Cutting Drag washers from Delron

[Reel 224]

Guys I have a roll of Delron and try cutting washers from it. NO luck. It cracked even when I heated with a hair dryer. Can someone help with my confusion ....................Joe

[oldmanjoe]

   I am thinking a Dremal tool with bur bits or the little sanding drum .

[Bryan Young]

Sorry. All of the ones that were provided to be were wither water jet, laser, or stamped.

[Tiddlerbasher]

I guess you mean Delrin/Acetyl - I stamp mine with a arbor press, no problem

[Reel 224]

I guess you mean Delrin/Acetyl - I stamp mine with a arbor press, no problem

Yes I do mean Delrin & I have a set of dies, also a Arbor Press. However I tried to cut them with Die and Punch by using a hammer. I found it to be very brittle. After heating it, it was a little better but still cracked.

I suppose I'll use The arbor press and heat. Water jet, laser or stamped sounds like it's a mystery to cut my own. I know Keith cuts his with dies, but I did not know the Delrin was so brittle.

Joe   

[Shark Hunter]

Joe,
I cut my washers with a Cutter Head and Hammer. A cheap set. I crack every third or fourth one.
I just keep sharpening it as I go with a Diamond bit.
When I have the material. I can knock out three or four complete drag sets for a 12/0.
There is a curve with losing a few.
Sharp cutter and sharp blows on a log work for me.
Keith and Sal use top notch cutters that cost several hundred dollars.
I bought mine off ebay for $18.
I don't cut enough to justify the price or the press, but that is just me.
My garage is jam packed with automotive tools and I just don't have the space.

[swill88]

Thanks for the pics Daron.
steve

[Tiddlerbasher]

Joe these are the cutters I use:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maun-Wad-Punch-Kit-Imperial/dp/B0001P0E14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541157564&sr=8-1&keywords=maun+wad+punch
The centre 'spike' on these enables concentric cuts to be made. These wad cutters have paid for themselves several times over




The Arbor press was a cheapy off of fleabay - I reduced the length of the wad cutter handle/holder so it would fit the arbor press- and fitted a magnet to the arbor press shaft (so the cutter was held in place) one less hand needed



I rarely get any splitting when punching cf. For delrin I use a lump of pipe for an extension handle (on the press). The delrin does split regularly but not too much. For a cutting surface I use a soft plastic chopping board - it helps preserve the cuting edges. To re-sharpen I use a mini grind stone and abrasive rubber wheels in a Dremel.

[Reel 224]

Thanks guys, I have a set of cutters and I can sharpen the cutters of my lathe and inside with my dremal tool. I gather from you guys the tool has to be extra sharp.

I'm on my way to Mystic Reel parts this morning to pick up some penn parts.........................Take care and thanks again...................Joe

[RowdyW]

Joe, I think the cutters should only be dressed on the outside not the inside.     Rudy

[Tiddlerbasher]

x2 - Just sharpen the outside. If you try to sharpen the inside it will produce a 'taper' where the washers can jam, it will also change the diameter of the cut. If you look at the inside of a cutter head it should be a parallel bore.

[Reel 224]

Yes I understand what you guys are telling me, I was just meaning to clean any bur from the inside. I could also accomplish that with my deburing tool. Thanks for the guidance I certainly appreciate you guy giving me a heads up.

Joe   

[oc1]

If you could punch the inside hole first then there would be the full sheet to keep it from cracking.  Trouble is, it would be very difficult to line up the punch for the outside,
-steve

[Reel 224]

I thought of that last night in bead  I thought I would make the out side with out punching it through so I had a pattern of the circle and then punch the inner circle like you pointed out. I still think you need heat also.

Joe   

[Tiddlerbasher]

OR use the same punch set like I do - Punch the outside first - then line up (with the centre marker) and punch the inner one simple