Shawn R. L.
New member
Here is one that is done and one that I\'m making.
Hot doggie it works VERY WELL
- Thread starter Shawn R. L.
- Start date
Here is one that is done and one that I\'m making.
farseerlum
New member
isn\'t a teflon spatula from the supermarket good enough to just hack up for teflon?
Shawn R. L.
New member
I looked in supermarkets and I\'m not sure about spatulas but I was looking at cutting boards that I thought were Teflon and they were vinyl. One difference between Teflon and high density poly ethylene is that Teflon is pure, almost opaque white, the others are more translucent. Plus, once I found out how much Teflon costs in bulk, there is no way the items such as cutting boards and such would cost a fortune. One square foot, 1 inch thick, I was quoted, $80.
farseerlum
New member
yeah i thought as much. weird though i always thought of teflon as black.
i would have thought if it said teflon then it would be teflon but i wasn\'t sure if they just coat it the same as they coat frying pans.
i would have thought if it said teflon then it would be teflon but i wasn\'t sure if they just coat it the same as they coat frying pans.
freakinacage
Well-known member
nice one shawn. illustrates it nicely
Shawn R. L.
New member
If anybody does try this out, please post how it worked for you.
CrookedEye
Fear the Crooked Eye
I\'m thinking about it- but the shipping prices are terrible so far. I want to try it though, it sounds like a great idea.
How well does the edge hold up? How thin can I carve it before the piece loses it\'s rigidity?
Zach
How well does the edge hold up? How thin can I carve it before the piece loses it\'s rigidity?
Zach
Shawn R. L.
New member
Havn\'t tried a needle thin tip. Would have to think it would be way too bendy by that point. If you look on the previous page, I have posted pix of what I have done. To retain strength I kept it thick then went down to a sharp point. I have been doing a lot of VERY fine filigree work - 1/32 of and inch (1/2 mm?) or so and it\'s working fantastically.
Dragon Forge Design
New member
I have about 10 ft of teflon 1/4 inch rod. If anyone wants to buy a piece let me know.
I wanted to try it out but had to buy 10 ft.
$1.00 a foot plus shipping.
If I cut it in 2- 6 inch pieces I can ship in a padded envilope pretty inexpensive.
EMAIL Me if interested dragonforge@gmail.com I dont check PMs that much.
I wanted to try it out but had to buy 10 ft.
$1.00 a foot plus shipping.
If I cut it in 2- 6 inch pieces I can ship in a padded envilope pretty inexpensive.
EMAIL Me if interested dragonforge@gmail.com I dont check PMs that much.
Dragon Forge Design
New member
Shawn thats cheap, my source for 1\" 12x12 is $156.00 Id buy that and run if you were serious.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=12077&Page=1
Is a place I buy plastics from.. but not where I got my 1/4 inch rod..bought that elsewhere.
Shawn, if you fancy making a batch and selling them I\'d be interested, but I find it difficult enough picking up sculpting tools and making some models, let alone manufacturing the tools to do it beforehand.
Sounds handy though. If you don\'t do it I\'m sure some other enterprising person will.
Sounds handy though. If you don\'t do it I\'m sure some other enterprising person will.
freakinacage
Well-known member
i have ordered some from ebay (you can order less) so i shall keep you posted!
Shawn R. L.
New member
PM me, so I wont forget. Might do this.
Hi Guys,
Because teflon rod (the type I bought anyway) is too flexible for easy machining I decided to try a different material knowing that it had similar non-stick properties to PTFE. The material I chose is Acetal, commonly known as Delrin. This material is available from the previously mentioned suppliers-smallparts, and carr mcmasters-and is actually less expensive than PTFE in the same diameters and lengths.
I was able, despite this material being somewhat flexible, to turn some simple tools in my lathe, whereas the PTFE rod was far too flexible to turn all but the shortest lengths in the lathe. Over the last couple of days I have put the new Delrin tools to the test sculpting with A&B putty, and magicsculpt. The material works well without the usual propensity for the putty to stick to the tools, (my old tools are made from steel). However, I do not see that Delrin will ever completely replace my old tools as, despite it being stiffer than teflon, it is not quite stiff enough for really fine pointed tools, and I doubt it will be much use for knife edged tools either though I have yet to try making one.
In the end I would recommend this material for making simple sculpting tools because, it is easy to machine shape, it can even be carved, and of course putty doesn\'t stick to it as readily as it does metal tools. For those without a lathe Delrin can be turned in a drill motor or motor tool and shaped with files and sand paper, the only important thing is to adequately polish the finished tool to retain its anti-stick properties. For polishing I simple wet sanded the tools while still turning in the lathe, progressing from 320 grit to 1200 grit paper which resulted in a slick shiny surface.
Because teflon rod (the type I bought anyway) is too flexible for easy machining I decided to try a different material knowing that it had similar non-stick properties to PTFE. The material I chose is Acetal, commonly known as Delrin. This material is available from the previously mentioned suppliers-smallparts, and carr mcmasters-and is actually less expensive than PTFE in the same diameters and lengths.
I was able, despite this material being somewhat flexible, to turn some simple tools in my lathe, whereas the PTFE rod was far too flexible to turn all but the shortest lengths in the lathe. Over the last couple of days I have put the new Delrin tools to the test sculpting with A&B putty, and magicsculpt. The material works well without the usual propensity for the putty to stick to the tools, (my old tools are made from steel). However, I do not see that Delrin will ever completely replace my old tools as, despite it being stiffer than teflon, it is not quite stiff enough for really fine pointed tools, and I doubt it will be much use for knife edged tools either though I have yet to try making one.
In the end I would recommend this material for making simple sculpting tools because, it is easy to machine shape, it can even be carved, and of course putty doesn\'t stick to it as readily as it does metal tools. For those without a lathe Delrin can be turned in a drill motor or motor tool and shaped with files and sand paper, the only important thing is to adequately polish the finished tool to retain its anti-stick properties. For polishing I simple wet sanded the tools while still turning in the lathe, progressing from 320 grit to 1200 grit paper which resulted in a slick shiny surface.
CrookedEye
Fear the Crooked Eye
I have some Teflon rod coming my way courtesy of Dragon Forge so I\'ll get to play soon. 
Has anyone tried using pins or a teflon veneer on stiffer tools to get around the excessive elasticity problem?
Zach
Has anyone tried using pins or a teflon veneer on stiffer tools to get around the excessive elasticity problem?
Zach
Shawn R. L.
New member
I have been using my Teflon tools for quite a while now and see no need to go back to my others. I was able to use a piece about 1/8 inch around and, with a file and sandpaper, put a good point on it. I have been doing some VERY fine work and it works GREAT. Flexibility is no problem.
From my experience, there was a considerable difference between HDPE and Teflon. The Teflon is way better.
edit: If you find what you have to be too flexible you might try to drill it out and put a paper clip in to add strength.
From my experience, there was a considerable difference between HDPE and Teflon. The Teflon is way better.
edit: If you find what you have to be too flexible you might try to drill it out and put a paper clip in to add strength.
Wren
Member
I\'m not very handy, so I\'m pretty hesitant about trying to make my own tools. But if someone ever does have a go at making these to sell, I\'d be interested in trying them out. I think I might even have helped come up with the idea of trying this back in a thread on colour shapers.
freakinacage
Well-known member
i quite like a bit of flex in my tools, i\'m not the most coordinated (yeah not the best hobby to have if thats the case eh?!) so it\'s nice to have a little leverage. i received mine the other day and probably wont have time to have a go at them till after xmas now i shall post again when i do
