vaccum forming questions

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:04 pm

I read the stickies and this answer for my question wasn't available.

What kind of plastic are you using? What thickness? Where can I pick it up (locally AND online)?

Second, what are you using to make the mold of your case for the plastic to go over? Where can I buy this at? Will they accept ATM cards there?

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:58 pm

What kind of plastic are you using? What thickness?
0.08" Styrene

Where can I pick it up (locally AND online)?

Craft stores, I think. You can probably search for that.

Second, what are you using to make the mold of your case for the plastic to go over?
Many different things are used for the mold. Wood, styrofoam, even plaster. Anything that will hold its shape, but isn't too hard to be difficult to mold (Oak, Steel

), and not too soft to deform when you touch it (less dense styrofoam, or plasticine).

Where can I buy this at?

Home Depot, and other place that sells wood.

Will they accept ATM cards there?
Yes.

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:30 pm

What kind of plastic are you using? What thickness?
0.08" Styrene
Holy cracked baseball bat!!! Isn't that too thin? Or where you making a joke and meant 0.80? I looked a little into it so far and that seems more reasonable. =P

Where can I pick it up (locally AND online)?
Craft stores, I think. You can probably search for that.
Seems like I shouldn't have a problem getting it at Michaels or Rag Shop...

Second, what are you using to make the mold of your case for the plastic to go over?
Many different things are used for the mold. Wood, styrofoam, even plaster. Anything that will hold its shape, but isn't too hard to be difficult to mold (Oak, Steel

), and not too soft to deform when you touch it (less dense styrofoam, or plasticine).
Out of curiosity, will clay work too?

Where can I buy this at?
Home Depot, and other place that sells wood.
If I can use clay, I'll grab that from Ragshop or Michaels as well.

Will they accept ATM cards there?
Yes.
Just one more coil snake and a runaway dog...that'll get my dad to give me enough to fetch this stuff.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:40 pm

Ness wrote:What kind of plastic are you using? What thickness?
0.08" Styrene
Holy cracked baseball bat!!! Isn't that too thin? Or where you making a joke and meant 0.80? I looked a little into it so far and that seems more reasonable. =P

Almost an inch of plastic? Most plastic in consumer products is about 1/8 inch. I think 0.08" plastic should be ok, but since I don't have experience with it, wait for a second opinion.

Indigno · Post by **Indigno** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:42 pm

Depending on where you live, there's a craft store chain called Hobby Lobby that used to sell (I haven't lived near one in 5 years) clay, plastic, and Paraffin wax (and beeswax, too, but it's expensive) for cheaper prices than I saw at michaels.

Would paraffin wax work or would the plastic melt it out of shape?

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:43 pm

2 minutes of searching gave me this topic. Woot I'm in a signature.

http://www.benheck.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... +thickness

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:50 pm

After careful reconsideration, I have come to a conclusion that .08 is enough. Thanks! =)

I looked online for a HobbyLobby nearest location and there isn't one in my state...not even one close to my state...about a good 4-5 states away from me, so I think that's out of the question.

Does anyone buy this ONLINE? If so, where the heck you getting it from?

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:04 pm

all this stuff can be found in the sticky, just to let you know

yeah .080 is what youll need and i would reccomend making a plaster mold,

and the link to a place to buy it, i posted one in the sticky

first make a clay mold of what you want the form to look like (make it several inches thicker than the desired thickness)

then coat it in plaster (bout half an inch thick)

pop out the clay mold and either save the clay for something else or throw it out

grease up the plaster cast with vasoline

pour more plaster into that cast

break off the cast and you should have a plaster version of your clay mold

now you can fill in some of the imperfections in the plaster mold (if any) with bondo or whatever and then sand it smoothe

Indigno · Post by **Indigno** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:18 pm

would paraffin wax work? I know it's more expensive than the other options but I'm just surious as to whether or not the plastic gets too hot for the wax to handle.

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:12 pm

Hey Turbo Tax...I looked through the link a LOT better and saw your link hiding. That is exactly what I was looking for and those prices are good too. Thanks a bunch!!!

What would be easier is to make a sticky with the info organized instead of looking through post after post.

Now that I have that site saved, I just need to move into the new place, and then save the money to build the vaccum formed machine and once that is done, build away!!! =)

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:53 pm

great

im thinking about writing up a vac forming guide with links and pics soon probably wouldve helped here

good luck on the table too

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:09 pm

Did you build the one from the halloween site? If so, you should write one up because I was looking into making that same design. It would be easier to see how someone made the same design (or similiar/modified).

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:23 pm

yeah, it does a great job forming if i have time i will try and write one up soon (it may be hard with school starting though)

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:57 pm

I would think paraffin wax would melt under the heat of a vac-forming table, but I may be wrong. I would guess some kinds would melt, but more expensive stuff would hold up a little better.

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:58 am

Turbo Tax 1.0 wrote:yeah, it does a great job forming if i have time i will try and write one up soon (it may be hard with school starting though)

I understand what you mean! It's alright though...I have some time right now, and I have just about all the info I need. =)