In June of 2016 I was experimenting with the 3Doodler, a pen shaped device that extrudes hot plastic, like a 3D printer, but hand driven rather than computer driven. I decided to make a walleye fish, for my Dad, to experiment with construction.
Photo description: getting started, with the 3Doodler pen on the right, doll eyes, sheet of glass for flat components, and a glass drinking glass for curved components, along with a reference illustrationPhoto description: body constructed and onto the fins, it worked best for me to make the component, then attach it to the base rather than build up from the base, especially for the finsPhoto description: fish complete, but I wanted a better position than it resting on its pectoral finsPhoto description: translucent blue “waves” doodled flat then added as a base for the fishPhoto description: finished piece titled “Hooked” made from extruded plastic with a 3D doodler pen, red and white lure also doodled with plastic, then melted smooth, and plastic doll eyes
The biggest frustration with the project was the tool. The version of 3D doodler I was using needed more breaks than I did, and I would have to walk away and let it rest, which is not ideal in the middle of a creative storm.
Here is a throwback to April 2017 when I used a 3Doodler 2.0 tool to sculpt a fish.
Photo description: “Hooked” fish sculpture created for my Dad for Father’s Day using the 3Doodler 2.0, about 50 sticks of PLA, two plastic safety eyes, and about 12 hours working time.
Dad displayed the fish on a clear acrylic shelf in an upper window. Here is a picture from 2024.
Photo description: same doodled fish seven years later on a hanging shelf with the woods behind the window glass. His lure went A.W.OL. probably cat related.
As much as I loved the idea of the 3Doodler, the entry level extruder pens could not keep up with my desired work flow. I burned out a couple pens experimenting, and they often needed frequent breaks in production, more than I did.
Critters and Craft 