Any one have suggestions on how to cut a 1" thick piece of rubber block and get a smooth surface?
The material is black rubber 4" square and 1" inch thick, I need to make a 3.5" round pad.
got any tricks?
Any one have suggestions on how to cut a 1" thick piece of rubber block and get a smooth surface?
The material is black rubber 4" square and 1" inch thick, I need to make a 3.5" round pad.
got any tricks?
You can try freezing the rubber to make it hard so it cuts like wood.
It's been decades since I tried this, and I can't remember if it worked or not.
I'm wondering if a Greenlee hole punch would do it (if you dont mind a small hole in the center)
The freezer should be about 0 degrees.
I have used liquid propane at -44 degrees. To get a cup of liquid propane, hold a propane bottle upside down and let some out. About half will evaporate and then the remaining liquid will be -44.
Do it outside, of course, and wear gloves.
I have been contemplating using a 3.5" hole saw modified by removing the teeth and grinding a knife edge on it. Gluing the rubber block to a board, and clamping that to the drill press table, and running the drill press as slow as it will go. adding lubrication for the blade.
the propane sounds a little scary.
I think they sell dry ice at Safeway.
Dry Ice & a lathe - I think that's the best idea. Silicon grease will help any cutter or knife slide thru the rubber. It depends a lot on the physical properties of the rubber block though.
The material will be here today, I have a steel plate that has been turned round at about 5' I think I'll try gluing the rubber to that and try cutting the rubber on my lathe with the modified hole saw in the tail stock. That way I won't worry about holding the rubber, or getting enough pressure on saw, or frost bite