June 2023 Meeting - Mike Meredith - "Hybrid” Turning Blanks

Mike Meredith - Hybrid Turning Blanks

The June demonstration will explore turning “hybrid” turning blanks. That is, blanks, composed of cast resins and wood, or other material placed in the field of the resin.

We will talk about the three major types of casting resin;

• Epoxy
• Acrylic
• Alumalite (a polyurethane resin). 

We will  compare the properties of these three materials, with regard to preparation and ease of turning.

A video will show the lengthy process of stabilizing wood, since resin stick to stabilized wood, better than unstabilized wood, and casting an Alumalite hybrid blank and turning and finishing a bottle stopper.

The live demonstration will be with a larger piece of a Alumalite hybrid to demonstrate some of the specialized stroke and cutting techniques that are required for resin turning.

We’ll make a horrific mess so don’t run away when the show is over as we need hands to help clean up and since this month we will be in the Gym, setup and tear down will take more time.