Barrel Trimmer Heat

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joe966

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Joined
Feb 16, 2014
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36
Location
Livonia, Michigan
I use a barrel trimmer for most of my pens and recently, I have found that one of my pilot shafts is getting super hot for some reason. Hot enough to melt the glue and pull the tube out.

Has anyone experienced this? If so is there anything I can do to stop it?
 
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I suspect that the shaft of the trimmer is rubbing on the inside of the tube and the resulting friction is causing the heat. Are you sure that the blank is held securely and vertical?

Jim Smith
 
I expect that there was "crud" in the tube or on the pilot shaft. Friction and movement = heat

Glues start to soften around 150 degrees F give or take depending on the glue and most fail by the low 200s.

Eliminate the friction and you will lose the heat problem.

(P.S. Sounds like your pen mill is very dull if you were spinning it enough to "cook" the tube)
 
Yeah, crud in the tube is a potential problem. I've also found that the 3/8 and 10mm shafts are close enough that (and at the moment I forget which is which) that you can use the wrong size trimmer -- one just a bit too large for the tube. Been there, done that.:redface:

Speed is also an issue. Too much and the tube heats up. Too little and the trimmer grabs on the material being trimmed from the end. Try to find that "just right" speed. I think my trimmer needs to be sharpened too.
 
How fast are you spinning that cutter? If it is taking more than a few seconds to square, your cutter is probably dull. Never even had a pilot get warm. Should be an easy fit. Are you clamping the blank --you could be binding the tube against the pilot.
 
Gun barrel brushes to eliminate crud inside tubes. "Pam", yep the cooking spray...spray a little on the trimmer shaft, works great. Sharp cutter important as well.

Jmoicbw-bidi
 
The shafts can oxidize (rust, without the color) a bit too, making ones that JUST fit turn to ones that JUST GET SHOVED IN TIGHT, causing more friction and heat (DAMHIKT)...:biggrin:
 
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