Tapping acrylic (plexiglas, methyl methacrylate)

jackinnj · 21st September 2006, 05:30 PM

saw this on Machine Shop Swarf -- when tapping plexi do not use alcohol or cutting oil -- instead use water with a little dissolved soap or detergent -- the user had observed that even small residual amounts of solvent resulted in "crazing" and spider cracks radiating from the tapped hole if alcohol or cutting oil were used.

TwoSpoons · 21st September 2006, 09:43 PM

I've used plain water as a coolant/lubricant when milling acrylic, and it works very well.

For tapping, I usually tap dry, and slow.

poobah · 21st September 2006, 09:47 PM

Good ole' animal lard is still used as tapping lube for some plastics and metals... always worth a shot.

planet10 · 21st September 2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by poobah
Good ole' animal lard

Is chewie fat a good one?

dave

jackinnj · 21st September 2006, 10:32 PM

Poo

I am probably the only person on DIYAUDIO (at least stateside) whose families members actually rendered the poor little lambies (within my own lifetime). anyone else know how to make lanolin?

poobah · 21st September 2006, 10:33 PM

Boy, how I wish it were that easy... You guys would be tapping up a storm... I could recoup some foolish investments... and look and feel to better to boot!

poobah · 21st September 2006, 10:35 PM

Damn.. that's cool lookin' Jack. Are you a Flyer?

Oh yeah... lard, lye, and fire,... right?

planet10 · 22nd September 2006, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jackinnj
anyone else know how to make lanolin?

I don't know about making it, but it sure is a pain to wash out of the wool i get from the old sheep's home.

dave

chipco3434 · 22nd September 2006, 03:26 PM

The hot setup for any machining operation in plexi is one of the spray cleaners... either Formula 409 or Fantastik. Back it up with a dead sharp tool and you have a winner.

rcavictim · 22nd September 2006, 05:43 PM

I use one of the generic glass cleaners, blue liquid in a spritzer bottle like Windex. Blow out after tapping with compressed air.

Yes, stay away from alcohol, it will craze some plastics like plexy in a zillion tny cracks. A real mess.

21st September 2006, 05:30 PM	#1
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	Tapping acrylic (plexiglas, methyl methacrylate) saw this on Machine Shop Swarf -- when tapping plexi do not use alcohol or cutting oil -- instead use water with a little dissolved soap or detergent -- the user had observed that even small residual amounts of solvent resulted in "crazing" and spider cracks radiating from the tapped hole if alcohol or cutting oil were used.

22nd September 2006, 05:43 PM	#10
rcavictim diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cool end of a soldering iron NW of Toronto	I use one of the generic glass cleaners, blue liquid in a spritzer bottle like Windex. Blow out after tapping with compressed air. Yes, stay away from alcohol, it will craze some plastics like plexy in a zillion tny cracks. A real mess. __________________ I.Q.Test. Have you ever purchased a recreational snowmobile?

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21st September 2006, 09:43 PM	#2
TwoSpoons diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I've used plain water as a coolant/lubricant when milling acrylic, and it works very well. For tapping, I usually tap dry, and slow.

21st September 2006, 09:47 PM	#3
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Good ole' animal lard is still used as tapping lube for some plastics and metals... always worth a shot.

21st September 2006, 10:32 PM	#5
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	Poo I am probably the only person on DIYAUDIO (at least stateside) whose families members actually rendered the poor little lambies (within my own lifetime). anyone else know how to make lanolin?

21st September 2006, 10:33 PM	#6
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Boy, how I wish it were that easy... You guys would be tapping up a storm... I could recoup some foolish investments... and look and feel to better to boot!

21st September 2006, 10:35 PM	#7
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Damn.. that's cool lookin' Jack. Are you a Flyer? Oh yeah... lard, lye, and fire,... right?

22nd September 2006, 03:26 PM	#9
chipco3434 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, Wisconsin	The hot setup for any machining operation in plexi is one of the spray cleaners... either Formula 409 or Fantastik. Back it up with a dead sharp tool and you have a winner.