bakelite, a missed opportunity ... but found a new one

[fletty]

Many years ago I scored a 3' x 4' (yup, THAT long ago) sheet of 3/4" bakelite. Not the (now known to be...) nasty asbestos filled kind but paper laminated phenolic sheet. For those too young to know it was a 'miracle material' that was used to make kitchen accessories, telephones, car dashboards, electrical equipment etc etc in the 1950's and beyond. It fell out of fashion because it came in 2 colours ... dark brown and even darker brown. It is immensely heavy and very stable. I acquired it because I had just bought one of those new fangled routers (Black and Decker) and it seemed to me that what it really needed was a stable table top with the router poking through from underneath and some sort of fence .... oh the wisdom of hindsight (MISSED OPPORTUNITY)
Anyway, the sheet has lain hidden (ie covered with other rubbish) under the house for more than 30 years only to be refound last week during a deep clean up and about 3 years after I built my ultimate mark 5 router table using laminated ply for the top ..... because I had no idea what I had done with the bakelite.
Well. I have been thinking of making a grinding station with my 3 most used grinders (traditional bench grinder, twin rivers horizontal wet stone and Tormek) mounted on a lazy susan. I have now cut the top to shape using, yep, you guessed it, the bakelite sheet. Strangely it scoffed at my jigsaw fitted with both metal and wood cutting blades but cut like butter on the table saw with carbide tipped blade. I sanded and routed a radius on the edge but then needed to find a finish that would make the machined edge as smooth and shiney as the surface. Thankyou Uncle Neil, 0000 steel wool and WALNUT TRADITIONAL WAX! (NEW OPPORTUNITY) It looks so beautiful that I am now working on art deco shapton stone holders made from the remainder of the sheet.
I will post on both projects because I know that art deco shapton stone holders will be very popular with stalwarts like Claw Hama and Scriibbly Gum (the names say it all!)but I just wanted to post this first in case someone else needed to polish the edges of bakelite ......!
fletty

[Harry72]

Tough stuff that sheet, we still use it for insulators on cranes

[China]

Athough I have never machined sheet bakelite, I have restored several old bakelite radio cabinets and have always used olive oil to buff up scuffs etc, and then a wipe over with olive oil brings the bakelite up like new, I might try some wax next time and see what happens

[wheelinround]

Fletty please oh please may I grovel for some off cuts

[fletty]

Fletty please oh please may I grovel for some off cuts

no probs, what's the smallest size that is still usable to you?

fletty

[wheelinround]

no probs, what's the smallest size that is still usable to you?

fletty

Dust is good too can be used as a filler with resin enough for a miniature if thats all thats going to remain. From there up finial's, Lace bobbins, Pen blanks 20x20x150, knife handles. I can see your thinking hinges for boxes, latches, corner bits feet. Oh what was it you needed for that old phone. I know I done it again the dust will do

[fletty]

Nah, I just didn't want to bring around anything that you wouldn't/couldn't use. Although, the last time I looked you still had a spot 5 x 6 x 7 nanos that you hadn't filled yet!
Actually knife handles could be a go. I'll cut some to 20 x 20 x 150 as well?
The next project will be the art deco Shapton stone holders. The design was refined after a lovely bottle of Hunter Valley shiraz.

fletty

[wheelinround]

Nah, I just didn't want to bring around anything that you wouldn't/couldn't use. Although, the last time I looked you still had a spot 5 x 6 x 7 nanos that you hadn't filled yet!
Actually knife handles could be a go. I'll cut some to 20 x 20 x 150 as well?
The next project will be the art deco Shapton stone holders. The design was refined after a lovely bottle of Hunter Valley shiraz.

fletty

If possible one piece 4"x4" please