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+-- Thread: plastic dowels source? (/showthread.php?tid=7353399)
plastic dowels source? - Wipedout - 03-08-2020
Thought I'd throw this out there (and I double posted this in off-topic and woodturning)
I have these LED landscape lights - picked them up from home depot on closeout for $1.99 each
They have been great and I bought about 6 extra in case any went out. So far they all are good and they are on every night from dusk till dawn
These are them https://www.homedepot.com/p/Low-Voltage-1-2-Watt-Black-Integrated-LED-Landscape-Path-Light-CW4001-08W/300862393
What has happened is between the pups and the landscape crew I now have about 6 that the removable spike in the bottom has broken off
I thought about making a replacement out of wood but in the wet soil here they will rot quickly. So I thought maybe I can find a plastic dowel (solid) that has a diameter of 3/4" and turn them on the lathe
Any suggestions of where I can find something like that? Picture of the spike
[attachment=24683]
RE: plastic dowels source? - Snipe Hunter - 03-08-2020
Tap Plastics
If you can find Delrin rod, it machines well.
RE: plastic dowels source? - museumguy - 03-08-2020
McMaster Carr, they have many different choices.
RE: plastic dowels source? - Cooler - 03-09-2020
I would just go to Lowes or Home Depot and get the driveway markers. The 6 foot ones cost about $3.50 each. They are made from pulltruded fiberglass and will withstand high summer temperatures without bending.
The color might be an issue however. The ones I got have a round reflector at the top over a 4 foot long white rod (about 1/4" diameter). It was strong enough to drive into the ground, so pretty good.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Hardware-Signs-Letters-Numbers-Driveway-Reflectors/N-5yc1vZc8fv
RE: plastic dowels source? - JTTHECLOCKMAN - 03-09-2020
Aluminum rod from Home depot would work also.
RE: plastic dowels source? - Halfathumb - 03-11-2020
(03-08-2020, 01:41 PM)Wipedout Wrote: Thought I'd throw this out there (and I double posted this in off-topic and woodturning)
I have these LED landscape lights - picked them up from home depot on closeout for $1.99 each
They have been great and I bought about 6 extra in case any went out. So far they all are good and they are on every night from dusk till dawn
These are them https://www.homedepot.com/p/Low-Voltage-1-2-Watt-Black-Integrated-LED-Landscape-Path-Light-CW4001-08W/300862393
What has happened is between the pups and the landscape crew I now have about 6 that the removable spike in the bottom has broken off
I thought about making a replacement out of wood but in the wet soil here they will rot quickly. So I thought maybe I can find a plastic dowel (solid) that has a diameter of 3/4" and turn them on the lathe
Any suggestions of where I can find something like that? Picture of the spike
This more of a turning question since I'm new that. But how fast or slow do you have turn the plastic rods and not have them melt?
RE: plastic dowels source? - JTTHECLOCKMAN - 03-11-2020
(03-11-2020, 11:07 AM)Halfathumb Wrote: This more of a turning question since I'm new that. But how fast or slow do you have turn the plastic rods and not have them melt?
I turn acrylics and metals all the time on my wood lathe. I make pens. No difference in speed. The problem comes in with the slag that comes off. It is in the form of long plastic strings and get wrapped around everything when turning acrylics and plastics. Good sharp tools are what is needed. I like to use carbide for most of the turning and then finish up with a sharp skew.