I Need Your Help! How Do I Work With DELRIN

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Dave Shattuck

Guest
Okay, so as you can see, I tried posting this message before, but in realizing the error of my ways, and when trying to correct it, ended up deleting everything but the title ...with its misspelling. So moving on:

I have a sheet of 1 1/4" x 2' x 4' Delrin that I've had for years and am now playing with the idea of making a bench stock out of it. The problem I ran into right after getting the piece was in trying to cut it without the cut melting back together and creating an extremely messy edge. I know there must be a method of working with a sheet of this size in order to cut it to size, shape it, and/or glue multiple pieces together in order to form what I want. I need your help!

My thought is that even though the end result will be extremely heavy, by using Delrin I will get a stock that is very stable, not susceptible to bending, twisting or warping in any way, plus will be heavy enough to stay put in the bags while, at the same time, not bind during any movement between targets. Now, don't laugh; this stock is being built for an Air Rifle. But, if it works I may build others for different guns.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can pass along.

Dave Shattuck
 
If you have a TAP Plastic retail store in your area give them a call
 
I do a lot of work with delrin.Its a learning process thats never over.
Some tips are machine at lower speeds use cutters [lathe or milling] that are suited for aluminun, keep the workpiece cool.
You will still get some burrs regardless but they will not be so bad.
The value of a piece of delrin the size you describe is worth enough to buy two new stocks.

Chuck
 
Robb, Thanks for the tip. I have no idea if there is a TAP Plastics retailer in the area, but if there is, I'll know in a couple of days.

Chuck, As I remember, I paid something like $50.00 for it back when I got it, so I figured it would look unique and work great if I can ever figure out my part. The darn thing weighs a ton and is tough to handle alone, but I'll manage.

Thank you both.

Dave
 
Dave,
I may be wrong, but think you are wasting your time and a piece of material that you could sell. It ain't gonna be rigid when you get finished and heavy as you said. I think it will be a challenge to bed.
Butch
 
Don't drop it on a cold day...

I would think 666 nylon would be a mutch better choice and still not as good as what stocks are already made of.
Rustystud
 
I have never found a suitable glue for delrin.I have used some glues that claim to work but they were not very good.Epoxy types were also a failure.

Chuck.
 
By the way.
Todays price on 1.25"x 24"x 48" is $ 1021.11. And that is not a misprint.

Chuck:eek:
 
Are you sure its Delrin? It should machine pretty easy. Could it be another form of plastic?

If its melting slow down your RPM or surface footage and increase your feed.
 
Charle,

I have always been under the impression that it was Delrin, especially since I bought it through a company that worked with Delrin and that was what I had asked for. But, I could be wrong. How would I go about finding out for sure? Because, if that earlier figure is right I'd hate to ruin a good piece just to find out I didn't know what I was doing, and would rather sell it ...I think.

It was just an idea, and thanks for the response.

Dave
 
as stated above sell that thing and get a real stock. the stcok will be VERY flimsy and flex a lot even if you bolster it up real good and as stated there really is no good glue at all. if you really wanted to use the delrin i would make the stock from metal and then attach the delrin to the bottom somehow.
 
Delrin

Delrin melt temp is about 350F.. What you have may be HDPE or UHMW or something - Delrin in generally white and less opaque than the PE.

There is an easy way to tell if it is delrin - take a small piece and burn it - smell the fumes - delrin emits formaldehyde when you burn it. When you smell the fumes, if your eyes water and you walk around choking for a few minutes ...then it is probably delrin. It doesn't take much.

Nylon would not be a good choice either, it is hygroscopic in nature and creeps.

Delrin is heavy (SG=1.42) in relation to its strength, stiffness.

Scott
 
Dave Shattuck said:
Charle,

I have always been under the impression that it was Delrin, especially since I bought it through a company that worked with Delrin and that was what I had asked for. But, I could be wrong. How would I go about finding out for sure? Because, if that earlier figure is right I'd hate to ruin a good piece just to find out I didn't know what I was doing, and would rather sell it ...I think.

It was just an idea, and thanks for the response.

Dave
Click to expand...


If it cuts nice it is probably Delrin. If it comes off stringy and the chips are hard to break, like a rubber band, its UHMW or something like that.

But I think I would sell it and get a new stock, and put a few bucks in my pocket for some ammo.
 
Thanks for all your help!

I agree about selling whatever it is I have and going with a more traditional stock, which I happen to already have on order.

And, as for any extra money; there's no such thing in benchrest! I don't know about you, but my want list is always way longer than my means of funding it.

Even though I'm not too keen on the idea of smelling formaldehyde, I guess it may be the quickest way to determine if it is, or is not Delrin. So, if you guys don't hear back from me in the next few weeks, at least you'll know why!

The only thing I know for sure at this point is: the piece is very dense, white, but not of a pure white nature, although not milky white either, and very heavy, to the tune of my not wanting to lift it, and I'm in no way a small boy. I can lift it, it's just too damn heavy for me to want to.

I'll let you know if and when I make a determination as to what it is. For the money I paid, it wouldn't make sense for it to be Delrin. But, as I said, that was what I have thought I had all along.

Dave
 
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