Show me the money

[Doug B]

Been wanting to do this for a while and finally got a round tuit today. A money pen and letter opener set. I'm hoping that some accounting type like LAW will come along and not be able to live without this set

Here is the set together:


And here is the pen by itself:


And finally, here is the letter opener by itself:

[Joe Lyddon]

"A money pen and letter opener set."

Does that mean you took some paper dollar bills, shredded them up, mixed them with epoxy, and poured it into molds... then eventually Turned them into these masterpieces? ;D ;D

Show me the money! ;D ;D

[Doug B]

Here you go Joe. The money!

Hopefully you will be able to read the wording on the bottle. $2000 in that little bottle of shredded $100.00 dollar bills.

I figure I can tell people I have over $200.00 in that pen and letter opener, but I'll let them go for half that cost ;D

[fredbelknap]

So thats where my Social Security raise went!!! ;D That is really different, looks like you can make a pen out just about anything, ya ever try sawdust. I like it.

[sachbvn]

That is AWESOME - and I simply LOVE the letter opener!! Supplier?


Zac

[sawduster]

Are you making your own blanks or are you getting them from someone else?

Interesting to know how one would go about making the blanks.

[Joe Lyddon]

Well I'll be... I was close!

You got someone else to shred'em up! ;D

OK, what kind of molds do you put the stuff in?

What kind of epoxy do you use?

[sachbvn]

Nov 21, 2009 10:06:45 GMT -6 sawduster said:

Are you making your own blanks or are you getting them from someone else?

Interesting to know how one would go about making the blanks.

Jerry - you can get the blanks from www.woodturningz.com/Pen_Kits.aspx - but knowing Doug - who knows, he may be casting them in his garage!!


Zac

[Doug B]

Nov 21, 2009 7:31:51 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

That is AWESOME - and I simply LOVE the letter opener!! Supplier?


Zac

Thanks Zac. This particular one is from CSUSA www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Projects___Desk_Accessories___European_Letter_Opener___euro_letter_opener?Args=
and I really like it. For some reason the center band in the Black Titanium kit I ordered look like the center band in the Americana version of the letter opener kit...which I prefer anyway! I just wanted the black ti plating and was OK with the center band shown at the link above, but the Americana center band matches my Classic Twist pens perfectly. I just lucked out I guess

[Doug B]

Nov 21, 2009 7:09:57 GMT -6 fredbelknap said:

So thats where my Social Security raise went!!! ;D That is really different, looks like you can make a pen out just about anything, ya ever try sawdust. I like it.

LOL Fred. Yes, I guess we know what the government is doing with our taxes these days...shredding it! ;D

Haven't tried sawdust just yet, but who knows...

[Doug B]

Nov 21, 2009 10:06:45 GMT -6 sawduster said:

Are you making your own blanks or are you getting them from someone else?

Interesting to know how one would go about making the blanks.

Jerry, I don't do my own casting, so I got these from Woodturningz www.woodturningz.com/Inlace_Acrylester_Pen_Blanks.aspx#PBIAMONEY when they had a sale on them - $3.00 at the time. I just checked and they seem to not be on sale anymore and now they are $6.50. I am anxiously waiting for the coffee and cream blanks to go on sale...I really like the looks of those

I decided to get a few.

[Joe Lyddon]

Nov 21, 2009 19:30:55 GMT -6 Doug B said:

Haven't tried sawdust just yet, but who knows...

That's a good idea! I'd start with chips from the Thickness Planer... would not be as fine as plain sawdust.

Make a mold(s) out of 3/4" x 3/4" strips.
Cut a few 3/4" spacer blocks from a strip.
Cut some lengths you want for pens.
On a smooth surface, start screwing them together.
Line the cavities with blue tape.

Mix up some clear epoxy/resin and stir-in the chips... pour the stuff into the molds, heating with hair dryer to get bubbles out, & make sure it's packed in really good.

Let cure really good...

Unscrew pieces to remove New Blanks!

Doesn't seem too hard to do... to try...

Might take a little experimentation to be sure all air bubbles were out, have enough chips, etc.

So Doug, when are you going to do it? ;D ;D

[boodrow]

Doug I made a couple of the dollar pens and took to the last show me and Cody done. Sold both of um for 25 each. Lots of folks thought they were neat but didnt buy. Sold one on sat & one on sunday.
Urs be lookin good!
boodrow

[Doug B]

Thanks Joe and Boodrow.

One thing I forgot to mention is that they recommend painting the tubes either green or black. There is some of the brass showing through on the ones I made. I intended to paint the tubes but forgot! I don't really mind the brass color showing through, but I plan to paint them next time and see if I like that better.

Thanks for the comments!

And Joe, I think you should give it a try since is was your idea ;D

I think hobby stores like Michaels have casting resin that you can use for such things. I know there are some discussions about that over at the IAP site. If I ever get caught up with all the other things I need to try, I might have to give that a whirl. I can see it now...running some perfectly good wood through the planer to get the color combination I want for a pen

[Joe Lyddon]

Well, I don't have a lathe...

... but, I could experiment with Flat Panels...
... or with rectangular Small Pine Cone size to cut & sand...
... or make some pen blanks & send you some for lathe testing!

I will give it some thought... ;D ;D

[boodrow]

Doug I followed Ariz silloutte on keeping the tube from showing. They say to paint the inside of the blank with a product I bought , but cant think of the name of it till I go out to my shop and look. Its somethin Lux ?
Any way painted the inside with cotton swabs and let sit overnite , glued together tube and blank with 2 part epoxy which they recomended. When I assmbled the 2 pieces the epoxy disolved alot of the paint is the only thing I can think of, hence part of the tube did show , wasnt bad but did show.
Boodrow