Shaping plastics

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:10 pm

Without anything fancy, whats a good way to shape plastic?

I was thinking maybe two wood/renwood forms cut to the shape could be used and a torch on the inside wall (So that possible bubbles wouldn't be visible)

Like this (Text style, bare with me):

Before
[a)....||....)b]

During
[a))b]

After
[a)....))....)b]

"[a)" and ")b]" being the forms, and "||" being the plastic that's being shaped. "))" obviously is the shaped final piece.

Theoretically, wouldn't that work fine? Like a press-form type thing? Just curious.

Post by **Triton** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:31 pm

vacuum forming is pretty simple
1. build wooden box with a hole for a hose and a top with holes in it
2. attach shopvac to hole in box
3. make frame to hold plastic
4. heat plastic and form over mold
5. ????
6. PROFIT!!!

if not that then just thermoforming is easy, heat plastic, bend and hold till cool. if it starts bubling your burining it

collinE · Post by **collinE** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:28 am

I agree w/ CTF. I thought making my vac former was pretty simple. Much simpler than what you described. I was thinking "whoa, that seems tough" when you described it. Maybe your idea would be better on a large scale though.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:20 am

I don't have the money to build a vac table. I'm literally tapped.

For me, this is even simpler than vacforming.

1: Heat
2: Press by hand between two shaped wood/renwood/other material forms until cool
3: Remove finished piece

For me, I'd prolly use Renwood cuz its easy to use, and has no grain, so it won't snap along a grain line like wood can when I'm shaping it. Plus its so easy to shape.. Also, I'll prolly only be using one form, which would be harder than using two, but easier to set up.

EDIT: I believe the process I'm describing is called "Heat-Pressing"... Could be wrong though.

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:35 pm

Depending on the type of plastic, this could work if done properly. I haven't ever actually tried it, but sounds good in theory (lol). If you try it, try to keep even heat across the whole thing (heat gun would probably work well? torch at quite a distance + constant movement?) with some distance between the plastic and however you're heating it. It would probably be too hot to comfortably use bare hands against one mold, but maybe with wood/ plastic home made tools or something? It would be worth trying if you have some extra plastic around (go cut a big piece out of the back of the TV in the living room, no one will notice - it's in the back.

). It would work, but you can't know how well until you try it. Just my thoughts.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:05 am

Neildo_64 wrote:Depending on the type of plastic, this could work if done properly. I haven't ever actually tried it, but sounds good in theory (lol). If you try it, try to keep even heat across the whole thing (heat gun would probably work well? torch at quite a distance + constant movement?) with some distance between the plastic and however you're heating it. It would probably be too hot to comfortably use bare hands against one mold, but maybe with wood/ plastic home made tools or something? It would be worth trying if you have some extra plastic around (go cut a big piece out of the back of the TV in the living room, no one will notice - it's in the back. ). It would work, but you can't know how well until you try it. Just my thoughts.

I got a pair of leather welding gloves. I don't think the heat transfer from pressing it into the mold will be a big problem, considering. And as I'd be pressing the inside of the case, I don't need to worry much about pattern transfer (From the gloves) by pressing it. Thanks for the concern and tips.

I'd use the TV plastic but my parents - my dad in particular - would notice. >.>... Oh well.

I'll post results.