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AlterEgos

I'm looking to vacuform some lenses and other things that require opaque and transparent colors, but haven't been able to find a good source for colored .060 or .080 plastic online.

What I need are a variety of colors and also advice on the best kind of transparent plastic to use for lenses and visors.

For visors, I've used PETG before, but can't seem to find it in any color except clear. I hear that other people have used acrylic and/or plexiglass, but I'm not to sure if my 5.0 hp ShopVac can pull that kind of stuff.

For the opaque colored items, I'd prefer styrene or something that is easy to pull without a vac-pump. I've heard of people using Kydex, but I don't really know how well it actually works.

Any thoughts?
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-John

spektr · Master Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 425

Dont beat it to death. if you are making visors, colored acrylic is available from almost anybody in a vast array of colors. IIWU, I'd be drape forming them instead of vaccuuming them. Eliminate the markoff issues, lack of forming headaches etc. Make a form, cover it in flannel, drop the acrylic on it and smooth it by hand wearing fuzzy cotton chore gloves. Piece of cake. I make LOTS of stuff this way from motorcycle windshields to helmet visors. You can get 3D and compound contoured parts this way. YMMV but I doubt by much. Keep it simple and remember that just because you CAN vac form doesn't always mean you NEED to vac form......... Scott.

AlterEgos · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject:

I understand what you're saying, but does drape forming work for small complex shapes or bucks with many angles?

For example, if I were to do a series of 1"x2" boxed shaped buttons (about 1/2" high) or a 6" high dome with a repeated hexagon pattern on it, would drape forming even be a possiblity? If so, could I heat the acrylic on the oven of my vac machine or would I need some other way of heating it?
_________________
-John

thebluecanary · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

AlterEgos · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

thebluecanary · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

AlterEgos · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

jegner · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

Yes, I did tint spme PETG using a warm water wash of RIT dye for a test of the X-wing visors. Worked like a charm! I even did some test with PETG for the RFT visors, with black, but learned that RIT uses different dye lots so the color did not match from one batch to the next. Still took the color great!

Jim