Is Acetal and Delrin the same?

tank69

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know Delrin is the trademark name for Acetal that DuPont uses, but is it the same or close enough to the same? I found a 60", 1.375" rod on Amazon for $30. I'd using it mostly for making collets and a few other tools that I have thought about, but would it hurt for actual cue construction?

I did the search and nothing really pertinent.
 
I did the search and nothing really pertinent.

Really ? I searched google using "Acetal and Delrin the same" and found lots of pertinent info including the doc that Neil posted (about 5 from the top).

Dave
 
Really ? I searched google using "Acetal and Delrin the same" and found lots of pertinent info including the doc that Neil posted (about 5 from the top).

Dave

My search for AZ came up empty. Google had a lot, but I was looking more pertaining to cues. I'll read that article when I get home.
 
My search for AZ came up empty. Google had a lot, but I was looking more pertaining to cues. I'll read that article when I get home.
As you stated that Delrin is just the tradename for acetal. I don't believe there are any manufacturers that make acetal tailored for cuemaking.
 
As stated, they are the same material and it is pretty much the standard collet material and makes a lot of other useful tooling based on the fact that glue really doesn't stick to it. As far as cue construction it makes good threaded butt caps that need a slot cut into the delrin threads before gluing.
 
Some acetal is sort of a cold translucent white--perfectly fine for collets and such. For buttcaps I prefer the look of the milk white Delrin.

Martin
 
So to answer the original question,,,,,,,,Delrin is always Acetal, but Acetal is only Delrin sometimes.
 
For those who google does not work,here is the text.
Delrin is a DuPont Trade name for a specific form of Acetal.

Here is the Text from,
Lion Engineering Plastics,
Ph 952.641.6300 • Fax 952.641.6311 • 314 West 86th Street, Bloomington, MN 55420 • www.lionep.com

Acetal is the common name for a family of thermoplastics with the chemical name "PolyOxyMethylene", or POM. Acetal is available in two general types of resins: Copolymer acetal (POM-C), and homopolymer acetal (POM-H); commonly called Delrin®. Each type of acetal has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Acetal Copolymer The copolymer grade offers excellent performance at a slightly lower cost than Delrin®. Acetal copolymer offers consistent properties throughout the shape (being free of centerline porosity). Low stress levels and high strength assure flatness and dimensional stability up to a maximum continuous service temperature of 180°F (80°C). Copolymer acetal grades are FDA, USDA, NSF, and 3-A Dairy compliant. In addition, acetal copolymers are available in a wide variety of colors, including: natural, black, blue, red, yellow, green, brown, and grey.
Other advantages over homopolymer acetal are:
Better dimensional stability due to its lower level of crystallinity. Better resistance to hot water and strong caustics, or high pH (basic) solutions. Lower coefficient of friction and better impact and wear properties, especially in wet or moist environments.
Acetal Homopolymer
Delrin® acetal homopolymer offers slightly higher mechanical properties than acetal copolymer, but may contain a low density center (also known as "center line porosity") especially in large cross-sections. Delrin® also gives slightly less chemical resistance than copolymer acetal. As an example, Delrin® is ideal for small diameter, thin-walled bushings that benefit from the additional strength and rigidity of homopolymer acetal. Delrin® is available in colors of natural and black. Other advantages over copolymer acetal are:
Greater stiffness, with higher flexural modulus at room and elevated temperature applications. Slightly higher tensile and impact strength at room temperatures and lower. Slightly harder, thus giving the homopolymer acetals a lower coefficient of friction.
What it means
In most applications, Delrin® and acetal copolymer can be interchanged because many material properties are within approximately 10% of each other. Notably, the most significant difference between Delrin® and copolymer acetal relates to what is commonly known as centerline porosity – an inherent characteristic of Delrin®. It is most prominent in thick slab and large diameter rod stock. Visually, it is clearly evident around the center portion of a rod, which extends down the entire length. In sheet, porosity appears as a line along the center of each cut edge. In some cases, the slab may appear to be laminated or glued together. Excessive centerline porosity is undesirable for the following reasons:
Aesthetic - inconsistent color appearance in finished parts. Compromises structural integrity. Presents potential routes for leakage of gas and liquids. Provides areas where the bacteria can grow in food processing applications.
The cause of the porosity is shrinkage. During the extrusion process, the outside of the shape cools before the interior. As the interior material cools, there is a corresponding reduction of volume. Since the volume change of the shape is restricted due to the solidified skin, voids form to compensate for the loss of interior volume.
 
