Thread: CD Cabinet -- WIP

G'day Zenwood,

A question regarding the resin.

I have some large (650mm) F clams and their wooden handles are about to let go. I've been toying with the idea of turning some new woodedn handles or make some by resin. So your last post is very timely. Would you consider the Diggers resin suitable for this?

Originally Posted by Waldo

Would you consider the Diggers resin suitable for this?

Sorry Waldo, I have no experience turning this resin, so can't comment.

G'day Zenwood,

My question must've been vauge.

Would this resin be suitable for casting a handle and stand up to the stresses of clamping?

I should think so Waldo. One of its applications is to make those big transparent blocks with a coin or insect embedded inside, so it should be able to act as a clamp handle. However I'd be a bit concerned about its brittleness: it may shatter if dropped or knocked heavily. It's probably not very scratch resistant on its own either, but this would only be a cosmetic concern.

If I were you, I think I'd be turning new handles out of wood.

Having said that, I believe there are techniques for impregnating layers of cloth with resin (one of the forumites does this for pen turning). That would give you a unique clamp handle.

G'day Zenwood,

Thanks for that, wood it is - now where to get some. I've got some small slabs of Jarrah which I could laminate to get a handle out of, but I think something more of a hardwood would be more desireable.

What sizes do you need Waldo? Got plenty of offcuts here that would probably be about the right size.

G'day Djstimber,

Have replied to your PM.

Originally Posted by zenwood

I use Diggers casting and embedding resin. It is a styrene and polyester resin available in two parts from Bunnings.



Details of my dust collecting system are shown here. It still works extremely well. My shed is also equipped with a rotating roof vent, and when I'm doing very dusty work like routing I open a couple of windows.

Thanks Zenwood, your font of knowledge is greatly appreciated!!!

a.

b.

Interested in how you'll work those latches.

I'm still leaning towards those krenov latches myself. But the flipper ones look good too.

Maybe you could rig a spring in them as well.....uno, so the latch automatically sits in the closed position.....turn against the spring to withdraw lever and just release knob altogether when door is closed to lock.

Apricot, the flipper catch I am making is, I think, the same as the 'Krenov' latch you mention. Pic shows the design, but I decided to take measurements on the fly, because I didn't know about springiness, etc.

Thank for the photo Zenwood.... Sorry, when you mentioned flipper I thought you meant those types that spin from inside the style via the knob (that other link). Thinking one could make that sprung activated too.

So, you going to use springs underneath like Krenov's ? ...... think he used biro springs. Remember reading a story from his book, how he walked into a shop,,,bought a few pens.....then in front of the lady....broke them all apart and walked out the store with just the springs.

Haven't decided on the biro springs yet, apricot. I might see if the wood is springy enough on its own. If not, should be fairly easy to retrofit springs if I need extra strength.

I think the one you mean is called the 'spinner' catch in the FWW article.