Drilling a Resin blank

[Mad]

Hi guys, I have been asked to make a pen for a friend and they want it made from resin. When I have been drilling my wood blanks I have noticed that the blank was getting hot and smoking slightly and I am scared that I get a blowout with the resin blank. I have read that you can use a dry lube like WD40 but I’m not sure if it will affect the gluing of the brass tubes.
Is it ok to use that or should I be using something else? What would you guys recommend?

Thanks

 

[Frederick]

Hi guys, I have been asked to make a pen for a friend and they want it made from resin. When I have been drilling my wood blanks I have noticed that the blank was getting hot and smoking slightly and I am scared that I get a blowout with the resin blank. I have read that you can use a dry lube like WD40 but I’m not sure if it will affect the gluing of the brass tubes.
Is it ok to use that or should I be using something else? What would you guys recommend?

Thanks

I would not use any form of lube on any pen blanks as it does effect adhesion properties. If your blanks are becoming too hot it is IMHO because you have a blunt drill bit and/or drilling too hard. Also it is imperitive that when drilling to clear the flutes often by extracting the bit and brushing if necessary. A sharp bit and gentle pressure will solve the problem.

Cheers
Frederick

 

[Terry Q]

Frederick is spot on. Sharp bit, clear the material frequently, slow down the rpm and your feed rate.

 

[alpha1]

I agree with Frederick.

 

[Curly]

Water and a drop or two of dish soap work as a lubricant for drilling plastics. You just have to rinse the blanks when done. Keep the lathe bed covered so it won't rust.

Cooking oil also works. Wash and rinse when done. Don't use petroleum based oils and solvents as some plastics will craze (a fine matrix of surface cracks). WD-40 falls into that group.

Pete

 

[pittswood]

As said above, Sharpe drill, little pressure, let the drill do the cutting and clear out any chips from the flutes. Do not use any lube.
Good luck.
Kelvin

 

[Mad]

Thanks for you input everyone.
Terry Q what rpm should I be using? ATM I have my drill set at about 1200 rpm. I wasn’t sure so went mid range of what the drill will do

 

[fortress]

Hello,
As above except no lubricant, I drill at 500 with acrylics.

 

[Penpal]

No lube many short bursts drilling I have never changed my drilling speed in 40 yrs,does not make precedence just successful practice.

Peter.

 

[Pierre]

For anything the drill rpm should be under 1000 rpm try 4-600, as penpal says 'woodpeckering' or short penetration followed by long withdrawal works as well

 

[Terry Q]

Thanks for you input everyone.
Terry Q what rpm should I be using? ATM I have my drill set at about 1200 rpm. I wasn’t sure so went mid range of what the drill will do

Friction heat is not your friend. As stated somewhere between 400-600 rpm. Good luck.