Closed Purchase milky white 50mm x 3m acrylic tube
- Thread starter mborg10
- Start date
lizardking
IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
thanks for the update Michael
mborg10
Michael Borg
- Thread starter
- #36
I did some testing today on the acrylic tube to get it to bend into an arch. I made a form up using the lid of the shipping box.
first attempt - I had the tube empty and heated it with a heat gun. The acrylic was bending nicely but then it put a pretty decent kink in it. I quickly rotated the tube 180 and was able to bend the kink out before it hardened. That method just was give a good enough result.
Second attempt = I filled the tube with sand. I now had a 3m long 10 kilo wobbly tube that I had to support at both ends. The heat gun this time took forever to reach any sort of bendable temp and I forced it to hard and cracked the bottom of the tube. The sand inside, even though dry was drawing to much heat away from the tube and it would not reach a bendible temp.
Third attempt - This time I tried to heat the sand with the hot air gun. The hot air gun couldn't heat the full amount of sand required for the tube and it really burnt when it rolled down my arm.
Future attempt and what was always my original plan. Heat the sand in the oven, pour inside tube and bend around form. (As seen on youtube) I just have to make a support for the tube while pouring the sand in as the hot sand will cause it to bend prematurely.. Something to hold the tube as Im bending around the form and it has to be nice and easy so I don't burn myself.
It may sound like a bit of fiddly work but trust me the videos doesn't do the tube justice. Even my wife said it looks awesome and was worth the effort. She is sick of me talking about all the hassles of shipping "Acrylic Tube"
first attempt - I had the tube empty and heated it with a heat gun. The acrylic was bending nicely but then it put a pretty decent kink in it. I quickly rotated the tube 180 and was able to bend the kink out before it hardened. That method just was give a good enough result.
Second attempt = I filled the tube with sand. I now had a 3m long 10 kilo wobbly tube that I had to support at both ends. The heat gun this time took forever to reach any sort of bendable temp and I forced it to hard and cracked the bottom of the tube. The sand inside, even though dry was drawing to much heat away from the tube and it would not reach a bendible temp.
Third attempt - This time I tried to heat the sand with the hot air gun. The hot air gun couldn't heat the full amount of sand required for the tube and it really burnt when it rolled down my arm.
Future attempt and what was always my original plan. Heat the sand in the oven, pour inside tube and bend around form. (As seen on youtube) I just have to make a support for the tube while pouring the sand in as the hot sand will cause it to bend prematurely.. Something to hold the tube as Im bending around the form and it has to be nice and easy so I don't burn myself.
It may sound like a bit of fiddly work but trust me the videos doesn't do the tube justice. Even my wife said it looks awesome and was worth the effort. She is sick of me talking about all the hassles of shipping "Acrylic Tube"
lizardking
IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
can you make a tilt table with your form on it so you can tilt the table to fill then flatten the table out and put in the form
nzlongfellow
Dennis from NZ
My adventures for what it is worth.
I made some 1.2m dia circles from 25mm conduit. Heated the sand on the gas stove top.
It was very difficult to get the sand the correct temperature then pour it in, and get it full. Then allow time for it to soak (heat thru) before bending, and it did a reasonable job.
Seeing you have so many tubes it may be wise to invest in a heating snake that everyone can use.
Any element manufacturer would make one. Put a current control on it and dial up the temperature u want, do your bend then allow to cool. Like this guy.
Hot Snake Bender Full Demonstration or
How to Bend PVC 001 - The Basics
Just my thoughts.. 8)
OR Make one of these LOL "SPEED 5500" BENDING PVC PROFILE(Гибка ПВХ профилÑ)
I made some 1.2m dia circles from 25mm conduit. Heated the sand on the gas stove top.
It was very difficult to get the sand the correct temperature then pour it in, and get it full. Then allow time for it to soak (heat thru) before bending, and it did a reasonable job.
Seeing you have so many tubes it may be wise to invest in a heating snake that everyone can use.
Any element manufacturer would make one. Put a current control on it and dial up the temperature u want, do your bend then allow to cool. Like this guy.
Hot Snake Bender Full Demonstration or
How to Bend PVC 001 - The Basics
Just my thoughts.. 8)
OR Make one of these LOL "SPEED 5500" BENDING PVC PROFILE(Гибка ПВХ профилÑ)
mborg10
Michael Borg
- Thread starter
- #40
Sounds expensive and couldn't find anything in Google.
Another method I have seen is to heat it with steam but that doesn't solve the kinking.
I'm going to keep pushing with the sand method as you don't need to use as hot of temp to bend acrylic as you do PVC. 130 degrees will soften acrylic.
Another method I have seen is to heat it with steam but that doesn't solve the kinking.
I'm going to keep pushing with the sand method as you don't need to use as hot of temp to bend acrylic as you do PVC. 130 degrees will soften acrylic.
Bevo
Let your Light Shine before men
After looking at the guys heat snake. It looks like you could make one using a drain heater maybe like this one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PVC-DRAIN-HEATER-REPTILE-EGG-INCUBATOR-FREEZERS-SIZES-120W-80W-40W-240VOLT-/261093984144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3cca6a0790 and placing it inside the right sized flexible steel corro like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111402849001?clk_rvr_id=816859528534&crlp=1_262691&mt_id=641&mid=503315&sdc_id=1429443318z408587z4e073b0a25252z&fitem=111402849001&linkin_id=8084735&kw=%7Bquery%7D&crdt=0&sortbid=8
The flexible conduit would have to be close to the internal size of the tube and the flexible conduit will get very hot like in his video.
Might be an option?
The flexible conduit would have to be close to the internal size of the tube and the flexible conduit will get very hot like in his video.
Might be an option?
lizardking
IT IS STILL ALL BENS FAULT
Bevo said:
Hi Everyone,
don't hold me to it, but after watching the videos, I may be able to "find" some industrial trace heaters….. give me a couple of days… if what i'm thinking works out, then we could all mail it to each other and share it……then Michael can have it to clutter up his garage..
but I am on dogwatch and it is 2:49am, so i reserve the right to make stupid statements…
Michael, what is the internal diameter of the tubes ?
Cheers
Fing
don't hold me to it, but after watching the videos, I may be able to "find" some industrial trace heaters….. give me a couple of days… if what i'm thinking works out, then we could all mail it to each other and share it……then Michael can have it to clutter up his garage..
but I am on dogwatch and it is 2:49am, so i reserve the right to make stupid statements…
Michael, what is the internal diameter of the tubes ?
Cheers
Fing