Bending Plexi ?

[Darkboones]

Hey cool my first post! I have been in stereos for a while and have tried many things. SPL, SQ, Fiberglass! One thing I have never done and want to try is bending Plexi Glass. I know it has something to do with heat but I am not sure of the process. I would like to hear from you all about the different ways you do it. Links would work fine too! Thanx ahead of time.

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[Shyne151 10+ year member]

When I was in jr high, there was this machine that basically we sat a piece of pexiglass on it and it put out a straight line of heat. Left the plexiglass on there for a min then picked it up and u could bend it where that line was.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

i used this heat "tray" i sat the plexi on, heated the middle carefully, so i could bend it..

 

[nsain 10+ year member]

you can use a blow torch or a heat gun. From what I've done in the past, it has worked better with the heat gun because the blow torch can easily melt it and cause it to bubble.

EDIT--

you're from G.R ? I'm at calvin right now. yipee for another grand rapidian

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

Depends on the thickness.

Heat strips work really well for thinner stuff.

- Steve

 

[Darkboones]

What are heat strips or heat trays? Where do you get them or how do you make them?

 

[Darkboones]

EDIT--

you're from G.R ? I'm at calvin right now. yipee for another grand rapidian

Yeah G.R. is great isn't it! All the freezing weather. No frigin stereo shows. I had to drive out of state for all the shows I went to. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/driving.gif.c4dead4599dda895032b63e51f52b126.gif

 

[twistedcivic]

just remember not to hold the heat in one spot to long or you can burn it or put bubbles in it not a very good thing . //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/pullover.gif.ac2de04a20ebe8c72a715e86e00c8c0d.gif

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

What are heat strips or heat trays?

The one I used was simply two flat pieces of wood running parallel to eachother with a strip in the middle that produced heat. I don't know what was under it, perhaps a coil from a heater or something.

You'd put lines on opposite sides of the plexi and line them up in the middle of the heat strip (only about an inch wide). Bend it when it's not heated enough, it'll snap. Let it get too hot and it'll melt into the strip. Depends on the thickness of the plexi, of course.

Not all that complicated ... just takes some practice and a steady hand when bending.

- Steve