styrene question

hey guys, i just picked up a pretty nice pack of styrene sheets over at michael's. i dont know how it compares to evergreen (since ive never used it before), but i know that the varies in thickness are very limited.

Anyway, i was wondering if there was an easier way to cut out all of my parts from the styrene. i am originally just using a dremel tool with a small cut-off wheel. i tried scissors, but that ended horribly with throwing cracks all down my sheet. i was wondering if there is a better tool for this.

Also, i was wondering if bending styrene in hot water is a better idea than over a open flame..

anyways, thanx for your help!

hey, usually the styrene, at least the one i use, you can bend w/o too much heat, and doesnt crack using scissors. The thickness i use is .020 inches, and it works well for multiple situations like body kits, subcases, and other misc items. Hope this helps

wat kind of styrene is it because i use .020 an .040 and i never had problems with scissors. whats the thickness on it

Hey man,

How much did you pay for how much styrene? Are you certain it is styrene and not some other plastic compound? Who makes this plastic you bought?

Frank X.

Most Styrene sheets can be cut with decent scissors. The thin sheets cut just like paper, the thicker ones might be a bit more difficult and require a bit of clean up, so be aware of that.

okay, well i think that this type of styrene is more like (just plastic)
i do like it for one reason, but hate it for another.

i do like how it is extremely clear, and can be used for windows if needed. if anyone could do it, im sure it could be melted/bent over something to make entirely new windows.

the only thing i dont like about it at all is that it cannot be cut wiht scissors without shattering, and it can barely be bent into form unless it melted.

i found it at the local michael's craft store. i think it is used for those stained-glass project things, and thats about the area i found it at. The major perk is that i got package with two 8.5x10 for only 3-4 bucks i think?

here's a pic.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/20808711.JPG

does it give a thickness on the package? if it is thin enough, it would be good for the side windows on some pro mod projects i have coming up

oh, the reason that it is cracking on you is because it is clear. clear plastic is much more brittle than that with pigment

Exactly what Russel said, clear plastics are much more brittle than pigmented stuff, same is true for resin.

Also, it could be something like acetate or acrylic which can often be brittle.