Lucky Break

[Jim]

I placed them into the pressure pot at 45 psi and as normal left them overnight. When i took them from the pressure pot i was surprised to see that all three of the tubes had shattered but did not break, how lucky am i ...

 

[bellringer]

How odd

 

[clumsysod]

What did it do you know?
They do reach some fierce temperatures whilst curing.
not sure about expansion either I would be surprised if it was the pressure.

 

[Jim]

George, by the time i placed the resin into the tubes the heat had dispensed .. I don't pour then until it has almost started to set .. But you could be right with it being a thermal shock thing ...

 

[wm460]

Did the tubes get plastic fatigue? Though it would be odd the three at once.

 

[Jim]

When i tried to get the blanks from these tubes i broke the acrylic rod that i use to knock them out .. They would not budge ...

This is the first time that i have used the acrylic tubes so i can't say if this is the norm or not ...

So today i decided to put them on the lathe and turn off the cracked acrylic, of course i put on the full visor i have and it was a good job the stuff was flying all over the place ...

 

[wm460]

 

[Jim]

lol, love it Mark ...

I have two of the three blanks ready for turning, so hopefully tomorrow i will have the pictures ...

 

[rowdyyates115]

Hi Jim,

Never tried acrylic tubes, I use white 3m x 20mm conduit tubing @ £1.98 from B and Q. (cut you own sizes to order.)

MK Heavy Gauge White 20mm X 3m, 5017490586667.

 

[Jim]

Thanks Rowdy, i normally use the same but i was having difficulty releasing the resin from the tubes so i gave the acrylic tubes a go ...

I tried using these tubes without placing them in the pressure pot but they still cracked so it must be the heat that does it ...

 

[turnaround360]

Jim this has happened to me I think the resin or the mep whatever you call it makes the clear tubes brtitle maybe the tubes are polycarbonate Ithink mines were.

 

[Jim]

Instead of turning off the acrylic from the resin as normal i decided to drill the resin and just treat it as a normal blank. It is virtually impossible to get the resin from the tubes so i had to try something new. I still have about 3 meters of this tubing left, so if this works ok i will go with it with the rest of the tubing ...

 

[turnaround360]

Jim, did you oil them up first or did you pour them dry.Frankie

 

[Jim]

Frankie, the first time i used them i sprayed them with the releasing agent, but they wouldn't budge so now i don't use anything ...