Turning Corian on the lathe

kyrbz · Feb 13, 2012

Awhile back I made a set of replacement knobs for my BMW Isetta. The original ivory knobs were cracked and falling apart. I chose a bone colored Corian (acrylic solid surface material) to make the new knobs out of. Corian turns and taps great. Fun little project.

http://bzisettas.blogspot.com/2010/08/isetta-knobs.html
http://bzisettas.blogspot.com/2010/09/isetta-heater-knob.html

rlitman · Feb 13, 2012

It sure does. That stuff is a dream to machine, and there's no wonder it's a favorite of many pen turners.

smschriefer · Feb 15, 2012

Great work on the knobs and even better work on the Isetta! I just read every post on the car restoration that is in progress. Your attention to detail is insane - in a good way. I can't wait to see the body mated to that impeccably restored frame!

kyrbz · Feb 15, 2012

smschriefer said:
Great work on the knobs and even better work on the Isetta! I just read every post on the car restoration that is in progress. Your attention to detail is insane - in a good way. I can't wait to see the body mated to that impeccably restored frame!

Thanks for the compliment!

Trucky · Feb 15, 2012

Is the tool just brazed carbide or is a PCD tip on there as well? They look rather good by the way.

kyrbz · Feb 16, 2012

Trucky said:
Is the tool just brazed carbide or is a PCD tip on there as well? They look rather good by the way.

It's a carbide insert that is mounted upside down in the tool holder of the lathe duplicator. I have the duplicator installed on the backside of my wood lathe so that I can turn freehand normally from the front.

The carbide insert leaves a little bit of a grooved surface in the Corian, so after the using the duplicator I would go back and do a little final shaping and smoothing with a skew chisel by hand before sanding and polishing.

mtnkrake · Feb 16, 2012

The restoration of the chassis looks real good. I can't wait to see it with the body on it.

Beaumont67 · Feb 16, 2012

kyrbz - great job on the Corian turnings and nice web site, as well.

I would like to see an overall photo of your lathe, if possible.
- looks like you have a nice setup
- is it a wood lathe with a 3 jaw chuck & variable speed DC motor, or a metal lathe ?

smschriefer · Feb 16, 2012

kyrbz said:
Thanks for the compliment!

I've provided a link to your Isetta blog on Red Leader's, 1950 Craftsman Garage page regarding electroless nickel plating. Your work is truly impressive. :thumbup:

bimmer1980 · Feb 16, 2012

that was quite interesting and entertaining to read through your whole blog. I didn't have time to read all of the BMW literature you had posted, but I may have to when I have more time.

My twin brother wants to find an Isetta to restore some day.

Nice work!

willymakeit · Feb 16, 2012

Thats what I need to do to my 56 F100. Those corian knobs are sweet.

kyrbz · Feb 16, 2012

Beaumont67 said:
kyrbz - great job on the Corian turnings and nice web site, as well.

I would like to see an overall photo of your lathe, if possible.
- looks like you have a nice setup
- is it a wood lathe with a 3 jaw chuck & variable speed DC motor, or a metal lathe ?

My wood lathe is a Vega 1446 with a Vega lathe duplicator that I purchased around 14 years ago. It has a variable speed Reeves pulley mounted on a Baldor motor. I have a Oneway Stronghold 4-jaw chuck and Oneway live center mounted on it. One of the things I didn't like about it was there was no spindle lock or indexing. The close up photo I attached is of a spindle lock and indexing modification I made for it. The tail stock was also a little chintzy so I did some improvements like adding bronze bushings on the locking mechanism and machining a few pieces that are a little more robust with tighter tolerances than what came on the lathe.

NASTYZEN · Feb 16, 2012

Nice setup and work kyrbz! :thumbup:

What do you use the idexing for, may I ask?
BTW, you may get even better results on plastic using tool steel. You can get a sharper edge than on carbide and you can even shape it to your liking.

kyrbz · Feb 17, 2012

NASTYZEN said:
Nice setup and work kyrbz!
What do you use the idexing for, may I ask?
BTW, you may get even better results on plastic using tool steel. You can get a sharper edge than on carbide and you can even shape it to your liking.

Fluting or making cuts along the length of a turned piece.

Turning Corian on the lathe

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