Thread: Blew up my GMC Lathe

Also Shoey, re the Woodfast lathe, I got mine directly from Woodfast. They go right over the lathe and tighten, adjust and check for faults before they ship to you. Really good people to deal with too. I think they are in Vic or SA. I got the bed extension + a selection of their Woodfast turning Chisels which are excellent quality. Very good service and the same price as from Carbatec.

Fingers crossed for a good Tax Return. LOL

Originally Posted by Shoey

Fingers crossed for a good Tax Return. LOL

Depending on your occupation, you may be able to claim a nice new lathe on next years tax

Pariss: If I can make enough pens to sell that shouldnt be a problem!

Got my new gear from Timberbits yesterday and started turning up a carmine/black slim line. Looks really good, but I think my mandrel is a bit off centre. Not quite as clean on the joins as my second pen.

Just wandering if anyone else has had chest pain after turning acrylic. I wear a dust mask and glasses, but when roughing out the acylic seems to heat up and give of a very strong smell. Might give a rest for a few days.

Do you have to seal Acrylic pens with anything? At the moment I'm just polishing them with EEE wax and then assembling them.

Cheers
Shoey

Shoey - you need to be careful of heating acrylics at every stage from cutting to length to finishing/sanding. Not only do they give off a nasty smell but you can distort the shape. Or so I've read, hasn't happened to me yet.

Most people wet-sand with micromesh and finish with a plastic (car) polish. As to brand, I suppose like everything that quality counts. I think some have tried brasso too. I'm using the last of the microgloss that came with my micromesh pads from GPW.

I wet sand with Micromesh as well, but even after I have finished and assembled the pen it still smells really strong. I have it infringing of me now and it's all I can smell. Is this normal?

The smell of acrylics can linger a bit. This arvo I cut, drilled and glued 4 blanks, one of which is an acrylic. Two hours later I can only just smell the acrylic on my shirt but that might be my imagination.

I guess if you're messy with the mm slurry or don't have adequate dc and ventilation when turning/shaping, it could be on your hands and clothing. I suppose you might have to try a couple more and see if the problem occurs again. And maybe stick to woods.

Shoey

If you are getting chest pains when turning acrylics that suggests it is giving you a respiratory problem perhaps - check with your doctor. Acrylics can release a poison when turning them and irritate your breathing. They are certainly not as safe as timbers although even timbers will also release poisons.

Do yourself a favour and either invest in a powered mask (check Carbatec) or buy a chemical resistant mask from somewhere like Bristol Paints. Neither are cheap but its better than a lung transplant. With a good mask you can only smell clean air (if infact you can smell air) There are no fumes. A dust extractor is also essential to get dust and fumes out of your shed.

Greg

Hi Shoey. Number 1, Turning tools MUST be very sharp when doing acrylics. Go slowly & gently when turning so as not to create friction heat.

Number 2, wet sand with Micro Mesh, about 6 seconds per grade, don't build up heat with too much pressure.

Number 3, don't use EEE on the turned blank, try Brasso, again ONLY for about 6 seconds, don't build up friction heat !. Then use a very fine car polish such as Maguires speed glaze for final buff. Acrylics + heat don't mix well. Open up all your windows when turning too.

Thanks guys. Will be looking into the powered mask.