M3 Metals

Anybody played with any of this stuff !!! Apparently it's machinable with woodworking tools and it's cutable with a CO2 laser !

http://www.metalpenblanks.com/index.htm

I think I might try some out and see what can be done with it. But if somebody else has it might save me some time.

It's funny you should bring that up. I was going through some pen turning catalogs and was wondering the same thing.
One problem....it is expensive maybe even more so than the Icon metal composite.

Do you know if they sell it in sheets? Maybe Rodne knows something on this as I believe it's made in china or Japan.

I have often wondered about the carbon fiber products also.

Haven't seen it in person but it looks nice in the catalogs.

Apparently it comes in flats http://www.metalpenblanks.com/order_flat_mokume.html

Bookmatched http://www.metalpenblanks.com/order_bookmatched.html

and an assorted bunch of other flat types.

6x6x1 .. $1100/bd. ft. :eek:

It turns nicely, carbide cutters work well. Polishes up well
and engraves pretty much like other resins.

They have an interesting warrenty though I havn't seen this with many other products !

What happens if I break an M3 blank while I am working on it?

Oops Insurance (50% deductible): We recognize that M3 pen blanks cost more than other pen blanks on the market and they are worth every penny. What makes this material truly unique is the fact that it is unbelievably strong while at the same time easy to turn, carve and polish. That being said, mistakes do happen and when they happen with an expensive material it hurts. We want you to be successful. So if you break the pen blank, drill through, cut it wrong or destroy it in another fashion while working with it we will replace it for 50% of the current catalog price plus shipping. Simply send us the pieces with a brief explanation of what happened.

You can make it yourself and cast it into whatever form you like, its merely metal powder in a casting resin , 50/50 mix works , you can tint the resin a similar colour to the metal powder you using and go 30/70 mix to save.
You can polish , patina , mill etc , looks and feels like metal etc.

Thanx, Thats a good point Rodne. Now where to find metal powders off to see what google has to say.

got a phone message that Icon metal is no longer available
Ken

it's a bit more complicated. The ingredients are right, but it isn't easy to find access
to a resin that will accept a 50/50 mix. The powders settle to the bottom before
the resin has a chance to set up. Most of the resins we have access to here will only
take a 'load' of about 5-7%
If you can make friends with someone who does synthetic marble or onyx and can get
them to sell you a little, that should help. Those resins might take a 50% load or more.
But trying to get a sales rep to contact you for anything less than several drums isn't
easy. I've been trying for years.

I use a general casting resin I get from the fibreglass suppliers here. 50 50 mix with metals by weight. I dont have much issues with sedimentation of the metal powder tho we normally cast top surface down or actually paint it into the mould , the metal powders are very expensive , so large volume objects we fill with plaser of paris and lead shot for "authentic" weight.

I do something similar with powdered copper and bronze, but only a surface
treatment. The metals always sink. I suppose if you're doing something dark
or black, general purpose (Bondo?) resin would be OK. But those resins often
have a strong color cast.. I was referring to clear resins (sorry!) that will
allow you control over the final color. Black would hide the amber color, so
that's no problem.
I'd love to do a bright red with copper lines.. white with gold veins etc.
But can't get a hold of that resin!

And yes, they get a bloody fortune for powdered metals. Then again, they are
deceptively heavy. Take a small jar that will hold 1 ounce of mica.. a similar
volume of bronze will weigh a pound.