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Acrylic

Garno

Garno

Fellow
Joined
May 12, 2021
Posts
1,372
Location
Dronfield
First Name
Gary
When turning acrylic blanks how do you finish them?

Whilst waiting for a delivery I decided to turn an acrylic blank I have with an image stuck on the tube, do I just go through the grits on sandpaper? or just try buffing it until I can see the image?
 
flexi

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,189
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
As above, I turn down roughing gouge, then skew(scary bit:praying:)
I then use mesh sanding strips (Axminster), either 2000 wet and dry next or micro mesh pads( depending on the resin).
Then I finish with Farecla marine paint polish 300 500 1000....i have also used the paint polish from Machine mart too, cos it's very local to me and it's not too bad but it does tend to splatter more:ciggrin:
 
C

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
427
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
You are calling it acrylic but as it is a lable/picture cast blank I am going to assume it is a polyester resin blank like the feather blanks Marla makes. For them I turn with a bowl gouge and then a skew or only a skew. Sanding starting at 320 or 400 and then maybe 600 but usually just to 400. Sand lengthwise with the lathe off after doing each grit lathe on. Wipe clean between grits. #0000 steel wool then the three Beall buffing wheels. Around, diagonal each way and then lengthwise. Wipe each compound off before moving up a grade. Same finishing method as I use for for CA and purchased acrylic coloured blanks. Basically plastic is plastic so it gets finished the same way. :winking:

Pete
 
Bill Mooney

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
11,029
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
For acrylic/resin blanks I dry sand to 600 grit then with 0000 wire wool around 950 rpm. I increase the speed to 1600ish rpm & polish with Farecla 300 then 500.
 
C

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
427
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Really? I buff at about 1,200 RPM or so, not the 1,800 maximum from the instructions. Makes the wheels behave as though they are softer, or at least they seem to. Maybe that is the difference. I also make sure I never go up to the next wheel without cleaning the compound off. That way there is no chance the coarser grit can contaminate the wheel.

Pete
 
C

Curly

Graduate Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Posts
427
Location
RM of Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, Canada
First Name
Peter
Including yourself, four in this thread didn't mention them and two including myself did so that indicates only a third of us have buffing wheels. There are lots of ways to skin a cat so just because a method you don't use is mentioned doesn't make you wrong or lacking. I ditched barrel trimmers years ago in favour of sanding the ends with a disc sander but I had one in my shop already to try. It doesn't mean you have to if you like barrel trimmers. If you had opened your thread with "When turning acrylic blanks how do you finish them using abrasives papers/pads and polishing liquids?" I wouldn't have mentioned what I do. :winking:

Pete
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
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