Hi

[btaylor13]

Hi I gave recently started wood turning and have really enjoyed making wooden pens, which have made great Christmas presents. I’m now keen to experiment with acrylics and would love to make a really nice fountain pen for a 60th birthday present for my brother.

 

[howsitwork?]

There are acrylics and then there are acrylics !🫣

Buy a well known blank you like and make sure your tools are REALLY a sharp before hand . For the roughing use a large gouge to dampen any vibration effects initially then switch to smaller tools and cut slowly and carefully.
when it comes to finishing I found after or at 400 grit you need wet n dry and keep it lubricated. Once you get down to about 4000 grit switch to fine car polish and take your time.

There are others on here with FAR MORE KNOWLEDGE than me but I found the above successful. If you start t9 get shattering or chipping , stop , sharpen the tool carefully and , if it’s a skew , hone it. I often find switching back to my favourite 1” Taylor roughing gouge helps cut through it but it depends how much material you have left when it happens

 

[flexi]

Hi and welcome to the forum
Acrylics are great fun, but come in many guises... Some are soft and easy to turn others very hard and brittle and any where in between.... Time and experience will be the best teacher, but always sharp tools and light cuts.... Let the white ribbons fly

Avoid inlace acrylester for the moment, have a look at Phils (Beaufort ink) site for a good selection (you can also choose by colour which is helpful) Paul Buckley also does his own cast, or Taylors Mirfield, Axminster tools etc...

 

[alan morrison]

Welcome to the forum.

Alan

 

[howsitwork?]

Forgot to add A toothbrush is really handy for clearing the streaming shavings off. You’ll see what I mean when you turn some

 

[Phil Dart]

Hi Brian - welcome to the Forum