has it been done???

[jboehler04]

Hey y'all more experienced styrene guys I was wondering if you can heat up styrene and mold it into curves. My father in law was talking about how he can get kydex heat it up in the oven and make a holster for his gun so had me thinking if the same thought presses could be done with styrene?

[Calderwood]

Originally Posted by jboehler04

Hey y'all more experienced styrene guys I was wondering if you can heat up styrene and mold it into curves. My father in law was talking about how he can get kydex heat it up in the oven and make a holster for his gun so had me thinking if the same thought presses could be done with styrene?

Yes. We even have fine vendors on this forum that sell vacuum formed styrene parts. That's how vacuum forming is done. You heat a sheet of styrene until its pliable and then vacuum it down over a plug. It's the same way lexan bodies are made as well.

[jboehler04]

Right. I was jus wondering if you could jus heat it up and lay it over a plug or mold. I wanna make my own dually fenders.

[Calderwood]

Originally Posted by jboehler04

Right. I was jus wondering if you could jus heat it up and lay it over a plug or mold. I wanna make my own dually fenders.

You won't get any definition if you don't vacuum it down over the plug.

[sgtbham]

Originally Posted by nigels_world

You won't get any definition if you don't vacuum it down over the plug.

Thats not entirely true, Helicopter Len did exactly what the OP is talking about and it came out great.

Mid 80's Dodge Power Ram build

[Calderwood]

Originally Posted by sgtbham

Thats not entirely true, Helicopter Len did exactly what the OP is talking about and it came out great.

Mid 80's Dodge Power Ram build

Good catch! When I said you won't get any definition I was referring to just about every other dually fender. Body lines, marker light buckets and the like wont be crisp. The dodge fenders would be about the simplest. I just didn't want the op to think it will come out like a vacuum formed part.

[jboehler04]

Oh I know it wouldn't come out like a vacuum formed part. And don't get me wrong I'm not trying to make some to sell jus looking to try something new. it would be for a personal build and was wondering if it could be done.