Styrene Tricks

[jdacus]

Ok so im planning on building a simple interior for my tube buggy and I've played with some styrene before but im not to sure if im doing it right? For instance if im going to put two pieces of flat styrene together to form a 90 degree angle, should i just stick them together and put some bondant on them? Im sure there's little tricks out there like on how to make a good cut without using scissers. I want the interior to look good but not with extreme detail.

Any tips will be greatly appreciated

[Mr.Joshua]

I use a straight edge and an Exacto knife with a SHARP blade. Make several passes and then you can "snap" it at the score line. I use a file to to make the cut edge as flat as possible. Then you can just glue it together...a tight fit is crucial for it to be a strong joint. You can use a square to keep it right at 90° if necessary.

I usually brush a little more on the inside of the angle to make sure it is glued well.

Good luck and have fun

[jdacus]

Do you think it would be a good idea to ruff up the two pieces your going to glue together?

[Postclanker]

absolutely...also ruff the surface up before youi glue it together if you'r e going to paint it...it's sure a lot easier to ruff up than waiting till after

[ToTheMAXXcrawler]

Patience also. Take your time in setting up your joints and try not to move them until they are totally dry. Styrene is great because you can get really creative with it. Have fun!

[romulus22]

Depending if your going for a razor sharp 90 or how long the piece is you can just bend the styrene to make a stronger 90 than gluing two pieces together.

If the piece is short enough, easier the shorter, spread your styrene glue where you intend your 90 to be. as the styrene softens you should be able to make a pretty sharp bend without snapping the styrene. Hold until the styrene hardens again and done. Bending over a hard, sharp 90 helps to.

[THX_138]

Originally Posted by romulus22

Depending if your going for a razor sharp 90 or how long the piece is you can just bend the styrene to make a stronger 90 than gluing two pieces together.

If the piece is short enough, easier the shorter, spread your styrene glue where you intend your 90 to be. as the styrene softens you should be able to make a pretty sharp bend without snapping the styrene. Hold until the styrene hardens again and done. Bending over a hard, sharp 90 helps to.

Best tip you can get right there. I do the same... Lay a couple runs of of your tenax down the line you wish to bend, let it soften a moment and then bend and let harden.....

[Mr.Joshua]

That's a pretty sweet trick...fo sho. I'll definitely be using that!

[jdacus]

Originally Posted by romulus22

Depending if your going for a razor sharp 90 or how long the piece is you can just bend the styrene to make a stronger 90 than gluing two pieces together.

If the piece is short enough, easier the shorter, spread your styrene glue where you intend your 90 to be. as the styrene softens you should be able to make a pretty sharp bend without snapping the styrene. Hold until the styrene hardens again and done. Bending over a hard, sharp 90 helps to.

So this does the same job as just heating it? This is deffinatly something ill try, Thanks

[bob1961]

i used a carpenters knife and steel ruler to score .060" thick once and snap it....then i have 80 and 100 grit sand paper stapled to pine boards to give it a once over after cutting it....i use tenex 7R plastic weld to melt styrene together, some times using thin CA to hold stuff where i need it........bob

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[hotwheels000]

Score the styrene with the backside of your exacto blade...less chance of it drifting off course.

There is a product called # 3 weld, hands down the best product I have ever used to bond styrene and abs.

http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/pdf/PB-IPS3.pdf

Ebay has it but I would by the pint or quart size from a local dist..,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IPS-Weld-on-...-/320423413417

[BigSki]

instead of an x-acto knife, I use a utility knife. I can get a better score line w/ much less effort. You can put styrene in a pot of boiling water and let it soften up, then you can bend it but you have to work quick, as soon as it starts to cool it will hold the shape.

[OTHGbronco82]

I just use my moms embossing gun. I think it's kinda like a heat gun. It gets really hot and can melt the styrene.

[romulus22]

Ive tried heat before. Too hard to concentrate it on just a fold line. wants to shrink and warp the plastic.

I have seen a build thread, I think on here where someone built a table using a heat wire which concentrated the heat better than a heat gun. I just don't do mass building so it wasn't for me

here you go that was easy to find

My Homemade Heat Bending Table

[jdacus]

Hey guys thanks for the tips I've already build a few things for my buggy. Using the back side of an x-acto makes cuting perfect lines easy. Aslo roughing up the joints that your going to bond makes it bond much faster and has more strength.

Thanks

[matt_22]

Were can I buy styrene plastic from?

[romulus22]

check your local hobby/craft stores. A couple vendor stores on here probably carry it too.

I like to buy it in person so you can see and feel what your buying instead of going off of measurements.

[bob1961]

Originally Posted by matt_22

Were can I buy styrene plastic from?

i use tower for my styrene orders, lots to chose from........bob

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[matt_22]

Cool thanks.

[KMS]

I was tring to bend a small piece of styrene in my bending brake and it snapped,,, makes the straightes lines,, I have ever done,,