Materials Choices

I mentioned a while back that I was having trouble finding 2 3/8" UHMW polyethylene for making a particular part. Turning these 2.35" diameter cylinders down from 2.5" stock is slow (at least on a Sherline lathe). I can get 2 3/8" Delrin. Even though it is about $19.50 a foot, vs. $8 a foot for the UHMW, the time savings compensate for the price. It takes about 30 minutes for me to turn three 2.5" diameter by 3.4" long UHMW cylinders down to 2.35" diameter. The 2 3/8" Delrin takes about five minutes to turn down the same three cylinders. The materials cost is $10 more for three cylinders, but it saves me 25 minutes. That's an easy tradeoff.