David Jenkins
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| posted on 26/12/05 at 09:38 PM |
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Plastic sheet or board?
Folks,
I'm currently installing a boot in my car, and I'm getting close to the stage where I'll have to devise a cover. Originally I was
going to do it in aluminium, but then I thought about how to finish it, and so on. So I'm looking for alternatives.
I've seen some nice boot lids done by the Plastic Tank Man (where is he now?) and I was wondering what material that was. It's a tough
black plastic, about 5 or 6mm thick, and had a grainy, "leather-look" surface on one side.
What is this stuff, and where would I get some?
cheers,
David
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Triton
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| posted on 26/12/05 at 09:56 PM |
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Most industrial plastic suppliers sell it, along with nylon,acetal etc.......google or yellow pages.
My Daughter has taken over production of the damn fine Triton race seats and her contact email is emmatrs@live.co.uk.
www.tritonraceseats.com
www.hairyhedgehog.com
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chrisg
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| posted on 26/12/05 at 10:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Folks,
I'm currently installing a boot in my car, and I'm getting close to the stage where I'll have to devise a cover. Originally I was
going to do it in aluminium, but then I thought about how to finish it, and so on. So I'm looking for alternatives.
I've seen some nice boot lids done by the Plastic Tank Man (where is he now?) and I was wondering what material that was. It's a tough
black plastic, about 5 or 6mm thick, and had a grainy, "leather-look" surface on one side.
What is this stuff, and where would I get some?
cheers,
David
I think it's polypropalene.(sp?)
I'll ask the tank man.
he's chained to a radiator in my basement.
Cheers
Chris
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Mike R-F
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| posted on 26/12/05 at 11:33 PM |
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The material you're looking for is called Foamex. It's a rigid polyprop & comes in 3,5 & 10mm thick sheets. It's used in the
exhibition industry by the likes of myself & has fantastic dimentional stability & its light. Foamex is a trade name for the best of this type
of product. Don't go for anything like foamcore or foamalux. As mentioned, look in your local Yellow Pages for Plastics-Stockholders. Only
downside is it comes in sheets larger than you'll need but it's not expensive. Easy to cut & shape. Available in Black (ideal) or
white.
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 27/12/05 at 01:04 AM |
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Hi ,
I'm not familiar with the stuff the tank man uses but we have a supply of ABS from a firm that makes dashboards and plastic panels for coaches
and trains- it can be warmed up and line bent as well as vac formed, one side is smooth and the other has leather grain rolled into it. It contains
some rubber which is why it is used in areas where it might have to take a few knocks. It is much denser and stronger than the foamex stuff.
We have used it for kick panels in kit cars and to water proof bench seat tops and to line luggage bays, and inside Mini boot lids, also made battery
covers, rot proof battery trays etc etc - looks very pro.
If you can't get fixed up locally send me the sizes and I'll see what we have got here.
Mike
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 27/12/05 at 09:33 AM |
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Mike (trextr7monkey),
Your ABS sounds like the stuff I was thinking of - I'm after a hard, almost rigid board and that sounds about right. But polypropylene sounds
right as well! 
2 questions:
1. Can you shape and machine ABS easily? (e.g. could I soften the edges with a wood-working router?)
2. Is it easy to glue it together? (I want to glue some locating blocks on the back)
cheers,
David
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 27/12/05 at 07:51 PM |
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ABS is wonderful to work with compared to more brittle acrylic type plastics- cuts with jig saw or bandsaw, can be filed sanded, wet and dry papered
then buffed on edges to get a good finish.
Only problem is fast tools cause it to melt before you get the bits apart (if sawing) or you can fill your workshoop with the smell of rubber if over
enthusiastic when drilling.
Most operations are done just as if it was a bit of plywood or mdf.
If you want to bend the edges or curve the sheet you need to warm it up, we have a hot wire bender which warms up a strip allowing very neat fold
lines to be made. You can get the same result using a hot air gun to warm it - not too hot as it bubbles and ruins the surface, but once warmed it
goes quite floppy and you can bend it over the edge of a bench, work top, broomshank or whatever you want. If it doesn't work out first time you
can reheat and try again but the finished job always looks a bit naff! The ideal is to get it in a big oven and then you are almost into vacuum
forming country - 3D moulding etc difficulty is getting an oven big enough- trythe guy at the local pub one night when it is very late or one of those
pizza ovens would do if youcould get the heat down a bit!!
Re sticking bits on the back evo stik works quite nicely or you can use the pipe weld solvent from B and Q, equally it takes rivets, nuts and bolts
etc as long as you dont tighten them so hard that they pull through!
Hope this helps
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 27/12/05 at 09:06 PM |
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Sounds like a pre shaped sheet of ply or MDF placed underneath before warming up would be useful for forming a nice edge?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 27/12/05 at 09:35 PM |
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Mike - many thanks.
I'll have to see if I can get some locally (otherwise I'll be in touch! )
rgds,
David
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mandbsheldon
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| posted on 28/12/05 at 01:10 PM |
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Has anybody use a sheet of carbon fiber?
If so where did you get it from and how much?
Leigh.
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