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Old 12-26-2016, 05:21 PM
billfunk29 billfunk29 is offline
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Default wheeling plastic

I know this isn't "metal"shaping, but I was working in the shop and had a wild thought to run a sheet of .125" PVC through the wheeling machine. At room temp it didn't seem to do anything. So, I took a heat gun after it and surprisingly, it actually worked a lot like metal.

Has anyone else wheeled plastic? Maybe I'll try the bead roller next.
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Old 12-26-2016, 05:34 PM
Overkill Overkill is offline
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Default Plastic

No, I haven't tried it, but that's interesting.

I know ABS has a low melt point and is used for door panels and a lot of bolt on stuff (A/C vents).
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Old 12-26-2016, 08:09 PM
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Joe Hartson Joe Hartson is offline
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Lexan is an interesting plastic and can be worked in a brake, slip rolls,bead roller, and with shrinkers and stretcher. I have only worked the thinner lexan, up to 1/8".

In a brake it will bend easily without cracking. Bend it fast, not slow. In a bead roller make sure there is enough clearance so you don't extrude the sides. The shrinker and stretcher does mark the material but it can be sanded and then flame polished. The curved shape produced with the shrinker does put stresses in the material and will show some stress marks, cracks that you can't feel in the material. They will grow larger with time. Everything that I have done so far has been cold, no heat.

You do not want to get acetone anywhere close to the lexan as it will eat it and any stress point will open up.
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Old 12-28-2016, 06:47 PM
billfunk29 billfunk29 is offline
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Default Wheeling plastic

I mounted the heat gun to my wheel and had another go at it. I think this will work for low crown stuff. Door panels??

heat gun.jpg
shape1.jpg
shape3.jpg
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Old 12-28-2016, 07:18 PM
Mike Rouse Mike Rouse is offline
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I have punched louvers in polycarbonate (Lexan trade name) for the rear vent window on Race cars. Works fine .
Mike
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Old 12-28-2016, 11:58 PM
steve.murphy steve.murphy is offline
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The Lexan might make for a good windscreen/windshield. Was there any distortion affecting the optics?
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Old 12-29-2016, 10:50 AM
Mike Rouse Mike Rouse is offline
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Steve,
There is some distortion because of the sharp bends. Overall it remains clear.
I will be installing 1/4" polycarbonate in my 1933 Chevy hot rod. All flat pieces.

Mike
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Old 12-29-2016, 10:57 AM
Mike Rouse Mike Rouse is offline
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I have been experimenting with plastic hardware mesh to copy a surface. I found some 1/2" square at Lowes. Using a heat gun I managed to get it ti conform to the bottom of a bowl. A couple of pictures are in my album.

Mike
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