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What am I seeing here as I turn.

George Speed

George Speed

Joined
Jan 8, 2026
Messages
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Location
Van Alstyne, TX
It is an Alumilte slow resin blank.
Curious about the section that is turning rough, compared to the more normal looking section.
same two tools used. Spindle gouge for the initial rounding. Then an easy tool round bit.

I’m not overly concerned.
I’m a hoping it will look normal eventually.

A Tenon is intended at the tailstock end, then flip and remount. I’m planning on finishing the tenon at this point.


It’s my first casting. And my first turning of this material.

Did something go wrong in the pour?
In the pot at the 11-12 minute mark.
50psi. Resin temp was 94+ F.

Thanks!
 
I have not turned Alumilte. When I turn resin, not that often, I use carbide tools with a negative rake. Just a guess it looks like the resin is chipping out. I get this trying to use conventional tools on the resin I turn. hopefully someone with more experience turning resin has an answer.
 
That is chipping. Increase your speed on the lathe rpm, and take lighter cuts. Alumilite is a polyurethane resin and is much easier to turn than polyester resin which is extremely brittle. I suspect you are using a carbide insert tool, and you’ll get that with too aggressive of cut. Switch to a negative rake insert for your tool and adjust the other items I mentioned. Penturners.org is the place for pen turning information. It also looks like you are using a pen mill as a drive center. I’ve never seen that and I recommend you buy a mandrel. If you get a catch with your current drive, it will mill the end of the blank and ruin your pen. Also your turning technique also shows up with really rough ridges where there is no chipping. You need to do a lot of practice to change that, unless you really like to sand plastic. I use a traditional skew and the resin shines off the tool.

International Association of Penturners

International Association of Penturners
www.penturners.org
Also watch videos here. https://www.youtube.com/@exoticblanks
Especially this video.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm1GRNcbodQ
 
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