Best way to Form/Bend Styrene?

[mike@af]

What is the best way you guys recomend to bend/form styrene and get it to stay in that particular shape. I imagine heating would work, but wanted to see what you guys do.

What about compound curves? What do you guys do when you need to make a compound curve, because styrene doesnt stretch like metal.

Just want to get some ideas here.

[SonyMobile]

your right, Heat.

I use the heat of a candle to bend mine, Im positive that a little bit of time in boiling water would also work.

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by SonyMobile

your right, Heat.

I use the heat of a candle to bend mine, Im positive that a little bit of time in boiling water would also work.

I was thinking maybe a heat gun, or hair dryer?

[willimo]

Candles are an intense heat at a small point. It takes a lot of care when using to bend large peices of plastic, and small ones too. I would suggest using a heat gun with the little metal plate attached to the tip, so that hot air is not blown onto the plastic, but instead the heat of the air around the plastic that warms it. Boiling water works the same way, but you can't stick your fingers in the water. Compound curves are difficult, and you will have to make the plastic stretch by using heat, and may require you to use a form to stretch the plastic over.

[ol' dude]

depending on the size of strene, you can get 14gauge solid copper or 12gauge solid copper and cut it a 1/4" shorter than the piece of styrene. insert the solid copper and bend. yes it will hold its shape without kinking the plastic. i have used this method on 1/12 scale custom chopper frames.