Fairly new to acrylic. Have a few questions

[RVivian]

As with any acrylic/resin blank, light slow cuts and high RPM's with very sharp tools are my best suggestions.

Ray

[Aaron Vice]

here's my idea for a jig to make cutting corners a little safer. as long as the distance from the "valley" to the blade is set at more than 3/4",  I'll have a 1.5"+ octagon when finished.



Would love to know if anyone has ever made one of these, and if it was worth it.

[Joe Short]

That'll work.

[R.FINCHUM]

I love the beartooth stuff as you can tell by the calls I post. I called Ernie and he started making my blanks at 8'' instead of the regular 5''. Also I asked about molding me some rounds but he said he didnt make those in rounds. But he said he takes his belt sander and sands off the sharp corners. I do that and never have a problem with chipping and I use carbide tools also. I really like the way his turns and I can get mine from several sources here. Only problem is they only sell 5''. The ones I get there because I'm impatient as a 2 yr old, I sleeve with clear acrylic. Try the sander, I works well just be sure to wear a mask.

[R.FINCHUM]

by the way, if you want larger blanks, when you order, when you fill out the form just ask for the length you want or put a email in with it. They are great to do stuff like that, very courteous and great at customer relations.

[Bob from Eames Custom Calls]

I would caution all to be extremely careful using a table saw to cut acrylic. Remember that it is basically Plexiglas and that it chips and shatters very easily. I used to cut my acrylic rods down on a chop saw until I had a catch that cost me 8" of rod and 20 minutes of digging shards of plexi out of the hand that was holding it. I switched to using my bandsaw to cut rods, and have been safer for it.

 Just my 

 Bob

[R.FINCHUM]

like Bob said, I have had a real problem with taking the outer crust off of acrylic. It would eat my left had up. I got tired of picking pieces out of my hand and started wearing a thin leather glove till I got it right for turning. And I know what you're saying, that could be dangerous if the glove gets caught. You have to be VERY careful. but it sure beats having a bloody hand at the end of the day.

[CJohnston]

I have been using some of beartooths acrylic, It would make life easier if I had a belt sander. I ended up sanding the corners by hand myself lol, but it turned out really nice.

[Jeff @ Mutt Calls]

Seems like out of all the vendors out there that sell acrylic blanks, 98% of what is sold is to pen turners or call makers?  Not sure how it is all made up, but dowels would be better in the long run.  The Beartooth, et al, acrylic is made overseas I beleive. I sure wish you could readily get those colors in dowels; less waste and less turning.

Mutt