bow roller plastics

[bazobeleza]

I'm putting a secondary bowroller onto my bowsprit, but as its go to go onto and rotate around a 50mm dia tube that has no access either end, its got to be built up in semicircles of plastic bolted together around the stainless steel tube cross spar.

The question is does anyone know the key differences are between delrin, nylon 66 and HDPE, from what I can see delrin is the hardest but most expensive and HDPE is softer but often used for bow rollers.

Anyone with experience of these engineering plastics out there ?

Also anybody aware of anyone who will waterjet cut 2mm s.s. sheet in small quants (about 4 items) in the northwest without me needing a second mortgage?

 

[alahol2]

Another option that always used to be used for bow rollers is tufnol.

 

[Scarron]

In the application you describe I'd go with Delrin [acetal] = low water absorption, good UV resistance, excellent machining characteristics, generally available in black or white.

Nylon 66 is worse to machine, as is HDPE.

 

[majdrew]

I just bought some delrin from these guys..

http://theplasticshop.co.uk/delrin-acetal-homopolymer-sheet-rod-1444-0.html

Actual plastic is relatively cheap compared to the P&P...! still, overall I could recommend.

 

[andrewbodenham]

Can't help with the plastics, but for water-jet cutting you could talk to John at KCut Ltd - Whitegate, White Lund Industrial Estate, Morecambe, Lancs, LA3 3BT
Tel: +44 (0)844 88 00 730 e-mail: info@k-cut.co.uk
I've always found him very helpful for small and large jobs.

 

[ianabc]

High molecular weight plastic, same as used in breadboards/chopping blocks works well BUT black resists the uv best.

Used for many years here in the west coast in Brent Swains origami style 36 foot steel sailboat and others.