How Do You Make Polyester Resin Pen Blanks?
The hard outer shell of a pen, or pen blank, can be handmade to create a distinctive item. Creating pen blanks has become an art form. Regardless of the material used to make that hard shell—whether it is wood or resin—all handmade blanks start out as a single piece, drilled and turned on a lathe. Polyester resin is a liquid. The introduction of a hardening catalyst allows the resin to thicken and become strong enough to be turned and shaped. Creating a completed pen takes some practice. The first steps, when using polyester resin, is learning to mold the blank. Choose your mold. There are several ways to go about this. Some people use the end piece of PVC pipe. Some roll cardboard into a tube. Kits may come with custom-made tubes for molds. You can also use a square mold, then saw the blank down to a size that can be turned on the lathe. There is no right or wrong way. Determine the amount of resin you need for your mold. Pour water into a mold until you reach 1/8 inch from the to
