Fordite slab
- Thread starter Tclem
- Start date
Is it consistent in thickness across the whole piece?
Assuming so, and if you’re open to providing some quick tips on working with it Tony, I’ll take it. I’ve always wanted to give it a shot but certainly understand that it can be difficult to turn.
Assuming so, and if you’re open to providing some quick tips on working with it Tony, I’ll take it. I’ve always wanted to give it a shot but certainly understand that it can be difficult to turn.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Yes it is. I’ll message you
It is a PITA to turn. Best is to use 80 grit skew until it gets close to final then sand to final with 120-220ish
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- #5
I haven’t used a tool in a couple of years unless I needed a skew for some tightened up for some reason. Round it on the 2x72 belt and finish it on the lathe with 120-300 before finishing it and I use thin ca to help stabilize it. But, I can turn one from a blank with a square carbide if I wanted to. Probably turned a few hundred fordite pens over the past 10 years
Payment sent.
Thanks again for the call Tony! I really enjoyed our conversation and appreciate you taking the time to give me some tips. Looking forward to trying it!
Thanks again for the call Tony! I really enjoyed our conversation and appreciate you taking the time to give me some tips. Looking forward to trying it!
Good grab Steve. I was going to but you beat me to it.
Tell the truth l, how much of the conversation did you understand?
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- #9
Just let me know when you need some. I have several slabs and pen blanks.
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- #10
What are you trying to say ? You need spell check. You must have lived in Mississippi at one time
I did. And I hope Steve used small words so you understood some of the conversation, too.
How long does it take to build up a layer that thick? I guess it depends on how many cars or trucks they paint a day, huh? Or how fine their sprayers are tuned.
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- #13
Yeah I can’t answer that question. Lol. Depends on how lazy the worker is lol
We had a great call! Talked for over 30 minutes about everything from fordite, to Instagram, hunting, fishing, etc.
Got a lot of good info on dealing with the fordite.
Man, that is a hunk of fordite! Never turned it - only ground and polished it on a lapidary machine - and even that was a little frustrating!
And I am going to stay outta the way of the MS - NC tongue flapping! Nobody's gonna win that one!
And I am going to stay outta the way of the MS - NC tongue flapping! Nobody's gonna win that one!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #18
I always win. He gets tired of trying to understand me and gives up.
Got a hunk of paint in the mail today. Thanks @Tclem !
I have a few questions for you experts on the fordite.
In the first pic, are these screws that are imbedded in the piece? It’s hard to tell if they are screws that are still in there and covered with paint, or if it’s where screws were but are now mostly holes covered with paint? The real question is do I need to work around these, or is is solid beneath the appearance of the holes? There is one on each end, so my gut it telling me that it was used to attach something at some point but I don’t know if the screws are still there or not.
My second question is the layers obviously form the equivalent of a “grain direction” when looking at it lengthwise vs. along the side. Does it matter which direction I cut this in or how it’s oriented on the lathe? I assume one way will result in lines going with the tube if a pen blank, while the other way would result in rings around the tube. But can you use it either way, or will one way be more prone to shattering or chipping than another?
I’m going to ponder this for awhile before deciding anything and cutting it up. Decisions, decisions
@Tom Smart and @Eric Rorabaugh ,and anyone else with fordite experience, I’d appreciate your thoughts as well since I know you’ve used some as well. Thanks all!
I have a few questions for you experts on the fordite.
In the first pic, are these screws that are imbedded in the piece? It’s hard to tell if they are screws that are still in there and covered with paint, or if it’s where screws were but are now mostly holes covered with paint? The real question is do I need to work around these, or is is solid beneath the appearance of the holes? There is one on each end, so my gut it telling me that it was used to attach something at some point but I don’t know if the screws are still there or not.
My second question is the layers obviously form the equivalent of a “grain direction” when looking at it lengthwise vs. along the side. Does it matter which direction I cut this in or how it’s oriented on the lathe? I assume one way will result in lines going with the tube if a pen blank, while the other way would result in rings around the tube. But can you use it either way, or will one way be more prone to shattering or chipping than another?
I’m going to ponder this for awhile before deciding anything and cutting it up. Decisions, decisions
@Tom Smart and @Eric Rorabaugh ,and anyone else with fordite experience, I’d appreciate your thoughts as well since I know you’ve used some as well. Thanks all!
I'm pretty sure that just where the screws were on the frame (or whatever it was taken off of). If you have a magnetic screwdriver or small magnet, you should be able to tell for sure. Or take a scratch awl and scrape it and you can tell. If you're afraid to do anything, send it to me and I'll let you know for sure.