Red Line Components Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Any helpful hints ? I have the shape i want and hope that i can heat the sheet to drape it over then trim... sounds easy.. Thinking of using a heat gun then trimming with coping saw and file. Hints welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 We had a sort of letterbox slot thing with an electric fire radiant underneath to do straight bends (going back to school woodwork/craft workshop here) and more complex forming using moulds was heated in the oven of an old cooker. Can't remember what sort of temp for the oven though? Richard, you there? Ian Green and Silver Roadsport 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bare Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Kitchen oven works Fine.. assuming yr bits fit in.. Temp in my experiences run about 150 to 200d F! Beauty of Plexiglass is: if you muck it up.. just reheat it and it regains it's original flat sheet shape.. so you can try again and again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted March 11, 2005 Area Representative Share Posted March 11, 2005 Minty, What is it you're trying to make? I've made a couple of JPE style aeroscreens from 5mm thick perspex. I downloaded a couple of documents from www.perspex.co.uk , but they're no longer there! I recall that there were charts listing the temperatures at which the material would have what properties. whilst I have the facility to heat the material to the correct temperature (140 - 180°C, if I recall correctly), to handle and mould at that size would be tricky! I cut my material to shape and size, made a former to shape it around, and used a heat gun to heat and form a little at a time. Theres a fine line between soft enough to bend easily and too soft so that it sags and stretches under its own weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Line Components Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 I'm making headlight covers (not for a 7!) Is Plexiglass different to Extruded Acrylic sheet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 PLexiglass absorbs moisture IIRC - and this can lead to all-sort of problems if you try to form it with heat. It doesn't shatter readily, though, so is great if you can get it to take a natural curve (my AR7E Mk II screen is made from a UV-stable form - see here Acrylic - the stuff you get from B&Q etc., can be formed with heat - and is a b*gger to cut/bend cold (cracks easily). I made my MKI screen out of this stuff - what a pain! Project Scope-Creep is underway... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted March 11, 2005 Area Representative Share Posted March 11, 2005 "Plexiglass" is a trade name, just like "Perspex" - both acrylics - both come in both extruded and cast form, but I'm not sure what the differences are between cast and extruded. Edited by - Richard Price on 11 Mar 2005 18:34:20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Line Components Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 thanks for this chaps - the stuff arrives tomorrow so I'll have a play and let you know !! Richard - sounds like my planned approach, thanks. Presume the 'former can be made of wood or anything that wont melt!? Myles - you say the material used for Mk1 was a pain, what is Mk2 made of ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted March 11, 2005 Area Representative Share Posted March 11, 2005 My former is made of MDF and plaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted March 12, 2005 Area Representative Share Posted March 12, 2005 Minty, you may find this helpful here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Line Components Posted March 12, 2005 Author Share Posted March 12, 2005 extremely useful, have saved a copy. Thanks again. All i have to do now is apply the theory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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