Rhino blanks (polyester)

[potholer]

wow

a lava lamp and a pipe

and a question for chris where do you get polyester rod blanks in the uk?

regards
dave

[jdkearns]

At what speed do you turn/drill one of these? Also, for finishing, what grit do y'all recommend finishing with before buffing? Just ordered a few and can't wait to dig into them.

Thanks - John

[taharris]

I honestly don't remember what speed I used when drilling. I dont' think it makes much difference.

I sanded to 800 grit before buffing.

Todd

[Sasquatch]

I drill plastic at about 750 rpm and I keep a bottle (a squeezy type oil-dropper) full of soapy water handy. This makes things SO much better it's not even funny. Keep it cool, keep it lubed, and it cuts like magic.

[Sasquatch]

800 grit is for numbskulls. I sand to about 400 before tripoli. But thoroughly.

[SimeonTurner]

Keep it cool, keep it lubed, and it cuts like magic.

That's what she said.

And by "she," I mean Bruce Weaver.

[taharris]

800 grit is for numbskulls.

Sas,

One of these days you're going to hurt my feelings.





But not today.

Todd

[jdkearns]

Okay... what an I doing wrong now? I was sanding the button down on my french wheel using 150 grit, and the stem cracked perpendicular to the button (running length wise along the middle of the stem). I was verrrrrry gentle, as this is the Second time this has occurred.

Thoughts?

[Sasquatch]

I had a resin blank do that while I was drilling the slot. It just went "pop", so I'm thinking that some of these resins are a little susceptible to that.

Are you using a Rhino or some other plastic? The one that blew up was a "bronze fire" from one of the other suppliers.

I guess my suspicion is that you are injuring the thing at some point, internally, and then when you heat it up sanding it it shows up? Just a guess though.

[jdkearns]

Both were Rhinos. On both occasions, I had drilled the slot and then gone to my disc sander to rough shape the button. While sanding I noticed a hairline crack. I think the first was Coal(?) (or something close to that - their black color) and the second was Moondust(?). On the second one, it was for a prince - and I was actually able to cut and reshape (although it will be used for a bent pot and not the prince) - so it's not a total loss. It's probably me - and I'm not going to slander the material or manufacturer as I really don't know what I'm doing - unless there are lots of folks having the same issue. I also notice extreme pitting tendencies as I was turning the blank. Again, I'm new to all of this so that was probably my inexperience as well. I was using a four jaw pin chuck at around 1800 rpm and an Easy Wood carbide mini-rougher. Tore. It. Up. Any suggestions (faster speed? different tools?)

I'm going to order some rod stock, as things are going well and I have many friends and acquaintances with spare cash who apparently don't know an ugly, ill-designed pipe when they see one. Also, I like the feel of ebonite better, and at least one of these pipes is going to be for me.

Again, Great forum gents, it helps more than you know!

John

[Sasquatch]

It'll chip.... I use a real sharp wood turning gouge.

Only done the one blank, so I can't say for sure what your problem is.... wonder if you are cracking it with the drill somehow. I'll eventually order a few more and fiddle with them.

[AaronC]

Hello all! thought i'd give a little update on one of my stems i made out of this stuff. I had made a pipe for the hat trade that i used a antique silver swirl blank for. I wasn't very happy with it so i made another pipe for the trade and decided to keep the first for myself.
So, I took the pipe to work with me today. I left the pipe in my truck, sitting in the sun, for about six hours. when i picked it up again i realized it has lost about half of the bend i put in it. Its not even a very warm day here! So, i guess this is one that doesn't hold a bend well.