No More Case Formers

[Bangkokpyro]

It is with great regret that I have to announce I will no longer be making case formers.

I made and sold a few hundred of them during the past 3 years and got a kick from making them works of art in exotic and rare woods: it was never a profitable excercise more a labour of love.

Anyway I have become so busy with my real job and my Pyro Holidays that I just don't have the time any longer to produce them. On top of that Golden Teak and Makhar wood have become very hard to find now and the price of large dry billets has gone through the roof.

 

I will continue to donate formers for the PGI cylinder shell building competitions each year so if you want a great looking case former made from exotic wood get some cylinder shells built and enter the PGI competitions each year.

Next year the winner of the

 

Best Exhibition shell wins a set of 7 Makhar insert formers sizes 1 inch OD to 1 3/4 inchOD Oiled finish

Best Large cylinder shell a 4 1/2 inch Makhar Former Oiled finish

Best medium Large a 3 1/3 Teak Former Laquer finish

Best Medium 2 1/2 inch Makhar Former Oiled finish

 

www.bangkokpyro.com

[psyco_1322]

That's too bad to hear Paul, those formers are quite nice.

 

I like that there still be some donated to the competition winners. My question is why is the former "prize" smaller than the shells built for the competition category? I would think it would be the next size up, maybe setting the builder up to make larger shells in the future. I do understand that larger formers are even more work, and more materials are being used up. Just a question.

[Bangkokpyro]

That's too bad to hear Paul, those formers are quite nice.

 

I like that there still be some donated to the competition winners. My question is why is the former "prize" smaller than the shells built for the competition category? I would think it would be the next size up, maybe setting the builder up to make larger shells in the future. I do understand that larger formers are even more work, and more materials are being used up. Just a question.

 

 

 

To make a 5 1/2 inch former I need to start out with a 6 inch OD billet and for 8 inch shell I need a 7 3/4 OD billet; dry, crack free and flawless billets of Makhar or Golden Teak in those sizes are becoming almost impossible to find as well as very expensive so most of the formers I made were 4 1/2 inch OD and smaller.

[taiwanluthiers]

Is it possible to laminate smaller pieces of wood to form a larger blank? The cost for smaller billets should be lower than a larger billet.

[psyco_1322]

It is possible, but you need more equipment, like a surfacer and large clamps to glue up the pieces. They need to be perfectly flat on both sides.

 

Paul, I figured it was more a cost and time issue that anything, but I was just wondering, as a few others were also the first year you donated some to PGI.

[marks265]

Is it possible to laminate smaller pieces of wood to form a larger blank? The cost for smaller billets should be lower than a larger billet.

 

Yes, it is very possible. They may not be perfect and not be able to sell them because they won't win a beauty contest. But they will work. You can fill in any cracks with glue or a varnish and sand smooth. Or just say the heck with it and leave them but keeping moisture out is the best idea. Some wood can be had that is smooth enough for the job and the repairs or filler will be marginal or non-existent. Just clamp them together good and go from there. If you want to be inexpensive about it, don't be afraid to give it a go, especially with little or no expense.

 

Mark

[nater]

The maple rocket header formers I have from Wolter are laminated. They are perfectly smooth and no cracks. They are nice and I am very pleased with them, but Paul's are still nicer.

[AdmiralDonSnider]

I too regret that you are not longer selling your formers, we stood in contact back then if you recall. Are there any alternative sources out there other than Wolter? (Note that I do appreciate Richs offer, but I would have loved to buy special sizes such as insert formers also)