Does anyone know how to bend a polystyrene sheet?
For my next project, I need to bend a 1cm thick polystyrene sheet. Does anyone know how to do this? (thermal, chemical?...).
Added on May 4th: just to be sure, I'm talking about EPS (expanded polystyrene). The white isolation panels.
Added on May 4th: just to be sure, I'm talking about EPS (expanded polystyrene). The white isolation panels.
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Polystyrene will soften under a grill. You may need to mask it in some way -foil wrapped around card? Keep an eye on it though.
L
L
I'm not sure I fully understand your remarks about the wrapping. Do you mean protecting the rest of the sheet of being exposed to the radiation of the grill?
Yes. If you wrapped some card in foil, you'd be able to cover most but leave a strip of plastic exposed to the grill. On some kind of baking-sheet, heat it, remove it, fold.
You'll find it easier than a hair-dryer I think.
L
You'll find it easier than a hair-dryer I think.
L
Ok, thanks. I think the hair dryer is going to take some time as boiling water had little effect. Just have to find a fairly large grill!! The sheet is approximately 80 x 40 x 2 cm and I have to bend it in just one place.
Oh right. If you could find an old toaster you might make something?
L
L
Hey, that might work...add wheels to it so that you can control the distance to the sheet and gradually heat a larger stretch. That's an I'ble on itself!
I'll let you know.
I'll let you know.
If you don't mind, I want to pick your brain just a little bit more...
When I was talking about polystyrene, I was talking about EPS (expanded polystyrene, you know the isolation panels). Where you aware of this, because something tells me we were talking about different things. Are we?
When I was talking about polystyrene, I was talking about EPS (expanded polystyrene, you know the isolation panels). Where you aware of this, because something tells me we were talking about different things. Are we?
Oh, you're not going to bend that. You could only manage a "crispy bit" for your corner.
Cut it and glue it.
L
Cut it and glue it.
L
The sheet is 80 x 40 x 2 cm and I have to bend it on one place.
That's a BIG piece of plastic !
TWO cm thick ? You'll struggle there with a traditional bender then. I think you will have to look at ovens instead, something bigger than domestic.
Can't you just weld the pieces together with solvents ?
Steve
TWO cm thick ? You'll struggle there with a traditional bender then. I think you will have to look at ovens instead, something bigger than domestic.
Can't you just weld the pieces together with solvents ?
Steve
It's big indeed! I think I can reduce the size to 1 cm thickness, but still that's fairly thick.
Welding, mm..., maybe, although it's going to be part of a sandwich panel.
Welding, mm..., maybe, although it's going to be part of a sandwich panel.
May 2, 2010. 11:03 AMBurf
says:
Definitely heat. The best way is to use a form to bend the sheet around and very gently add heat and pressure, bending the sheet around the form and then holding it in place until it has cooled.
Polystyrene has a low melt point so you've got to go slow and easy.
Polystyrene has a low melt point so you've got to go slow and easy.
May 2, 2010. 1:19 PMBurf
says:
It may, on the hottest setting. Hair dryers vary so much its difficult to say for certain, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
+1
I have heard that dunking the sheets in boiling water is a good way to soften them, but that was for sheets much thinner than 1cm.
I have heard that dunking the sheets in boiling water is a good way to soften them, but that was for sheets much thinner than 1cm.
mm... means you have your doubts?
I quickly tried emtying boiling water of a kettle onto the sheet, but no real effect. Maybe I was to hurried.
I quickly tried emtying boiling water of a kettle onto the sheet, but no real effect. Maybe I was to hurried.
A hairdryer probably won't do it. I'd look at a hot air gun for paint stripping, if you are only doing one off, or I would take it to someone with a proper bender - lots and lots of schools have them - I know my son's has, because I've used it. You'll have to heat 10mm thick stuff VERY carefully and slowly.
A paint stripper sounds good. This "proper" bender is based on some kind of a grill as well?
Hi Bertus,
A grill would suggest it does an area, no, the "bender" is usually a long, nichrome wire, which is heated by electricity. there is a long slit in a fireproof sheet, and the hot wire beneath. You put your bend line over the slit, and turn on the heat. Too much, and the plastic burns before it is hot through.
Steve
A grill would suggest it does an area, no, the "bender" is usually a long, nichrome wire, which is heated by electricity. there is a long slit in a fireproof sheet, and the hot wire beneath. You put your bend line over the slit, and turn on the heat. Too much, and the plastic burns before it is hot through.
Steve
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