There is nothing—and I mean nothing—more frustrating than spending three hours turning a beautiful piece of burr, only to hit a hidden air pocket right at the final finishing pass.
If you’ve been turning hybrids for a while, you know the feeling. You’re looking for bubble-free resin wood blanks in the UK, but it often feels like a gamble. You buy a blank, mount it, and hope the casting was done right.
At Begat Woodcraft, I’m a turner first and a seller second. I know that for a project to succeed, the engineering of the blank has to be perfect. That is why we don't cast individual small moulds. We use the Master Block Method.
The Physics of the "Deep Pour"
Instead of rushing the process with fast-setting resins in small moulds, we cast in larger blocks using a specialized Deep Pour resin.
Why does this matter to you at the lathe?
It comes down to cure time and physics. Our atmospheric casting process uses a slow-curing resin that stays liquid for up to 24 hours. This extended open time allows any trapped air to rise naturally to the surface and escape long before the resin begins to gel. It eliminates the "micro-bubbles" that often plague faster, pressure-pushed casts.
The "Cut Reveal": Your Quality Guarantee
Here is the real benefit of the Master Block method: Inspection.
Because we cast in large volumes, we have to slice the block down into individual blanks on the bandsaw. This is our "proof of pudding". When we slice a block, we are effectively taking a cross-section of the core.
If there were any voids, cracks, or uncured pockets, the saw blade would reveal them immediately. By the time a blank makes it to the shop, its internal structure has already been visually verified. It’s solid, consistent, and ready for your tools.
For those planning their next project, here are the specs you need to know:
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Resin Type: Deep Pour Atmospheric Cast. Cured for 72 hours minimum for maximum clarity and density.
- Machinability: Excellent. We recommend turning hybrid blanks with carbide tools or high-speed steel (HSS) with a negative rake scraper for the finest finish.
Ready for the Weekend?
Whether you are looking for larger blocks or a pack of hybrid pen blanks in the UK for sale, these new Master Block releases are designed to take the risk out of the purchase. You get the glory of the complex finish, without the headache of the chemistry set.
Check out the Premium Hybrid Blanks Collection and see the current batch.