Bent Delrin?

For discussion of fitting and shaping stems, doing inlays, and any other stem-related topic.
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d6monk
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:52 pm

Bent Delrin?

Post by d6monk »

Hi everyone,

I've just been cutting integral tenons for the last 6 months or so, but wanted to give delrin another try on the stem I was working on today. However, when I was done I noticed a hair's width of a light gap between one edge of the stem and the shank face. The only thing that I can think of that could be causing it is that my delrin is slightly bent--in fact, none of the delrin rods I have are perfectly straight.

I didn't think that this slight bend in the rod would make any significant difference over the 1" or so length of the cut piece of delrin for the tenon, but apparently it does. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a certain supplier whose delrin rods are straight? (fwiw I tried a heat gun on some of the slightly bent delrin to see if it would go back to straight like ebonite can, but unfortunately it has no memory)

Thanks!
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T3pipes
Posts: 252
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Location: Western Ky

Re: Bent Delrin?

Post by T3pipes »

delrin is very pliable, and a short piece should not effect the seating of a stem to a shank. drill and face a piece of scrap briar, insert the stem into that and see if it is still off.
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TimGeorge
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:13 pm
Location: Waxahachie, TX

Re: Bent Delrin?

Post by TimGeorge »

There is a good chance that it is the gluing process and not the delrin itself. We recently had a discussion about that, and a suggestion from staffwalker solved this very issue for me. The name of the topic was "more recent efforts." Can't figure out how to link that at the moment since it comes up in a frame ...
Regards,
Tim
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TRS
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Re: Bent Delrin?

Post by TRS »

d6monk
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:52 pm

Re: Bent Delrin?

Post by d6monk »

Hmm, I didn't think of that being a problem since the fit of the delrin to the stem mortise was so tight I needed a mallet to sit it. I'll give it a shot though.

Thanks guys.
Charl
Posts: 1901
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:03 pm
Location: South Africa

Re: Bent Delrin?

Post by Charl »

Mallet or not, there's still loads of chance of it being off center, let me tell you! :lol:
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