posted
Or anybody else,I have a client that wants Sintra boards bent,to make them self standing, I got a quote from a plastics supplier,$1300ca.too much!Now Mr.Grundy said Sintra bends easy,well how much extra do i add onto the boards for the stand?I know i use a heat gun,then do I bend them over a pipe er what? These are gonna be laid back "L" shape if ya get what I'm sayin.I really dont even want to attempt this if its hard to get them level or hard to bend them.Thanx to all who reply. Steve
-------------------- "I can draw anything but unemployment" Steve Spiry Madd Artist Murals&Signs Brandon,Mb. Canada Posts: 66 | From: Brandon,Mb. Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
You didn't mention a size..... But "LEXAN" can be bent in a metal break....just bend it a little past the angle you want it to stay in. Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use either a torch or a heat gun on PVC. Figure uot where your bend should be and then heat evenly along that line until the piece is supple enough to bend. Take care that you do not scorch the surface (too much). Use an oven mitt or gloves and bend the section over a dowel. Smaller dowel for smaller radius bend. You may need to re-heat in the process.
Once you have achieved the desired bend, hold for a moment or two as it cools. If you cut a line along the bend prior to heating, you can achieve a right angle. On many standing signs I use PVC for the substrate and glue a PCV stand to the back. Works pretty good.
-------------------- Jeff Vrstal Main Street Signs 157 E. Main Street Evansville, WI 53536 1-608-882-0322 Posts: 670 | From: Evansville, Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Tne width of the panel would make a difference. We have a machine at the shop, that heats and bends PVC in a straight line a maximum of about 3" deep. I think the maximun width is just 24" though, maybe 18". We learned the hard way not to set it on a PVC covered work table while working though. Created waves in our days old table cover.
posted
Steve..Basically what Jeffrey and Beth said. It really is easy to bend it with just a heat gun. If you want a consistent bend in a whole bunch of them, just make up a jig at the desired angle and bend every one to the same angle. If I had to bend 1300 pieces that were 4'x4' I would gladly pay a supplier to do it for $1300, but if you are only doing a few hundred and they are a fairly small size I'd say go ahead and do them yourself.
Like I said...It is easy stuff to bend.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Thankx to all of you that replied,I'm gonna bend em myself, I found a long heating element I'm gonna try, My bud Oreo said he used this option before and it works like a charm. Thanks again for the replies,all were very informative.If this dont werk I'll try the heat gun,method next. Steve
-------------------- "I can draw anything but unemployment" Steve Spiry Madd Artist Murals&Signs Brandon,Mb. Canada Posts: 66 | From: Brandon,Mb. Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Steve, there are commercially available strip heaters for bending, but they are just a long thin heating element in a protective box. So you are on the right track.
You heat the seam where you want to bend with the heating rod, then bend it. For consistency you will want to do it Dave's way - make a little jig so they all look pretty much alike.
Our strip heater came from Johnson Plastics in Minnesota. Most of our runs were a few hundred pieces. You will want to make a few extra, as the production people lose concentration on the long runs and mess up one from time to time. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanx fer all the replies just one more question, If the sign is 18"H x 48"L how much bigger do i cut the board, do i add on a foot to the 18" or is that too much? Thanx Steve
-------------------- "I can draw anything but unemployment" Steve Spiry Madd Artist Murals&Signs Brandon,Mb. Canada Posts: 66 | From: Brandon,Mb. Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic