I teach middle and high school Industrial Technology and Industrial Arts. One of our local businesses donated some drop off pieces of Lexan and acrylics sheets that I will use to teach plastics bending. We have a new heat strip bender on the way. I never thought about using a heat gun. That opens more possibilities for us. Thank you, Ken
I came across this video for something I needed to do for work, and it came to mind when I remembered my middle school tech-ed teacher doing exactly what you mentioned. He incorporated it with hand drafting an engineering drawing of the design we wanted. Im 31 now and a mechanical engineer, and wanted you to know that what you're doing is something that will stay with some of your students into their adulthood / careers. That's also the same class I learned about sanding and buffing (on the flat edges to remove sharp corners). Keep it up!
Love love love your quick tutorial. I was absolutely absorbed by this video surprisingly in my inbox when I was looking for Perspex when Bunnings didn’t have it and wouldn’t cut it for me as found out about it on the internet. Thanks and I hope to see more 28/8/24 Amanda of Newcastle NSW Australia.And your voice is so beautiful and encouraging to hear and to listen to with your advice and feedback to believe in yourself Keep up your great work and I loved it all
Glad I found this channel. I have been looking for hand guards for my Harley 2018 Fat Bob FXFBS. All the ones out there stop at 2017. I am going to try to make my own.
Great video! I was looking for ways to bend acrylic so I can finish making a custom aquarium cover. Right now I made all the cutouts for the filter, heater wire and air hose but just having a flat piece with the edges sticking out doesn't give it a very "finished" look. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
I got plexy glass and will be doing that too to protect screen from throwing soft darts. the little tv will be mounted under dartboard and wanna protected from flying darts. my tv is just 24 inches. I was just gonna add velcro to hold plexyglass infront of tv screen. but after watching your video I was thinking maybe folding plexyglass on top of it to anchor it to tv instead of using velcro??
I'm excited to have found ur channel. So far I've watched 2 videos and only needed to watch one time and I was able to understand & learn information. Style of teaching is perfect for me so after the holidays I will also be looking at ur website. I like doing Diys A LOT & I have a couple ideas that I would like to start my own business. Some of my ideas though I need educated on different materials to make decision on what best fits product ideas & etc... a lot of research & knowledge to see dream become reality so I'm sure you will hit on plenty of topics & information im looking for, til next time God Bless & Much Love - Mel
Hey hi, i love the way you explain about bending plexiglass, after watching so many vids & not understanding anything of what was being said, i was fortunate enough to give your video one last try & lucky i did coz i finally understood your easy talk. I want to learn how to make an acrylic bird cage similar to a hat-box. With a slide on lid. It’s so i can catch my birds to bring them for walks!
This might work. I have old bathroom mirror with 2 florescent lights on each side and the plastic cover broke on one side. And I can't replace whole mirror set up. But I can up grade this. This will dress it up nice!
Thanks great video ! I have to make a good shield for my grinder. after watching your video I now have many ideas. what a good glue to use on plexiglass ?
Perfect, Thanks man! I just needed something quick, and this is it. I also went to your channel and subscribed as your knives are awesome!! Im really excited for the tomahawk video I saw and the circular forge sunk it! Also interested in etching....Bill
I read somewhere that Lexan Polycarbonate could be bent at room temperature. This looks like you're working with plexiglass, which as I understand it- is a different material, could I get your advice on the matter? And also, if it does need to be heated, would a hairdrier have enough heat to at least get me to 45 degree bends safely? Thank you!
Hair dryer can work, depending on the dryer and the thickness of the material you're using, but will almost always take longer to heat up and often results in a more rounded edge or can cool before a 90 degree angle can be achieved. Check any hobby or materials store or Harbor Freight Tools to purchase an inexpensive heat gun. Or you can DIY an acrylic/plexiglass/Lexan/plastic "brake" (plastic sheet bender), seartch You Tube for a number of DIY examples and tutorials, many even show how to add a heated coil to the bender that is used to heat the material for bending so you don't even need a heat gun, although having a heat gun does provide you with more flexibility (as in, more options) for bending different shapes and sizes.
Hi, nice video, anyway, I need to bend at 90 degrees but with a larger radius. Do I have to heat all the radius surface, or line by line could be suficient ?
