RCCrawler Forums

Tupers · 12-14-2007, 02:20 PM

Hi guys does anyone know if delrin can be bent. I have a 10mm sheet that Im making a skid plate out of and want to kick the edges up. Also can I cut it with a dremal fibre disc or am I better off with a saw?

Thanks Tupers

Double J · 12-14-2007, 03:06 PM

You can but that's kinda thick. I'd suggest rounding the edges with sand paper or something like router the edges. I usually use a belt sander to round the edges on some of my stuff.
If you really want to bend it use some heat.

you can cut it with a dremel but it'd take a while I'd think. use a saw. Jigg saw or even a router, skill saw, table saw.

_BEN_ · 12-14-2007, 06:31 PM

Band saw if you have one.

You can bend derelin pretty easily if you apply heat to it.

rcjeepbuilder · 12-14-2007, 07:30 PM

You could also cut it and then drill and tap the sides and bolt your sides on.

mrpink · 12-14-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcjeepbuilder

You could also cut it and then drill and tap the sides and bolt your sides on.

with 10mm thick piece, this is most likely your best bet.

try and bend it, let us know how it goes.

CCFBERG · 12-14-2007, 08:11 PM

I mill mine into shape! Dont like bending stuff if I dont have to except for tubing but thats easy!

clodstall · 12-15-2007, 09:54 PM

i use skill saw to bevel mine on a 45* angle or so.

mauromj · 12-15-2007, 10:35 PM

Anyone have an idea on how to bend delrin links?

Rockcrawler · 12-15-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double J

If you really want to bend it use some heat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mauromj

Anyone have an idea on how to bend delrin links?

jwcustomwurks · 12-15-2007, 11:06 PM

If you use too much heat when trying to make links you will make an ugly weak link. It'll sag on top and wrinkle underneath...and just look plain crappy. I use a microtorch to SLOWLY heat the link while constantly turning the link to help heat evenly. It takes a little practice but once you get it you'll get decent links. I also use a small vise I purchased from tower that holds round stock to bend it while hot....burnt fingers aren't any good

JW

mrpink · 12-16-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwcustomwurks

burnt fingers aren't any good

JW

sissy.

link to the vise? I have been looking for something like that...

jwcustomwurks · 02-16-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpink

sissy.

link to the vise? I have been looking for something like that...

sorry I just read this again. I'll see if I can find it.

jwcustomwurks · 02-17-2008, 12:03 AM

here http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLJ05&P=ML
It's a mini vise but it works well. There are also inserts available for a full size vise that are designed to hold round stock

here http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...111&lpage=none

smcurry83 · 02-20-2008, 02:19 PM

I actually used a sanding wheel to bevel the edges of my skid. It actually just melts the material away, but it's very controllable and turns out smooth. I also used that method to trim the my chassis after the rough cuts. Check out post #218 (Custom Chassis'd WK Crawler) or my build thread for pics.

skid plate · 02-21-2008, 08:39 PM

I bent some front links with a tubing bender I picked up at the hardware store. Used a heatgun, over bent them to a 45 deg angle then when I pulled them out they were at the angle I wanted. Just make sure you check them both for the exact angle you want. Worked great.

Blood_Clod · 02-25-2008, 04:29 PM

I'm never done bent delrin links but in my opinion i'd sleve it with aluminum foil or something then slowly heat it up with a heat shrink gun.... ?

FatGremlins · 02-25-2008, 07:06 PM

10mm thick? You have two options, fail before you start or start then fail

. Depending on the dimensions, that is going to be one hard ass piece of Delrin to bend. Your best bet is to either round off the edges or chamfer the edges aka cut a piece out at an angle.

As for the bent links. If your looking for beefyness, do not try to bend anything thicker than 5/16" dia Delrin rod w/o special tools. Your either going to try so hard that you will just quit, or get frustrated and burn the piece your tryin to bend

. I currently use 5/16" dia Delrin links on my 2.2 and bending them was one of the hardest parts of my build. And its quite possible that the only reason they were so hard to bend is because all four links are less the 3.5" long :?. If you use 1/4" dia Delrin rod then be careful not to bend too far too close to the edge of the piece. The force applied will cause the piece to snap like a twig.

As for using heat to bend Delrin rod. The heat being applied needs to be done slowly and evenly, as said above. But you risk damaging the piece before you actually get to the bending part. If the risk is worth the reward, by all means go for it. Or you can consider the alternative by using brute force. Place the rod into a vise or at an edge, of something preferably strong than Delrin, to try and force it the way you want it to go. By doing this you create a "bend start" as I call it, but only do this enough till you can visually see a bend. Then grab a clamp, one with rubber ends, place the rod between the two end and start squizing. The ends on the clamp will force the ends of the rod together and will bend it at the point you started the bend. Good work out too.

Hope this helps.

