See through box

[cornucopia]

hello folks

here's a fun little box i've just made out of clear Acrylic rod
It was very difficult to work with not the same as the coloured acrylics i've used recently. It was strange though being able to see the tool cutting inside. The finishing is good fun- it breaks out if your too heavy handed so neg rake scrapers were used which produce a very fine finish that looks like smoked glass- it crossed my mind to leave the inside with this smoked effect so you could see the internal shape better-maybe next time?
It's sanded to 1500 then u-beauts eee was used- it measures just under 2" diameter by 2" tall
It was troublesome to photograph so i added some of my daughter's hama beads inside it to try and help see the internal shape.

 

[Bodrighy]

I like it. It also invokes all sorts of ideas. I guess with something like this you have to be very careful to get a good finish or every blemish would show.

Pete

 

[NickWelford]

Looks pretty neat. I Like the way you've lined up the grain.......

 

[loz]

Nice,

Sets of spice jars being ordered soon !

 

[Oakbear]

Pretty cool mate!

I'd like to see one of your threaded double 'minnerette' type boxes in this material....

 

[mikec]

Nice one George, good to see you got the "pith" out!!

Jokes aside that is a very interesting piece, very well executed, I don't usually go for acrylics but this looks really good.

Mike C

 

[thomvic]

Very nice but in the "Wood Turning" forum????

Richard

 

[TheTiddles]

For a perfect frosted finish, bead blasting is great. I usually specify that if a surface in acrylic has to be machined and can't be polished then blast it so it's even

Aidan

 

[cornucopia]

Thank you for alll of your comments

 

[Paul.J]

That must have taken some finishing George to get it how it is :shock:

 

[Mreagleeyes]

I love it, and like someone wrote above it does evoke some ideas. If only I had the foggiest idea of how you created it.
Could you give us a quick run down. I'm assuming a solid piece on a Lathe and then shaped. But how did you join it to the Lathe, sorry if this is an obvious answer but I've never touched a lathe in my life.

 

[NickWelford]

Ooooh - I see a slope approaching.......

 

[cornucopia]

Paul: yes- the finishing is a real pain

mr eagle eyes: there's a brief how to make a box here this acrylic box was kind of similar in process but smaller cuts are taken and its sanded /polished to a finer grit

 

[Mreagleeyes]

mr eagle eyes: there's a brief how to make a box this acrylic box was kind of similar in process but smaller cuts are taken and its sanded /polished to a finer grit

Many thanks, so it's a solid lump to start with obviously. Have you ever tried to attach two different colour's together and then turned it.
Just curious as I am very impressed with your work and would like to give it a go.

 

[Lons]

mr eagle eyes: there's a brief how to make a box this acrylic box was kind of similar in process but smaller cuts are taken and its sanded /polished to a finer grit

Many thanks, so it's a solid lump to start with obviously. Have you ever tried to attach two different colour's together and then turned it.
Just curious as I am very impressed with your work and would like to give it a go.

I was branch manager years ago for a semi finished plastics main distributor where we sold sheet, rod and tube alongside many other products.

ICI (perspex) then had tensol cement for glueing cast acrylic and no. 1 and 2 grade polish for finishing althogh you can achieve just as good a final polish with brasso.
Tensol cement is excellent and if used properly is permanent and opens lots of possibilities.

If anybody needs more info i can probably help as well as direct them to a supplier.

If you want to polish an edge incidently, you can easily flame polish with a small blowtorch.