Thanks for the video! I am looking to discover how to mold Plexiglass in a box shape for display cases. If I was to construct a form is it possible to bend Plexiglass into a one piece box? Or, would I have to do it in separate pieces? I have zero experience working with this stuff and would love to gain some.
Great vid thank you. I want to add a lip to my car spoiler and plan on using plexiglass that's about .5in thick and the shape 8s basically a square stick that's about 4ft long, what's best way to conform it to the shape of the car trunk?
Thanks, great video. You have an image at the start of your video where the plexiglass is bent back 180 degrees to form a sign holder. How are you doing that
Just found found your channel....Thank you so much. I have a question, Is it possible to bend one piece of plexiglass for form a box..one piece only Would love to see that
It can be done, but like the man said, it can be difficult. "Easiest" way (somewhat): Start with a decent size piece of paper or cardboard you'll use to "practice" with and eventually can be used as your template to transfer onto your acrylic or plexiglass sheet. Figure out the dimension you want to make your box, as in, the size of the area (N x N) of one side. This number has to be equal in length and height since a square is equal on all sides. For example, to make a box 1 foot on all sides (height, width and depth) each line segment will measure 12 inches (N=12", so 12" x 12" on all four sides of your squares). Using a ruler or straight edge, draw a square in the middle of your paper or cardboard, in this case 12 inches on each side. Now, add squares of the same size to each side of that first square, forming a "cross" shape (+), with a total of 5 equal size squares. Now add ONE last 12 inch square to the end of one of the four squares you drew on each side of the first square (+-), this will be the 6th and final square that is the "lid", so to speak. Now cut your paper or cardboard around the outside lines, making sure to keep any lines where a square touches another square in tact and uncut. Now you should have a cross-shape with only one end longer than the other three. Now with your paper laying flat, fold it "up" at each of the lines, so that it encloses on itself to make a box, with all 6 equal sides. Now, after a little experimenting with folding it all together, you may find that you need to add about 1/8", depending on how tight you are able to bend your plexiglass, the added 1/8" accounts for this "loss" of length at the bend. This 1/8" is only added to a line NOT TOUCHING ANOTHER SQUARE. In other words, the first square in the middle will stay the same at 12" x 12" x 12" x 12". But for the following 4 squares you will add 1/8" to just one side, the outter side that is opposite of the side touching the middle square (when laid flat). Once you have somethimg on paper you like, transfer it onto your acrylic piece, or follow the same steps and draw it on your piece. Follow the bending instructions above or try using a bending brake that can use a heated coil to soften the material for bending, these usually provide a more crisp bend closer to 90 degrees (you can search You Tube to find a number of tutorials on how to DIY one). Finally, you can use a product like Weld-On 4 that is made for bonding/fusing acrylics together to "glue" all the seams together and enclose your plexiglass box. Another way is to take all 6 equal cut squares and bond them together to create a box or cube, but realize that this requires some practice and experience using Weld-On 4 or other simular acrylic bonding products to avoid making a mess and learning the bonding time and techniques to make a straight, clean bond, as well as learning ways to polish up your end result. Hope this helps!
Great video. Can you tell me how hot does the heating gun need to be or temperature ? I have a sheet PET Sheet Panel - 18" x 24" x 0.04" Plexiglass. Will the heating gun bend this sheet? Thanks
You can check out Harbor Freight Tools for Heat Guns ranging from $17 to $70 (some corded, some cordless) and a 9-piece Heat Gun accessory kit for $7. This page on their website shows all the heat guns and the accessory kit: www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/heat-guns-knives-seamers/heat-guns.html (This is NOT an affiliate link and I do not receive any commission if you choose to buy anything, I'm just providing the information as a courtesy). You can look at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart or any hobby and craft stores for more styles and options, but these tend to be more expensive. And of course there's always Amazon. To see some options for cutting acrylic, check out Home Depot's selection (items available vary from store to store): www.homedepot.com/s/acrylic%20plastic%20cutting%20knife. Hope this helps, good luck!
Basically the same material propertiers as far as bending is concerned. I use a heat gun and brake to bend acrylic, plexiglass, polycarbinate, etc. all the time, some with minor adjustments in technique specific to the material being used but all with excellent results.
