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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: rockyrocket on March 22, 2012, 03:53:06 pm

Title: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: rockyrocket on March 22, 2012, 03:53:06 pm
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?.
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: GregD on March 22, 2012, 04:24:35 pm
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& (http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=169&)
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: Vigo on March 22, 2012, 05:07:44 pm
75 bucks though....jeez, kinda breaks the bank for a socket plug wired to a strip of metal mesh.  :o

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 (http://www.sculpturegifts.com/pm/sculpture/plex_bender.html)
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: rockyrocket on March 22, 2012, 05:17:43 pm
Both good food for thought, this is what i saw
http://youtu.be/WQGoKUVfe6g (http://youtu.be/WQGoKUVfe6g)
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: rockyrocket on March 22, 2012, 05:19:11 pm
really just want something from here..
http://www.awltech.co.uk/heat_benders.php (http://www.awltech.co.uk/heat_benders.php)
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: SavannahLion on March 22, 2012, 06:31:03 pm
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.
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: bkenobi on March 23, 2012, 01:47:03 pm
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.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: rockyrocket on March 23, 2012, 02:02:50 pm
Quote from: bkenobi on March 23, 2012, 01:47:03 pm
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.   :cheers:
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.
Title: Re: Has anyone made thair own heat bender?.
Post by: opt2not on March 23, 2012, 02:54:51 pm
Quote from: rockyrocket on March 23, 2012, 02:02:50 pm
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