I have used delrin and more recently acetal for years as slip washers, top hats and guides with no issues. Acetal machines much nicer than delrin. Regards Max
I have used delrin and more recently acetal for years as slip washers, top hats and guides with no issues. Acetal machines much nicer than delrin. Regards Max
Plinkerer and Tinkerer
Nylon is not as slippery as many plastics, and it does swell but usually from absorbing water.
Are you looking to simply reduce friction on the end face of a top hat ? If so, it might be worth considering using UHMWPE tape, it's commonly sold as "glide tape" by 3M amongst others. It's extremely abrasion resistant and nearly as slippery as PTFE.
I haven't used the tape myself, Delrin (acetal homopolymer) or plain acetal copolymer have worked well enough for my tinkering.
I have already used nylon on the piston end without a top hat but these washers (when they arrive ) seem to be almost perfect for the other end.
I wish to reduce metal to metal contact, yes to reduce friction for a smoother feel.
The more I think I know, the more I realise the less I know.
Wondered what suggestions there might be for using a tape type of product, would it be best to wrap a washer, steel or engineering polymer with a couple of windings & use it like that? With the possibility of some rotational movement between components would it be prone to 'bunching up' or even being scoured away with use? Ultra high molecular weight tape might be good but nylon comes in many grades so maybe it's still be a suitable candidate. Delrin is funny stuff to machine but it can be cut cleanly but as you say not everyone has a lathe & off the shelf components are the way to go.
I've just bought a load of UHMWPE tape, quality 3M brand type 5423. It's 25mm wide.
https://www.3m.co.uk/3M/en_GB/p/dc/v000074901/
https://www.finecal.co.uk/products/3...film-tape-5423
It's a strange feeling tape, when you rub two surfaces of it together is doesn't feel that slippery, but when you add a load of pressure to the surfaces it feels just the same, then you push the surfaces together as hard as you can and it still slips just the same.
Anyway, I've got a load of it for making jigs for my new workshop, if any airgun tuners, who have posted on the subject, would like a few inches for the price of postage send me a pm. You can send me a stamped addressed envelope and I'll send you six inches back, until I run out of spare.
No rush, it will be here for a while. Please share your experience for the benefit of other tweakers.
Last edited by Born Again; 13-04-2024 at 11:36 PM.
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Delrin is Acetal, it’s just a trade name.
Lots of plastics out there. Most of them will absorb moisture to some degree so could swell a small amount if moisture is present.
PTFE is too soft for some applications and will readily deform. There are several useful lubricated Nylons like Nylatron or Oilon.
My favourite though is a hard plastic with PTFE fibres in it called Ertalyte TX. It is nice to machine and has a low coefficient of friction.
https://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/ert...-rod-tube.html
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