Workable Plastics Other Than Styrene?

[John Clutch]

Looking for a solid rod with a diameter of 5/16" (.3125) and polystyrene seems to be only offered in tubes. Looking to make a few components such as turbos, air bottles, etc (nothing structural) and was wondering if any of these materials would be a good subsitute for polystyrene. Im looking not to  turn down 3/8" rod if I dont really need to in this case. These items are available at McMaster Carr. It looks like some materials can be bonded with Gorilla Glue but Im not sure about paint. ABS is not available in that diameter.

Nylon, Acetal, Delrin, PVC, Teflon, Recycled PTFE, Polycarbonate (lexan), Acrylic or Clear PETG

Thanks in advance, Clutch

[dptydawg]

 

I use plastic knitting needles for shafts and rods, They machine well and work with styrene   glues. In Canada they are sized in millimeters I'm not sure how they are sized in the States.  5/16th = 7.91 mm therefore an 8mm needle would be the equivalent size. 

Carl

[John Clutch]

Carl, thats brilliant. That you very much!

Edited February 14, 2017 by John Clutch

[Dann Tier]

Plastruct has what you need, and a hell of a lot more!!!

[John Clutch]

Plastruct has what you need, and a hell of a lot more!!!

Yes Dann, I see they have 5/16" clear Acrylic rods but wasnt sure about the material or if there was a better substitute or not. Thank you sir

[Dann Tier]

Yes Dann, I see they have 5/16" clear Acrylic rods but wasnt sure about the material or if there was a better substitute or not. Thank you sir

Wish I could send you my catalogue, they have 2-3 different types of plastic rods, tubes, solid square, hollow square, ext. they also have all the adhesives, and they tell you what is compatible with what. they are a HUGE architectural model company, so they literally have EVERYTHING.

[John Clutch]

Wish I could send you my catalogue, they have 2-3 different types of plastic rods, tubes, solid square, hollow square, ext. they also have all the adhesives, and they tell you what is compatible with what. they are a HUGE architectural model company, so they literally have EVERYTHING.

Maybe Im not looking through the website properly. Ill take another lookie at it later. Thanks again!

[afx]

Evergreen is what I use.

http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Shapes.htm

Edited February 14, 2017 by afx

[Greg Myers]

Go to your local watering hole, order up a nice cocktail, save the swizzle stick. The make great tail lights in the right color.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nylon, Acetal, Delrin, PVC, Teflon, Recycled PTFE, Polycarbonate (lexan), Acrylic or Clear PETG

Nylon, Acetal, Delrin, Teflon and PTFE (also Teflon) are "self-lubricating" plastics and typically do NOT bond very well to each other or anything else without specialized or exotic adhesives.

Acrylic and Lexan (polycarbonate) will bond nicely with methylene chloride, which is in a lot of liquid plastic glues. Read the labels to be sure. 

PVC bonds well with plumbing pipe cement and primer.

PETG also often requires a special adhesive.

[John Clutch]

Thank you all for your responses, its appreciated. 

[oldcarfan]

Are you going to be lathe turning it? I like the knitting needle idea. I had a friend that used those use those and he would also pour resin into PVC pipe and then put it into the lathe. The PVC would be cut away in the milling process and the resin was easy to work and easy to glue later.