microwave-styrene experiment

[afx]

33 minutes ago, aurfalien said:

Hi JC,

Man your warez look incredible.

How close do you hold the part near the flame and for how long?

Whats an indicator that the heated part is ready to bend?

I've tried this and end up blackening and ruining the parts.

Thanks Brian. 

• I pre-bend the section (I only use solid rod not tubing)
• I then hold the section over the candle until I feel the tension release - only takes a second or so.
• I hold the shape until it cools then the shape is set.
• It is definitely a trial and error method - I ruin of few myself 

[aurfalien]

Just now, afx said:

Thanks Brian. 

• I pre-bend the section (I only use solid rod not tubing)

Hmm, this to me is the critical component and sets up everything else.

How do you pre-bend it?

[afx]

16 minutes ago, aurfalien said:

Hmm, this to me is the critical component and sets up everything else.

How do you pre-bend it?

I bend it with my fingers or round needle nose pliers.

[aurfalien]

11 minutes ago, afx said:

I bend it with my fingers or round needle nose pliers.

I see, thank you JC.  This gives me a great starting point.

Thanks again.

[STYRENE-SURFER]

10 hours ago, afx said:

I like the candle method.  I've been successful fabricating some challenging roll cages and headers using it.

Beautiful work JC, Do you find any difference between Plastruct and Evergreen?

I'd like to try that other kind (not quite typical Styrene) that you can find on Ebay, just haven't ordered any yet.

 

[afx]

13 hours ago, STYRENE-SURFER said:

Beautiful work JC, Do you find any difference between Plastruct and Evergreen?

I'd like to try that other kind (not quite typical Styrene) that you can find on Ebay, just haven't ordered any yet.

 

Thanks Kurt.  I personally prefer Evergreen, but my LHS stopped carrying it for a while so I had to switch to Plastruct. I haven't noticed much difference.

[peteski]

I'm surprised that microwaves would heat up polystyrene (or any kind of plastic for that matter).