What speed to turn Acrylic Pen Blanks

[TB Roye]

While visiting the Kids in Idaho for Thanksgiving, my son the grandkids and I went to the Local Woodcraft. While there my son purchased a bunch of Acrylic Pen Blank in the colors of Boise State, remember them Oaklahoma? So now I have a dozen Blue and Orange pens blank to turn. Question is what speed should I use on them? I have been practicing on a blank at 1250 rpm. Is that to fast, to slow. It seem to be ok just want to know correct speed before I start on the Boise blanks.

Tom

[final_t]

I turn mine "somewhere in the middle" of the speed range, so 1250 sounds about right. Slow down to the bottom speed when you sand & finish polish (recommend wet sanding, even if using micro mesh). Can't wait to see the results!

[Zenaca]

I been turning those just as fast as my Jet 1236 will go then about half speed for the sanding with Micro Mesh. Havnt had any problems



Bud

[leehljp]

Lately, I have been turning at 2400 and above for shaping and getting a lot less snags.

I am going to get a full variable speed motor or lathe in the future because I spend so much time changing speeds on pens according to the need.

[Whaler]

I turn all of my acrylics at 1250 and use sharp tools.
For finishing I drop down a notch and sand thru 600 then switch to micro mesh wet thru 12000 and as final step I use 3-M fiberglass cleaner wax.