mundane question 2

[Wedge]

I do all my turning on my Myford lathe which is a metal lathe. It also turns/machines wood with great precision and all the plastics are a piece of cake. If you are turning acrylic, it is essential that the top surface of the tool is held exactly radially to the job. Tungsten Carbide should only be used if you can get a razor sharp edge on it. All my turning of wood and plastic is done with HSS and using the highest grade available. For all plastics, the cutting edge must be razor sharp. This achieved by carefully honing with a fine grade diamond hone. If the tools are blunt, the plastic, especially the acrylics, will melt and form rough chips. If the acrylic is giving off a terrible aroma, the acrylic is melting and burning. Slow down everything and sharpen the tools and check the angles ground onto the tool. Too heavy a feed rate can cause the acrylic to shatter which is always very exciting when the bits fly past your ear. A basic starting speed for machining would be about 200 feet per minute but slow down if it starts to melt.

Wedge

 

[woodyfxr]

I to had a Myford till October last year when i sold it. At the time i never though of wood turning as the thought of holding the cutting tool really did go against the grain i have to say.

However i have taken the plunge and it still seems wrong, a big no no lol. But having siad that i am enjoying what i have done. I have turned a lot of different materials including plastics.

As others have siad here i have watched a few videos this afternoon on acrylic and sharpening gouges, there is to much 'cleance' on the gouge and have ground it back a little.

I will keep at it as i want to be able to do it right

 

[Buckeye]

I do all my turning on my Myford lathe which is a metal lathe. It also turns/machines wood with great precision and all the plastics are a piece of cake. If you are turning acrylic, it is essential that the top surface of the tool is held exactly radially to the job. Tungsten Carbide should only be used if you can get a razor sharp edge on it. All my turning of wood and plastic is done with HSS and using the highest grade available. For all plastics, the cutting edge must be razor sharp. This achieved by carefully honing with a fine grade diamond hone. If the tools are blunt, the plastic, especially the acrylics, will melt and form rough chips. If the acrylic is giving off a terrible aroma, the acrylic is melting and burning. Slow down everything and sharpen the tools and check the angles ground onto the tool. Too heavy a feed rate can cause the acrylic to shatter which is always very exciting when the bits fly past your ear. A basic starting speed for machining would be about 200 feet per minute but slow down if it starts to melt.

Wedge

It's far too slow using a metal lathe, I suppose if that's all you have then I can understand using it for wood.

Peter

 

[NicG]

Hey Woody,

Acrylic is actually really easy to turn when you get the hang of it, as others have said it's dependant largely on how sharp your tools are. The other most important thing with it is taking very light, gentle shavings at a time, and be patient. Goes for all turning really, while you're building experience, you'll find it easiest to get good results by taking it slowly and gently. I keep really bad health, and also care for a poorly wife, so despite having been at it for a couple of years, I'm still a rookie, but being slow and patient, nobody can tell from the finished product. :wink:

As for learning turning, there's an excellent book that you can pick up pretty cheap, and is generally thought of as the woodturner's bible, it's "Woodturning, A foundation Course" by Keith Rowley. Between that and YouTube (especially the 200+ videos by Cap'n Eddie Castelin https://www.youtube.com/user/capneddie/videos ) and what's to be found here and at the UKworkshop forum, is where I've learned pretty much everything I know about turning, and my head knowledge is far in advance of my experience for it! :)

I hope you get what you want from the pens, and go on to enjoy the hobby as much as I do, if not more.

Nic.

 

[yorkshireman]

The main thing Nic is that it works for you. Continue having fun mate and show us what you've turned.

 

[woodyfxr]

Hey Woody,

Acrylic is actually really easy to turn when you get the hang of it, as others have said it's dependant largely on how sharp your tools are. The other most important thing with it is taking very light, gentle shavings at a time, and be patient. Goes for all turning really, while you're building experience, you'll find it easiest to get good results by taking it slowly and gently. I keep really bad health, and also care for a poorly wife, so despite having been at it for a couple of years, I'm still a rookie, but being slow and patient, nobody can tell from the finished product. :wink:

As for learning turning, there's an excellent book that you can pick up pretty cheap, and is generally thought of as the woodturner's bible, it's "Woodturning, A foundation Course" by Keith Rowley. Between that and YouTube (especially the 200+ videos by Cap'n Eddie Castelin https://www.youtube.com/user/capneddie/videos ) and what's to be found here and at the UKworkshop forum, is where I've learned pretty much everything I know about turning, and my head knowledge is far in advance of my experience for it! :)

I hope you get what you want from the pens, and go on to enjoy the hobby as much as I do, if not more.

Nic.

Thanks for the words Nic. I will have a look for the book you suggested.
You have a full day every day buy the sound of it. Makes me feel positively lazy.

 

[NicG]

The main thing Nic is that it works for you. Continue having fun mate and show us what you've turned.

I'm not much of one for showing off my stuff usually, as I often only see where I could have done better! But it fit the context of another post I made yesterday to upload a couple, If you really want to look they're here:Other Thread

I felt it turned quite easy just by (once close to the finished shape) keeping all cuts very light and very sharp, then a quick polish with EEE Ultrashine and a final coat of Microcrystalline wax for the acrylic. I thought they worked out OK. :)

One thing I'd add tho was the purple acrylic was a pricier and newer type of material than the red "crushed velvet" and was a LOT more pleasant and forgiving.

Nic.

 

[woodyfxr]

wow they look good, i have seen quite a few finished pens on this forum now and the standard is very high. If i can get half way there i will be very happy indeed.

I was sorry to hear about your dad's pen collection, some people !!
I have to say my hand writing is abysmal,looks more like a drunken spider has crawled across the page. I envy people who's hand writing looks good, i thin you hand writing is set when your very young. Having siad that i do like i good pen, i can feel the difference in cheap Bic's and a 'good' pen. I spent £25.00 on what i would say was a fairly decent Parker, what a load of s***e that was, scratchy, refills lasted about 2 months and that with very light usage I want to try the beaufort refills i have seen.

 

[wm460]

Quite a few metal lathe manufacturer make a wood turning attachment for their lathes.

 

[Winemaker]

I use normal hss tools but I keep sharpening with a diamond file as I go. I still have not got the hang of Acrylic yet out of five blanks have got two pens . Ihave had the same problem as you at the start, now I get almost finish they just shatter on me will get the hang of it soon good luck with yours

 

[Jim]

With acrylic i can be a little aggressive to start with but when i know it is time i revert back to small cuts with sharp tools ..

 

[woodyfxr]

I use normal hss tools but I keep sharpening with a diamond file as I go. I still have not got the hang of Acrylic yet out of five blanks have got two pens . Ihave had the same problem as you at the start, now I get almost finish they just shatter on me will get the hang of it soon good luck with yours

We have another pastime in common, beer making lol. I used to do wine but it all started to go bad.

Back to pens, once i got down to a round it was a lot easier especially when i sharpened the gouge.
I bet when they shatter its exciting, don't think i want that experience. The one acrylic pen i have done turned out ok but it i want better than ok. Will start my second wood one tomorrow

 

[wm460]

We have another pastime in common, beer making lol. I used to do wine but it all started to go bad.

My self as well.