Get CA off of Delrin bushings

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pmpartain

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2006
Messages
232
Location
Fayetteville, AR, USA.
Made myself some delrin bushings on the metal lathe. CA builds up on the things. I thought it wasn't supposed to stick. How do you get the CA off? Can you use acetone? I figured it would eat the Delrin. Can you sand Delrin to make it slicker and easier to get the glue off?

Thanks
 
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As you found out, it will stick a bit. Acetone, lacquer thinner are all safe to soak it in.
Try using 1500-2000 grit auto paper and renwax as a lubricant to slick it up, WRKS4ME.
 
Thanks John. I bet the bushings you make are pretty slick to start with. I know just enough about the metal lathe to be really dangerous! But I know that and act accordingly. Like my favorite saying on Cool Hand Luke. "A man's got to know his limitations."
 
PM,

I will add a note to this. Of course CA does not stick to Delrin like it does steel bushings, we all know that. But something that is left out in explaining the move to delrin bushings is the background learning with steel bushings and CA.

Many People (but not everyone) had all kinds of problems with CA on steel bushings and blanks.
• Sometimes CA got inside the tube and there were VERY tightly stuck bushings.
• Sometimes the CA snapped when separating the steel bushing from the blank and chipped a small piece, or "lifted" the CA from the blank.
• CA built up terribly on the steel blank and had to be turned off or soaked in acetone to dissolve.

With this, many turners got more careful in their technique of applying CA over the bushings. Some used nylon/slippery washers between the bushing and blank; Some waxed the bushings; some became very skillful at covering the end of the blank with CA and not getting much at all on the bushing.

Still there was a problem. So, a migration to Delrin . . . and with it, the skill of not getting lots of CA on the Delrin. Then, those who migrated to Delrin with the previous learned skills - would swear by them. I know that with delrin (I only have two sets) I don't get nearly the CA on them as I used to get on steel bushings.

Back to your problem, you can encapsulate delrin in CA and the "form" factor of the CA will still be a problem, but not nearly like it was with steel.

I hope this helps in explaining why some people say that it doesn't stick - it is a basically a "comparative" statement combined with their learned skill from working with steel bushings. :wink:
 
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Thanks John. I bet the bushings you make are pretty slick to start with. I know just enough about the metal lathe to be really dangerous! But I know that and act accordingly. Like my favorite saying on Cool Hand Luke. "A man's got to know his limitations."

Yeah, mine are pretty slick, but still not stick proof.:smile:
NO delrin is stick proof to CA. sticks less than steel, not as tenacious a bond.
I also tried PTFE impregnated teflon.pricey stuff! mushy to machine and CA still sticks. I tried to find a silver bullet, but not yet.
Sounds like you are making headway on your lathe, that's cool!:biggrin:

I hate to say this, but I also have a line from Cool hand Luke.
I can't forget..
"Shakin' it right here, Boss". :rolleyes: ...sorry.:redface:
 
Yeah, you gotta love that movie. I guess my frustration came about with cold weather. Like many others experience it seems, the ca doesn't cure well and I got a little frustrated. Got a little crazy with the ca application and TA DA! instant problem! Always happens. Thanks for the feed back you guys.
 
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