Drilling Acrylic Blanks

[wayne.brown.94849410]

I'm having trouble drilling acrylics. They keep splitting during drilling. What's the best bit/ method to avoid this?


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[Walter]

I'm having trouble drilling acrylics. They keep splitting during drilling. What's the best bit/ method to avoid this?

Welcome to the forum Wayne.

You are not the first to have this problem and you will not be the last. Have a look at my tutorial, it covers drilling on the lathe but many of the principles also apply to using a pillar drill:

http://www.penturners.co.uk/misc/pdf/Tips/Drilling_Pen_Blanks_on_the_Lathe.pdf

If you are still having problems then I am sure we will be able to help. The most likely causes are using too high a speed or not clearing the flutes of the bit often enough. If the blank is splitting as the drill breaks through at the end then cut the blank over length, drill just short of breaking through and saw to length leaving a nice neat hole.

 

[wayne.brown.94849410]

Thanks for that. I'll get the bullet drill bits at the weekend. My lathe doesn't allow for drilling, it's a spindle lathe. I'm using the cash I earn from making pens for Christmas to buy a mini lathe, dedicated for pen making.


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[Kardav]

Hi Wayne and welcome to the forum. You could introduce yourself in the 'introduce yourself' section of general forums. Tell us a bit about yourself and show us a few pictures of your work, we love pictures on this forum.

 

[paulm]

Welcome to the forum Wayne, tell us about yourself with some photos.

 

[bassethound]

Welcome to the asylum Wayne, enjoy your stay!...

 

[Dalboy]

Welcome to the forum Wayne, just ask away there is plenty of useless OOOPS sorry useful information on here. Don't be afraid to join in with the banter.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Welcome to the asylum Wayne
You need to watch this lot they are all bonkers ...... except me, I'm the sane one (twitch, twitch)

 

[Vic Perrin]

Welcome Wayne and Enjoy

Vic

 

[Grump]

I'm having trouble drilling acrylics. They keep splitting during drilling. What's the best bit/ method to avoid this?

Dustbin works for me, best used before drilling plastic.
Use wood is another alternive, that works for me too.
Welcome to the loony bin Wayne have fun init?

 

[Woody]

I always cut mine to long drill to the required depth without breaking out then cut the blank to the required length job done Oh and welcome you poor ol bugger this lot will drive you loopy

 

[Bill Mooney]

Welcome Wayne. Enjoy the forum?

 

[Winemaker]

Welcome I have just used acrylics for the first time they drilled ok but had problem turning when got near the tube, started to break up. After some advice it would seem they may have got too hot when I was drilling, I used the slowest speed on my lathe dut I think I feed the drill too fast so next time slowly slowly.,

 

[Buckeye]

Welcome I have just used acrylics for the first time they drilled ok but had problem turning when got near the tube, started to break up. After some advice it would seem they may have got too hot when I was drilling, I used the slowest speed on my lathe dut I think I feed the drill too fast so next time slowly slowly.,

Tom are you sure your tools were really sharp as it looks like the Acrylic in the photo has been chipped, just as it would with tools that are less than sharp?

Peter

 

[Walter]

Welcome I have just used acrylics for the first time they drilled ok but had problem turning when got near the tube, started to break up. After some advice it would seem they may have got too hot when I was drilling, I used the slowest speed on my lathe dut I think I feed the drill too fast so next time slowly slowly

Don't know what's happened there but not to put too fine a point on it, it looks like someone's dog has chewed it rather than it having been turned with any kind of tool. As Peter says you need sharp tools. A carbide tipped tool is good for acrylics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRH4PCX5FE0

 

[paulm]

Welcome I have just used acrylics for the first time they drilled ok but had problem turning when got near the tube, started to break up. After some advice it would seem they may have got too hot when I was drilling, I used the slowest speed on my lathe dut I think I feed the drill too fast so next time slowly slowly.,View attachment 12411

Tell us the truth, you've stuck chewing gum on a tube and pretended to turn it haven't you?

 

[bassethound]

I can only put that down to the wrong Medication Tom! :wink:

 

[Barry]

Hi wayne welcome poor sod I turn a lot of corian and acrylic (1) sharp drill (2) soft drilling not hard Turning (3)sharp tools I use carbide at 2200 revs.
And your pic have you got a dog?

 

[Penpal]

Morning Wayne I was on U Tube recently asked the question the best way to drill holes in perspex the answer I found showed a guy just dulling off the cutters of the drill with before and after pis excellent way said to improve drilling these pen blanks unlike Winston Churchills advice plenty of short bursts of drilling plenty of clearing the drill a major cause of failure is aggressive drilling. Welcome and let us know what you find out and practice as your technique mate?

Peter.

 

[wm460]

G'Day Wayne and welcome to the forum.