vac form - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: vac form (/showthread.php?tid=4152)

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vac form - OXO cube - 13th-Jan-24

hi guys 
bought one of these a while back 
[attachment=33437]
it did seem to do a good job 
it came with some clear plastic squares to vac form with 
but these were/are quite thick and too soft/flexible for screens/interiors etc 
so set it aside as an indulgent investment . but would like to to resurrect it
 
i was wondering what material everyone else uses for their vac forms ?
i am not the best when it comes to chemical compounds/plastic types or even internet searches . so links to specific products would be ideal in my case please

thankyou in advance 
Kev 

btw . UK based . therefore EU and other areas would sadly bring high shipping costs

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RE: vac form - Kevan - 13th-Jan-24

SNAP!

...used a couple of times only

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RE: vac form - JMay - 13th-Jan-24

SNAP 2...

Have a look at Dryad Education website under PVC vac form sheet, this is available in 0.25, 0.5 & 0.75mm thick,  in a roll cut to to metre lengths I bought a few metres of the 0.25 & 0.5mm and both vac form OK. 

On the vac former, I replaced the grill with one with much smaller holes to avoid using the steel bearings supplied and to increase the draw depth slightly. 

Cheers
           John

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munter - munter - 13th-Jan-24

[attachment=33448]

I like to use 250 micron PVC clear sheet but sometimes will use 200 or even 150 when trying for accuracy of detail.

Vac forming goes so well with resin casting bodies

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RE: vac form - Kevan - 13th-Jan-24

Those are lovely and crisp and sharp

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RE: vac form - munter - 14th-Jan-24

Thanks Kevan…. I strive for that…. anything blobby gets binned.

Also my set up is a home made contraption not a commercial one...so after some trial and error I have grasped the basics of the process and can combine the clear PVC sheet with some heat over a template on a mesh with air flowing downwards into a box...... with a degree of success.

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RE: vac form - Kevan - 14th-Jan-24

I think the main failing of the unit mentioned in the first three posts is the heater is far too vicious, if you're not careful the plastic you're trying to make soft will just burn a hole right through the middle.

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RE: vac form - JMay - 14th-Jan-24

These Vac form units are built down to a price, and one of the cost cutting measures, is that here is no thermostat on the heater so it heats up and up and up...

In use, I form one sheet then allow the vac former to cool down before I do the next one, that way you can use a stop watch to time pre-heat of the heater then the actual plastic heating so the settings are then constant and therefore repeatable, otherwise the heat time shortens dramatically and burns the sheet. 

[attachment=33450]

The plus point is that it will within the frame limitations and material etc create usable vac forms as above driver & windscreen. 

Cheers
            John

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RE: munter - Tibbs - 14th-Jan-24

(13th-Jan-24, 09:39 PM)munter Wrote:  I like to use 250 micron PVC clear sheet but sometimes will use 200 or even 150 when trying for accuracy of detail.

Vac forming goes so well with resin casting bodies

Munter your set up sounds really interesting. Have you thought about doing a thread on how you built it and how it works?

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RE: vac form - chappyman66 - 14th-Jan-24

I have one of these and it works great.   You do have to watch the heat but it's easy.

I use 0.020" lexan from Amazon but office supply "report covers" can also work.

[attachment=33452]

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