Thanks Pete - this solvent smoothing is something I need to look further
into. Thanks.


"spaco" wrote in message
.. .
I recently saw them making plastic screwdriver handles on "How its Made".
After machining, they just dipped (submerged) the parts in "solvent" to
make the parts shiny. This provided the micro-melting needed to blend
machining marks, I guess.

Pete Stanaitis
---------------------

Den wrote:

I'm machining some small enclosures using PVC electrical conduit (off
white color). The electrical condut just happens to have the needed
ID/OD. I'm using acetone to remove the manufacturers ink labelling which
is marked down the pipe, but the finish still looks like water
pipe/conduit. I'm making them in batches of 20 or so.

Painting or dying is not really an option, I could spin them in the lathe
and take a light cut along the length but I'd like to avoid this if I
can. I thought about wiping over with solvent to soften and smooth the
top surface but this may leave "wipe" marks on the surface.

I tried to source clean PVC pipe without marking etc but I could not find
anything.

Does anyone have any other ideas on a quick simple way to finish the
external surface nicely?

TIA