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[Renee]

The blank looked a little rough, but it turned really nicely.  Not bad for a first try. I had never used a lathe before, or melted HDPE.  It was actually a group project. The lathe belongs to my son-in-law. He and I, and my son each took a few turns with a chisel. It spins well, too.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I really like the colors and color pattern.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Good work, Renee!!!  Glad you are enjoying HDPE and the lathe.

[cecil]

Lathe is fun. Looks like your on your way. What kind of lathe, and horse power?

[Mermouy]

  Not bad for a first try. I had never used a lathe before, or melted HDPE.  It was actually a group project. The lathe belongs to my son-in-law.

Can I ask you how you avoided air bubbles in your can, each time we tried this we had a lot of holes...

[Renee]

Lathe is fun. Looks like your on your way. What kind of lathe, and horse power?

My son-in-law bought it used more than twelve years ago and hasn't used it much since then.  I think he says he paid $75 for the lathe and tool set.  It's a great way to get introduced to turning, but I can see now that I might have to buy my own lathe, eventually.  They live almost three hours away from me, so I don't get the opportunity to use it very often.

[Renee]

Can I ask you how you avoided air bubbles in your can, each time we tried this we had a lot of holes...

It has small air bubbles, but we did not find them troublesome while turning.  And, since this was our first try at turning, we did not hollow it out.  So, it's heavy as a brick and the small air holes don't have much effect.

This block of HDPE was the first one I ever melted.  You can see that the toaster oven is so small that the bean can has to sit in the bottom of the oven in front of the elements.  I did not clamp this block.  I had a 2x2 that I used to tamp it down as I added more plastic.  When I had it as full as I could get it, I used the slow cool down method, where I lowered the temperature by 15-20 degrees every half hour.  On later attempts I clamped the can, and ended up with a whirlpool shaped void in the center.  I'm assuming that is from the quick cool down.  I did not get the same whirlpool with rectangular blocks that were clamped.

[Renee]

the confetti blank melted in the can had the big vortex, so I remelted it in a loaf pan with more chips.  I ended up with a useable block, that turned into this top.

[cecil]

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like a 1/2 horse power. I would like a Jet 1 horse power. It's about $ 850.00. Maybe some day I will get it.

[ta0]

Great looking top, Renee!

[Renee]

My dog, Maggie, is not impressed.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Ha ha!!!  Maggie, you rascal!  Pretty funny dog.  Pretty nice top!!!

[butterfingers]

Nice looking top. The shape is reminiscent of the Spintastics hornet. Do you plan to make another?

[Renee]

Nice looking top. The shape is reminiscent of the Spintastics hornet. Do you plan to make another?

The short answer is yes, I hope to make more. 
I've been collecting hdpe and cutting it up.  I probably have enough to make 6 or 8 more blanks.  Haven't melted it, yet.  I don't own my own lathe.  Those were made on my son-in-law's lathe and he lives 3 hours away.  But, I joined the local woodturners group to learn enough to make an educated purchase when I'm ready for my own lathe.

[Renee]

My dog, Maggie, is not impressed.

Our dog, Maggie passed last week.  At least she won't have to dodge flying tops anymore.
She had enriched our lives for more than 15 years, and I miss her terribly. 


This is the photo taken the first time I met her.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Sorry about your good friend.  I fell in love with her from your video so I can't imagine your sadness.  I was never a dog person growing up (we occasionally had a cat) but my wife Dawn loves dogs.  Little by little, I have come to better appreciate them.  By the way, our Gracie is also not too fond of our spinning hobby......but whenever I am making HDPE blocks she thinks they are for her!!!

It is cooling off outside so it is time to get back to melting.