Turning Resin Vs. Turning wood

[Ron Kaplan]

What tips do people have about turning resin versus the techniques used for turning wood? Do you sharpen your tools differently? Do you use different types of tools? What level of sanding do you take the surface to before starting a polishing process for finishing?

 

[john lucas]

I use the same tools sharpened the same way. The only real difference for me is that I try really hard not to force the cut. Take your time and let the tool do the cutting. If you have shavings coming up your doing it right. Some people like to use scrapers but I don't see the advantage. What you do have to do is sand to higher grits. I can often stop sanding with 600 grit for wood but to get plastics, resins and metals to look right you have to polish them to a much higher grit.

 

[gary rock]

Something to add to Johns reply. When turning plastics you need to stop the lathe often to clear away the shavings coming off the piece. It is a little nuisance that you have to put up with when turning plastic, they have a tendency to wrap around the piece.

Gary:cool2:

 

[john lucas]

I also forgot to mention that occasionally I run into a plastic that tries to melt from the friction of the gouge so you have to turn the speed down. Also had that happen with sandpaper. It's rare but does happen, mostly on cheap acrylic rod.

 

[hockenbery]

I also forgot to mention that occasionally I run into a plastic that tries to melt from the friction of the gouge so you have to turn the speed down. Also had that happen with sandpaper. It's rare but does happen, mostly on cheap acrylic rod.

Wet sanding works really well.

 

[Pete Blair]

Sanding Plastic

Don't forget the old trick of using 'Brasso" as a final polish. I usually sand to 400 and then use Brasso on a rag to get that glass like shine on clear acrylic.