Tufnol - (& Cutting it?)

Harbo · 26 Jan 2010

Having failed to buy some Tufnol/Paxolin at the Ally Pally MEX at the weekend (they only had one piece at £4 for a 7"x5" off cut) I found an on-line supplier:

http://www.directplasticsonline.co.uk/TufnolSheet/

I was after some 5mm thick - £2.99 plus VAT & Delivery for a 300mm x 300mm sheet.
Ordered yesterday, arrived this morning!

Rod

Mike Wingate · 26 Jan 2010

Brilliant link. Thanks.

Harbo · 28 Jan 2010

OK - I have my Tufnol - what's the best way to cut it?
I do not want to knacker any blades using the wrong type?

I have to cut some very accurate holes (with a small rebate) so will probably use my lathe for that. But need to cut the pieces into smaller sections say 75mmx75mm.

I did a Google search but all I got was that it stinks!

Rod

cerdeira · 28 Jan 2010

isn't tufnol also known as phenolic ?
have you tried a search with the terms"cutting phenolic"?

Mike Wingate · 28 Jan 2010

Hand tools work, hacksaw and plane. I use a bandsaw and router. Don't smoke when using it as it creates really bad fumes. My grandad and father both used paxolin/Bakelite as they built transformers for GEC.

duncanh · 28 Jan 2010

In the past I used a jigsaw with a blade similar to this which is coated with diamond or something similar. They're designed for cutting ceramics.
When I tried the standard jigsaw blades they wore out in less than a minute.
It has (or at least, mine had) a tendency to chip on the under surface when cut.

As has been stated - this material gives of nasty fumes and dust when worked so wear a mask and extract as well.