mundane question 2

[woodyfxr]

Ok here goes, most of you will have knowing smiles and downright belly laughs at this.

Made a major faux pas, i though slim line pen kits were just that slim line all along the pen. The kits i purchase have larger diameter on the center metal joining piece, it a good 3-4 mm bigger in diameter that the pen body.
I used the spacers that came with the arbor and they are all the same OD. There may well be kits with smaller OD center pieces if there is i will buy one and swap it over then buy a bush of the right diameter.

These are the mundane questions.

Had my first go at turning acrylic, what a gritty material that is to turn ! It knocked the crap out of my chisel.............. and it STINKS!!!!!
So to the question, do you use ordinary chisels, it seems a bit excessive to use a carbide tipped one though i have seen someone using one somewhere.

Off now to look at the slimline pen kits.

 

[Woody]

Sounds like you have some streamline kits every thing is the same size as the slimline except the centre band as for carbide chisels they are so easy to make and cost half the price

 

[Lons]

No belly laughs, just learning curves, all been there.

What Woody said!

But no reason not to use standard turning tools on acrylics, just keep them sharp and cut rather than scrape. Just a thought, you are using acrylic and not polyester or similar? Also, are your tools HSS?

 

[Buckeye]

If you find acrylic gritty, that is because your tools are not sharp enough or you are presenting them wrongly to the work. Carbide is fine, why would it be excessive if it does the job well?

Peter

 

[jameshj]

Remember, Woodturners do it with the bevel rubbing. Years ago woodturning was a trade with 5 years training etc. I was the same just got a lathe and wanted to make items right away, the best thing i ever did was take a basic course in turning with an experienced pro. Joint a club or watch turning CDs. After 20 plus years turning i am still learning. And after all the man who never made a mistake is a liar !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jhj

 

[bellringer]

I use carbide tools for acrylic

 

[Twister]

I just use a sharp roughing gouge...but gently

Steve

 

[paulm]

There is nothing wrong with using any tools with acrylic, you use what suits you best and over a period of time with trial and error you will learn what is best for you.

Like woody says the kits you are talking about sounds like slimlines with the thin centre band and streamlines that have a thicker centre band.

 

[bluntchisel]

Ken, Have you thought of watching utube? There are hundreds of videos that you can watch to answer a lot of your questions, matey.

Bob.

 

[Bill Mooney]

I turn all my acrylic & polyester blanks with a home made HSS scraper & it works a treat. Light passes = good finish.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Sounds like you have some streamline kits

What Woody says. If you got the kit from Axminster then it is a Streamline. For some reason they call the Streamline a slimline :nonono:

 

[wm460]

Ken all I use is a sharp shew.

 

[billyb_imp]

Sharp tools are the answer

 

[Penpal]

Ken it will pay to buy a digital caliper then variations like this can be overcome immediately using bushes or not.

Petrer.

 

[woodyfxr]

wow a lot of very useful answers.
Well a few answers.
I have had no training or instructions on wood turning at all, actual time spent on a wood lathe is one hour quite literally.
Yes it is acrylic from Axminster
Yes the tool is blunt, certainly is now after my attempt at the acrylic, what i have done looks more like a gnawed it off with my teeth, so will get the grinder out next week.
I wanted a completely parallel shafted pen as many years ago i found one on my way to work near Victoria station, it felt so comfortable to write with. I have given a piece stainless to a friend of mone and he is machining a centre collar for me.
I will brows youtube and try to learn a little technique.

Woody that you for the links to facebook, those pens are beautiful full stop. I will never get to that degree of expertise i know.

I will carry on though as i like to learn new things, wood turning is not as easy as you guys make it appear. Metal turning is easier in a way as well.

I know what i will be doing next week :-)

 

[paulm]

Ken, if you fancy a trip over to my place for a bit of practice you would be welcome on an evening or weekend for a few hours.

 

[Barry]

For carbide tips to make your own try these AZ Carbide inserts they deliver in 10 days and you can sharpen them when they get dull
Ive made 3 tools 10 months ago so far and have not sharpened them yet

 

[yorkshireman]

wow a lot of very useful answers.
Well a few answers.
I have had no training or instructions on wood turning at all, actual time spent on a wood lathe is one hour quite literally.
Yes it is acrylic from Axminster
Yes the tool is blunt, certainly is now after my attempt at the acrylic, what i have done looks more like a gnawed it off with my teeth, so will get the grinder out next week.
I wanted a completely parallel shafted pen as many years ago i found one on my way to work near Victoria station, it felt so comfortable to write with. I have given a piece stainless to a friend of mone and he is machining a centre collar for me.
I will brows youtube and try to learn a little technique.

Woody that you for the links to facebook, those pens are beautiful full stop. I will never get to that degree of expertise i know.

I will carry on though as i like to learn new things, wood turning is not as easy as you guys make it appear. Metal turning is easier in a way as well.

I know what i will be doing next week :-)

Patience Kan mate. You'll very quickly get it. Take Paul up on his kind offer and you'll be flying in no time

 

[ni9eofse7en]

Like most newbies, I started off with chisels as bought, and then made some rough attempt to sharpen them. The key for me was watching vids on how to sharpen, joining a woodturning club, watch the pros at work, ask their advice, and then consider jigs, and keep listening and learning. I ain't perfect but sharp tools are a must, learn about rubbing the bevel, try alternative ways and dont be afraid to fail and keep asking for help, you will get better and you will continue to try new ways, and you will find tools and methods that you feel more confortable with.

My favourite tools are the roughing gouge and the skew, these are all I have used so far to turn blanks in to pen bodies.

Keep trying and in the not too distant future you will have something you are proud of.

 

[woodyfxr]

I sent a PM to Paul and will almost certainly take him up on his very kind offer but when the days get longer.