Thread: Another Custom Acrylic

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

It looks like you have the same setup as me, a chuck with a mandrel? If it is how did you avoid the deep mounting hole? or are you using a collet? can't really tell from the mounted pic....
This would certainly open up a hole new world to me on 1950's Craftsman lathe with limited MT-1 choices

Now I have to clean up a pair of Optimo No.1 razors with green acrylic scales I have in storage....This brush should go quite nicely with them, great job!

On my first that I did for Redcane, I used a forstner bit to do the hole. But that left the guide spur showing when you looked through the wall and I didn't really like that. Now I drill most of the whole and finish the rest of the depth with my lathe tools so when you see the cup through the wall, it's nice and flat.

Now to answer your question, I bought these specifically for turning this Acrylic. I still use my mandrel for wood, I feel as though these internal collects could potential split or crack wood with all the stress going on. The acrylic is much, much stronger. One thing that you have to do before mounting on the collets though, is completely finish the top of the pocket. The collet has a collar that the acrylic fits tight to, which aligns it center on the lathe. When mounted, this prevents you from being able to sand or finish that area. You can pull it away slightly so it's exposed, but that screws up the alignment and the piece will be off center and wobble. I'll post pics of what I mean.




Here's a link to where I got them. These things are really tight once you crank them on. No fear in it coming off and a lot less vibration when I turn the cup, or dimple, on the bottom of the handle.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/Wood/pag...330,69091&ap=1