Thread: Acrylester for Pen Kit - trouble turning

same problem only advice is take it steady helps some

Also, rough up the tube with sandpaper and use 5 min epoxy to glue the tubes in. Amos

Crop the corners off the blank on a linisher before you turn with the tools. This gives you a good base with no chipping, also wind up your speed

Throw away the small gouges and use a 3/4" roughing gouge.

The small gouges only have a very small cutting surface and can make the acrylics chip easily.
With the roughing gouge you have a larger area to cut and support with and you will cut better than scrape as you do with the small gouge.

Acrylics are the same as timber dont start in the middle start at the end and pare out then the next cut slightly after the first so you are not trying to chip away large chunks.

Just take it easy and you should get spirals coming of the tool, the slower you go the better the finish of the tool.

The only time you need the small gouges is if you want to put fine detail of beads.

No problem. The best acrylic blank that I have turned. High speed and Skew,although I did blow one early in the piece.
I would like Jim to import more colors then he does.

GCCC. Jim is right on. I've turned the stuff with a roughing gouge, skew, 3/8 spindle gouge, but my favorite tool, which I use on all pens is the 3/4 spindle gouge. I turn it at about 45deg [clock1-7 or 2-8] with fairly high speed. Works a little like a skew & on wood you can rub the bevel to get a very smooth cut. That way you're making more of a shear cut. Using a spindle gouge in this position "U" chips away at the blank & causes catches. Can't vouch for epoxy, never use it. Always use thick CA.

Could I ask a silly question? What is a 'linisher?' Is it an electric 'sanding' tool? I've seen the term used where I think they are talking about a 'thicknesser' which we call a 'thickness planer'. Other times it seems like a sanding device. Just wondering. Very interesting how terms in different parts of the world mean diff. things. Read on here once where a turner was gonna "knock-up" a pen. Over here it means he "got her pregnant." One thing about it--a lathe is a lathe--a skew is a skew--a pen is a pen--& I've seen some fantastic workmanship in this Ubeaut forum. Lots of "talent" over there.

Linisher is a type of sanding machine with a belt.

You ca have the portable belt sanders right through to the stroke sanders.

The one common thing is that they all have belts of varying lenght and width.

Thanks Jim

Thanks Jim. Kinda thought I was on the right track but wasn't sure. That seems like a waste of time, but if it helps someone, guess it"s worth the extra. But, I'll bet a person can have a blank almost round using just the lathe in the time it'd take to round off the corners on a belt sander. And like you said-start near the end. One rule of thumb on ALL turning "Always turn downhill, never uphill." If the tool is started off the end of the blank & taken into the end of the blank you're asking for a blow-out. A catch.