.
If anyone has any questions about this remarkable new material then please feel free to visit our website or contact me directly.
Michael Kogan
MetalPenBlanks.com
info@MetalPenBlanks.com
(888) 478-6745
http://www.MetalPenBlanks.com
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