12-14-2007, 02:20 PM	#1
Tupers Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Great Britain Posts: 935	Can Delrin Be Bent?? Hi guys does anyone know if delrin can be bent. I have a 10mm sheet that Im making a skid plate out of and want to kick the edges up. Also can I cut it with a dremal fibre disc or am I better off with a saw? Thanks Tupers

12-14-2007, 03:06 PM	#2
Double J I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell. Posts: 3,367	You can but that's kinda thick. I'd suggest rounding the edges with sand paper or something like router the edges. I usually use a belt sander to round the edges on some of my stuff. If you really want to bend it use some heat. you can cut it with a dremel but it'd take a while I'd think. use a saw. Jigg saw or even a router, skill saw, table saw.

12-14-2007, 06:31 PM	#3
_BEN_ Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Torrance, CA. Posts: 282	Band saw if you have one. You can bend derelin pretty easily if you apply heat to it.

12-14-2007, 07:30 PM	#4
rcjeepbuilder I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: clarksburg Posts: 2,009	You could also cut it and then drill and tap the sides and bolt your sides on.

12-14-2007, 08:11 PM	#6
CCFBERG Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ramstein Air Base Germany ...ya Ive been Ramshafted Posts: 567	I mill mine into shape! Dont like bending stuff if I dont have to except for tubing but thats easy!

12-15-2007, 09:54 PM	#7
clodstall I lost my vendor privileges Join Date: May 2006 Location: TOP OF THE HILL Posts: 3,014	i use skill saw to bevel mine on a 45* angle or so.

12-15-2007, 10:35 PM	#8
mauromj Rock Stacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Spokane Posts: 96	Anyone have an idea on how to bend delrin links?

12-15-2007, 11:06 PM	#10
jwcustomwurks Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas City Posts: 337	If you use too much heat when trying to make links you will make an ugly weak link. It'll sag on top and wrinkle underneath...and just look plain crappy. I use a microtorch to SLOWLY heat the link while constantly turning the link to help heat evenly. It takes a little practice but once you get it you'll get decent links. I also use a small vise I purchased from tower that holds round stock to bend it while hot....burnt fingers aren't any good JW

02-17-2008, 12:03 AM	#13
jwcustomwurks Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas City Posts: 337	here http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLJ05&P=ML It's a mini vise but it works well. There are also inserts available for a full size vise that are designed to hold round stock here http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...111&lpage=none

02-20-2008, 02:19 PM	#14
smcurry83 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: somewhere Posts: 197	I actually used a sanding wheel to bevel the edges of my skid. It actually just melts the material away, but it's very controllable and turns out smooth. I also used that method to trim the my chassis after the rough cuts. Check out post #218 (Custom Chassis'd WK Crawler) or my build thread for pics.

02-21-2008, 08:39 PM	#15
skid plate RCC Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chuck Chuck Chuckin Rocks. Posts: 1,224	I bent some front links with a tubing bender I picked up at the hardware store. Used a heatgun, over bent them to a 45 deg angle then when I pulled them out they were at the angle I wanted. Just make sure you check them both for the exact angle you want. Worked great.

Sponsored Links

02-25-2008, 04:29 PM	#16
Blood_Clod Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ft. Wright, KY Posts: 435	I'm never done bent delrin links but in my opinion i'd sleve it with aluminum foil or something then slowly heat it up with a heat shrink gun.... ?

02-25-2008, 07:06 PM	#17
FatGremlins Rock Stacker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Austin Posts: 76	10mm thick? You have two options, fail before you start or start then fail . Depending on the dimensions, that is going to be one hard ass piece of Delrin to bend. Your best bet is to either round off the edges or chamfer the edges aka cut a piece out at an angle. As for the bent links. If your looking for beefyness, do not try to bend anything thicker than 5/16" dia Delrin rod w/o special tools. Your either going to try so hard that you will just quit, or get frustrated and burn the piece your tryin to bend . I currently use 5/16" dia Delrin links on my 2.2 and bending them was one of the hardest parts of my build. And its quite possible that the only reason they were so hard to bend is because all four links are less the 3.5" long :?. If you use 1/4" dia Delrin rod then be careful not to bend too far too close to the edge of the piece. The force applied will cause the piece to snap like a twig. As for using heat to bend Delrin rod. The heat being applied needs to be done slowly and evenly, as said above. But you risk damaging the piece before you actually get to the bending part. If the risk is worth the reward, by all means go for it. Or you can consider the alternative by using brute force. Place the rod into a vise or at an edge, of something preferably strong than Delrin, to try and force it the way you want it to go. By doing this you create a "bend start" as I call it, but only do this enough till you can visually see a bend. Then grab a clamp, one with rubber ends, place the rod between the two end and start squizing. The ends on the clamp will force the ends of the rod together and will bend it at the point you started the bend. Good work out too. Hope this helps.

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