which plastic rod

[matthew shayParticipant @matthewshay62229]

which plastic rod I best to use on my lathe

[matthew shayParticipant @matthewshay62229]

[mike TParticipant @miket56243]

What for?

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Matthew

I take it you just want to do some practise turning as you don't state any purpose.

Try Delrin, or similar, most acetal rods are easy to turn and you will get a good finish. As always you do need to have a sharp tool for best results. HSS is more than adequate if ground with good clearance angles but with a radiused tip.

Emgee

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Delrin is a bugger to drill as it contracts and grabs the drill. Acetal is not bad, glass filled PTFE is good to turn, for all you need razor sharp tooling. Final decision is yours on what you are making.

[Raymond AndersonParticipant @raymondanderson34407]

If it is only for practising with then Rigid PVC is great. Turns to a lovely finish, can easily be solvent welded if you want to make any assembly, and is not as expensive as Acetal/Delrin. If you are going down the indexable tool route then use the inserts designed for Aluminium/Plastics, CCGT would be good if you are a beginner as they will allow you to turn and face with the same insert. Nylon 6 and 66 are also good. As has been mentioned Delrin [and most other plastics] can be a pest to drill, will grab at any opportunity. watch out for that.

Direct plastics have a great range and service [ no interest other than a satisfied customer ] Their website is great and will give you loads of info.

[matthew shayParticipant @matthewshay62229]

its for me to make thing for my model boats I make

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Chris Evans6

Delrin=Acetal by any other name

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

KWIL,

The Devil is in the detail:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

MichealG

and so it is, I was reacting to the sweeping statement that "delrin" is a B*** to drill, I have used a lot of these products on various uses and the correct tooling solves most!!

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Matthew

Are the boats to be used on water or just scale static models ?

If building an early sailing ship then wood will be most appropriate to original materials, you could also use wood for the metal parts with addition of some paint to disguise the material.

Emgee

[Raymond AndersonParticipant @raymondanderson34407]

Matthew, Are the parts the various winches, bollards ect, If so the the rigid PVC would be good because as I said you can make up various parts and assemble them no problem using plastic weld or similar. It is like water and welds the joints and because it is so thin flows by capilliary action resulting in a very tidy joint. As long as the parts are not subject to rough handling [and the shouldn't be if for display ] then rigid PVC is perfect for you.

You could make up whole winches ect no problem, then the paint and good to go.

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

KWIL, I must have been using the PTFE or other filled type to notice a difference. Most of my plastics come as offcuts from autojumbles so really could be miss labeled.

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