My technique for making Carbontex drag washers

[The Fishing Hobby]

Just thought I would share my method for making Carbontex drag washers from sheet stock.
I finished putting this video together today, maybe someone will find it useful.

[oc1]

Really nice job.  I'll remember that, especially the part about running the drill bit in reverse.
-steve

[The Fishing Hobby]

Running in reverse may not be necessary with a small hole but the center hole on these are pretty large. You could start with a small hole and work your way up, but drilling in reverse saves the hassle.

[Decker]

Very nice tutorial.   I'm going to have to try it sometime.

[Keta]

Thank you for the video.

I am forced to take my CF sheets to the laser cutter to have them cut out my washers.

[The Fishing Hobby]

Thank you for the video.

I am forced to take my CF sheets to the laser cutter to have them cut out my washers.

I am sure that makes a much nicer finished washer. This makes for a pretty good finished washer. Not NASA tolerances but we aren't sending a man to space here either!
Just out of curiosity, what does having them laser cut cost? I hope you don't mind me asking, but I just have no idea what something like that would cost.

[Keta]

Just out of curiosity, what does having them laser cut cost? I hope you don't mind me asking, but I just have no idea what something like that would cost.

$0.50 a piece but they have cut 3 sheets for me no charge.  The laser cuts Delrin nice too.

[The Fishing Hobby]

Well that seems very reasonable!

[Decker]

Just out of curiosity, what does having them laser cut cost? I hope you don't mind me asking, but I just have no idea what something like that would cost.

$0.50 a piece but they have cut 3 sheets for me no charge.  The laser cuts Delrin nice too.

Sweet. 

[The Fishing Hobby]

This process takes approximately 15 minutes from start to finish for me. I stack them on the screw and do them all at the same time. I did one in the video as an example. It isn't hard to do but I am sure if you have a person who can laser cut it in your area for that sort of price that would be the way to go. I live in a fairly small town so I doubt there is anyone nearby that offers laser cutting services, but I do think I will check around just in case.

[Keta]

We need to know how to do these by hand and most of us do not have access to laser and water cutters.  I have had poor success with cutting Delrin, lots of cracks. 

[The Fishing Hobby]

We need to know how to do these by hand and most of us do not have access to laser and water cutters.  I have had poor success with cutting Delrin, lots of cracks. 

I have worked with Delrin on my metal lathe, it cuts nicely with high speed steel tooling. It also turns nicely on a wood lathe with high speed steel chisels. They also make special plastic cutting drill bits that don't dig in the way that drill bits made for wood and metal do.

[Keta]

I have a set of Forsner drill bits but the sizes I have do not always match the size I need.  I grind the OD of CF and Delrin with my belt sander.

[The Fishing Hobby]

I have a set of Forsner drill bits but the sizes I have do not always match the size I need.  I grind the OD of CF and Delrin with my belt sander.

An inexpensive beam type of circle/hole cutter is adjustable to any size in its range of adjustment and makes a very clean cut if used in a drill press at a slow speed. They don't work well with a hand-held drill. I own a Mibro one that can be found on Amazon that works well for my purposes. What size holes are you needing?

[Keta]

I prefer using a drill press when I can and have 2 in my barn, a large one on the floor and a small one on my bench.