I have made at least 10 different little tools from delrin.
Glue and finish doesn't stick to it.

A tip holding/centering tool for installing tips
a 60 deg tip for my live center for finishing
a tool that holds joint pins centered while the epoxy sets
a tool to keep pressure on rings with the tail stock while the epoxy sets
threaded mandrels for the joint when finishing

there are more............. anyone got any to add????

Kim
 
I have made at least 10 different little tools from delrin.
Glue and finish doesn't stick to it.

A tip holding/centering tool for installing tips
a 60 deg tip for my live center for finishing
a tool that holds joint pins centered while the epoxy sets
a tool to keep pressure on rings with the tail stock while the epoxy sets
threaded mandrels for the joint when finishing

there are more............. anyone got any to add????

Kim

veneer press

taper bar, making the final tweaks on this one as we speak
 
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I'm diggin your taper-bar setup.
That's some trick innovation.
Nice lathe BTW.

KJ

sheldon rules :grin:
that window has always been a thorn in my side
trust me, it wasn't my idea.
give ya one guess just who's idea it was :rolleyes:
sore subject around casa de BHQ
so i decided to move lathe 2 foot further to the right and build a taper bar off the framing
cut slots 3/4 of way thru the delrin from the back side for bending purposes where i wanted some bendature
 
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sheldon rules :grin:
that window has always been a thorn in my side
trust me, it wasn't my idea.
give ya one guess just who's idea it was :rolleyes:
sore subject around case de BHQ
so i decided to move lathe 2 foot further to the right and build a taper bar off the framing
cut slots 3/4 of way thru the delrin from the back side for bending purposes where i wanted some bendature

omg...thought I was hallucinating... You really anchored the taper bar to the window jamb!

Guess when you start running out of room you can start mounting lathes on the ceiling:D
 
omg...thought I was hallucinating... You really anchored the taper bar to the window jamb!

Guess when you start running out of room you can start mounting lathes on the ceiling:D

One of my early pantograph proto types was mounted to the wall and could be swung out over the lathe to cut parts and pockets. That arm system turned out to be too much hassle so I redesigned it and went to a slide system for my inlay machines instead of arms.
 
omg...thought I was hallucinating... You really anchored the taper bar to the window jamb!

Guess when you start running out of room you can start mounting lathes on the ceiling:D

spans the whole wall jake
lathe is anchored to wall also
and the wall isnt just a frame wall
it's 4x4's set in 30" deep x 12" concrete piers
it aint going anywhere
have a little faith buckaroo
if the hillside behind me goes,
the whole shop goes with it in one piece

may put one up the roof so i can work on my tan
brown fat looks better than white fat :D
 
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My search for AZ came up empty. Google had a lot, but I was looking more pertaining to cues. I'll read that article when I get home.

In general you will find more information if you search in general. Limiting your input to AZ is limiting. It's a big world out there, use it.

Dave
 
As stated, they are the same material and it is pretty much the standard collet material and makes a lot of other useful tooling based on the fact that glue really doesn't stick to it. As far as cue construction it makes good threaded butt caps that need a slot cut into the delrin threads before gluing.

I made a nice, cheap tip centering tool with it.
 
In general you will find more information if you search in general. Limiting your input to AZ is limiting. It's a big world out there, use it.

Dave

I have found alot of misinformation out there in that big world. Some in here also, but usually someone knowledgeable will challenge it pretty quickly. If you pay close attention, you will learn those who will not steer you in the wrong direction. There is one hundred times more info about cue making on this site than the entire www! Please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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