Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.

[rockyrocket]

So I do like to bend plexi for projects now and again and usually just clamp two straight edges to the piece then go at it with a heat gun.
But memories of the proper heat bender we had at school make me Wonder if any of you have made one?.
I have heard tales of people making them by removing the element from hair dryers but wonder if there is a more elegant solution?.

[GregD]

Here is a link to the bending strip heating element sold by Tapp Plastics.  They also include plans to make your own bender.

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=169&

[Vigo]

75 bucks though....jeez, kinda breaks the bank for a socket plug wired to a strip of metal mesh. 

I think they are pretty cheap to make, here is one made from a toaster element.

http://www.sculpturegifts.com/pm/sculpture/plex_bender.html

[rockyrocket]

Both good food for thought, this is what i saw

[rockyrocket]

really just want something from here..
http://www.awltech.co.uk/heat_benders.php

[SavannahLion]

I toyed with it for a long time. Even have a couple of old wire-type heaters I might use (though I might repair them too. It's colder than a witches titty in the garage). I also experimented with heat bending PVC pipe too.

So far, I've been doing the same as you and using a heat gun for that. It's tolerable but it's tough to make professional looking tight bends.

I'm kind of torn between a vacuum forming rig or a heat bending rig, I only have enough heat elemnts for one really.

[bkenobi]

I don't have a use for either, but the vacuum former looks like it would be really fun to play with.  Maybe I should convince my wife that we could make fancy chocolates for gifts or something.   

[rockyrocket]

I don't have a use for either, but the vacuum former looks like it would be really fun to play with.  Maybe I should convince my wife that we could make fancy chocolates for gifts or something.   

Careful you were almost a man stating there was a tool he never needed!, saved it at the end though .
think at some point I will make one, maybe hinged with an angle finder attached.
Just need to go buy a toaster now and wait for it to break.

[opt2not]

Just need to go buy a toaster now and wait for it to break.

Just check out your local thrift store, or recycling center. I'm sure you can find an old one for like $5