Rhinoplastic versus Inlace Acrylester

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

magpens

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
15,913
Location
Canada
Wondering about the distinguishing characteristics of Rhinoplastic and Inlace Acrylester.

I have used both of these successfully but don't remember anything particularly distinguishing other than that both are very hard and require care in turning ... both prone to chipping particularly in the early stages of turning a square cross-section to round. . After that, with light cuts, both produce nice pens fairly readily.

They both polish up beautifully, resulting in gorgeous pens.

I know that the world of "plastics" is vast, and I know virtually nothing about the varieties of materials that get lumped under this term.

Would appreciate comments comparing and contrasting these two materials, please.
 
Last edited:
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

penicillin

Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2019
Messages
1,036
Wondering about the distinguishing characteristics of Rhinoplastic and Inlace Acrylester.

I have used both of these successfully but don't remember anything particularly distinguishing other than that both are very hard and require care in turning ... both prone to chipping particularly in the early stages of turning a square cross-section to round. . After that, with light cuts, both produce nice pens fairly readily.

They both polish up beautifully, resulting in gorgeous pens.

I know that the world of "plastics" is vast, and I know virtually nothing about the varieties of materials that get lumped under this term.

Would appreciate comments comparing and contrasting these two materials, please.
I have not tried Rhinoplastic, but I have tried Inlace Acrylester. I wonder whether turning cinder block would be much different. At least it finishes beautifully.

You commented about chipping while roughing the square blank to a cylinder. After the blanks are ready for turning, I take one more step. I put the blank in a clamp end-to-end. I hold the clamp and use it to press the "corner edges" of the blank against a belt sander to round or "soften" them. I also rotate them slightly as I press to make them rounder.

If you soften the corner edges of your blanks, it is much easier on your turning tools, and you are less likely to crack or damage the blank. If you try the belt sander technique that I suggested, keep the following in mind:

* Heat is bad for plastics. Keep your "touches" brief to avoid damaging the blank from heat.

* The belt sander can be messy. Inlace Acrylester is the messiest. You get an incredibly fine dust that settles on everything and does not brush off easily. After the first time, I now do the belt sanding outside. It is better than clogging my shop vac filter.

There are other techniques for softening the corner edges of your blank. Some people use a roundover bit in a router table to round the blank to a cylinder quickly.
 
Last edited:

1080Wayne

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2006
Messages
3,339
Location
Brownfield, Alberta, Canada.
Haven`t tried Rhinoplastic either , but am at the point where I automatically round all plastic and cross cut wood on 80 grit disc sander , with 1 micron filter in attached shop vac . Doesn`t catch all of the dust , depending on how much of the disc is being used , so usually have good dust mask as well .
 

MRDucks2

Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2017
Messages
3,215
Location
Bristow, IN
I have turned both and find them pretty similar. I know WoodTurningz just north of Indy owns the Inlace Acrylester formula/brand/what ever you call it. Reading somewhere, it was described as being an over catalyzed PR. Similar description for Rhino Plastic.

We tried an experiment in my shop varying the ME in PR by 4x for the same amount of resin and after turning, found very little difference in the final product. So, didn't come across any secrets there, other than the obvious difference in cure times.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 

Wagner11

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2017
Messages
135
Location
Indiana
They are both polyester resin. I find rhinoplastic to be easier to turn than inlace but I don't actually have difficulty with either one.

It makes sense that inlace would be over catalyzed as that apparently makes the rain more brittle. I've not seen that happen myself but I've heard people say it does.

They do both polish beautifully.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

bmachin

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2013
Messages
613
Location
Owensboro, KY
Just ran across this thread on the AAW forum:


One of the posters mentions that his favorite casting medium is Inlace which is available from numerous woodworking suppliers online. He claims that Inlace is actually Reichhold Polylite 32153-00 orthophthalic casting resin which is a polyester casting compound designed to fabricate faux granite and onyx vanities.


Now Inlace is pretty expensive stuff at retail with the clear going for around 30 bucks or so per pint. If you can buy it in bulk from Inlace or direct from Reichold it would certainly be much much cheaper.

All this is just prelude to the question: Is Inlace Acrylester and/or Rhinoplastic based on Inlace/Reichhold Polylite 32153-00?

BTW here is the link to Inlace's site:


Bill
 

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
I've turned both, and find them both challenging. I trim the corners off with the bandsaw before turning, which seems to help. I find inlace to be more "chippy" than rhino. So much so, that I refuse to turn inlace anymore. The blank in the photos is a rhino.
 

Attachments

  • Crown15.jpg
    Crown15.jpg
    739.2 KB · Views: 133
  • Crown16.jpg
    Crown16.jpg
    187.5 KB · Views: 139
  • Crown17.jpg
    Crown17.jpg
    289.9 KB · Views: 135
  • Crown29.jpg
    Crown29.jpg
    154.8 KB · Views: 131

mark james

IAP Collection, Curator
Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
12,720
Location
Medina, Ohio
I've turned both, and find them both challenging. I trim the corners off with the bandsaw before turning, which seems to help. I find inlace to be more "chippy" than rhino. So much so, that I refuse to turn inlace anymore. The blank in the photos is a rhino.

Trimming is a great assist. Both are challenging, and both turn to a wonderful shine. Very nice final blank.
 

More4dan

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
2,102
Location
Katy, TX
I've been successful turning square blanks of inlace on my metal lathe using the tool post with a holder made for a round carbide wood turning insert. No chipping at all.
F1F9BCC7-B0EA-4424-AC1F-27653E51E106.jpeg



I've found Rhinoplastic a little easier to turn than Inlace. I like using the Rhinoplastic when I'm in a hurry and don't have time for back painting to dry. All the ones I've used haven't been translucent. The color seems more consistent with less swirl than inlace.

Most inlace blanks I've used have required back painting but have more depth and reflectivity.

Danny
 
Last edited:

CaptainJane

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2014
Messages
100
Location
Bayou Vista, Texas
One of my favorite blanks is Rhino Parrot Bay. Like many Rhino blanks, it has an underlying sparkle that I really like. Like others, I do knock the corners off, and go slow, but do not have many problems. Try some.
 

TonyL

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
8,904
Location
Georgia
My own turning experience pov - I have found acrylester to be more brittle than Rhino. I love both materials.
 

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
One of my favorite blanks is Rhino Parrot Bay. Like many Rhino blanks, it has an underlying sparkle that I really like. Like others, I do knock the corners off, and go slow, but do not have many problems. Try some.

Parrot Bay is a nice one.
 

Attachments

  • 046.jpg
    046.jpg
    113.1 KB · Views: 122
  • 047.jpg
    047.jpg
    131.8 KB · Views: 137
  • 048.jpg
    048.jpg
    119.1 KB · Views: 119
  • 053.JPG
    053.JPG
    240 KB · Views: 124

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
Wasabi Peas is one of the few Rhino blanks I wasn't very impressed with. But I do like the name. LOL
 

Attachments

  • 048.JPG
    048.JPG
    355 KB · Views: 121
  • 049.JPG
    049.JPG
    369.9 KB · Views: 126
  • 050.JPG
    050.JPG
    368.8 KB · Views: 124
  • 053.JPG
    053.JPG
    233.5 KB · Views: 109

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
Earths Core is one of my favorites.
 

Attachments

  • 055.jpg
    055.jpg
    136.8 KB · Views: 114
  • 056.jpg
    056.jpg
    146.3 KB · Views: 116
  • 057.jpg
    057.jpg
    140.8 KB · Views: 138
  • 058.jpg
    058.jpg
    149.4 KB · Views: 154

Wagner11

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2017
Messages
135
Location
Indiana
One of the most beautiful pens I have ever made came from a Rhino blank called northern lights. I wish I still had a picture. I do find image to be more chippy than Rhino as well but I typically don't have a problem with either one once they are round

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk
 

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
One of the most beautiful pens I have ever made came from a Rhino blank called northern lights. I wish I still had a picture. I do find image to be more chippy than Rhino as well but I typically don't have a problem with either one once they are round.

That's one I haven't tried. My daughter-in-law would love that.

 

qquake

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
5,007
Location
Northern California
I guess I have tried Northern Lights after all.
 

Attachments

  • 001.jpg
    001.jpg
    358.8 KB · Views: 121
  • 002.jpg
    002.jpg
    368 KB · Views: 126
  • 003.jpg
    003.jpg
    410.8 KB · Views: 119
  • 004.jpg
    004.jpg
    351.1 KB · Views: 120
Top Bottom