posted
I have used plexiglass before but I've always used flat pieces. I want to make an enlosure cover that is sort of bubble shaped. I was thinking of making a form and then laying a flat sheet of plexi over it and using a heat gun. Has anyone tried this? If you have how thick was the plexi and how did you do it? I'm just wondering if it will bubble or discolor when I heat it.
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make sure the form you make is strong so you can press down on the plexy to get an even bubble, or you'll end up w/ some parts not all the way down.
a heat gun should work, but be careful not to burn it or get it to hot. just run the gun over it evenly, and don't stay in one spot too much. you want it all to start to sag at the same time. if ur looking to make corners there are things that are heat bars made just for bending plexi also.
and for thickness, if its for an enclosure, the thicker the better. try to get 3/4"+ if not then you may be stuck w/ trying to get two 1/2" pieces to fit together. warp one, then coat in in clear epoxy and warp the second one on top. the epoxy should dry clear and it will look good if you take your time..
good luck, and i hope this helps.
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posted
make an oven with a small heater and some metal big enough for your form and pieces this will spread the heat evenly. i have bent 3/4 succesfully this way.
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Posts: 3655 | From: Florence, al | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
If you are just bending it at an angle you can use a heat gun to heat it then bend over a straight piece of wood or other straight edge.
If you want a compound curve, like an actual bubble shape, there's a couple ways to do it.
1. Find a local shop that works with plexi and have them do it. =)
2. Build yourself a little vaccuum chamber that can hold the plexi around the edges, put the chamber in your kitchen oven set at 300 degrees then vaccu-form the bubble
3. Build a form in the shape you want the plexi, mount the plexi to the form then put it in your oven and let the plexi drape into the form.
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Posts: 431 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
the concrete oven will work well.....i've used it before just don't try to do it in your garage. a jet type kerosene heater works well but be carefull how ever you do it because it can be very dangerous if you're careless.
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