Plastics that liquify

iisthemuffin · Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:28 pm

Im trying to make a piston and i dont have any hot glue or epoxy right now and no gas to go get either. What types of plastics will liquify so i can mold them?

Counterstriker · Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:42 pm

Not that I know of... What size piston are you making? Maybe we could give you substitutes.

iisthemuffin · Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:54 pm

1/2 inch. But i dont have anything the right size which is why im trying to melt something.

rp181 · Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:27 pm

anything, its just a matter of finding there melting point, and see if it decomposes.

Try PET (the stuff soda bottles are made off)

liquifies at 260C, softens at 70C

Try putting it in boiling water and pressing it into a mold.

frankrede · Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:31 pm

Thermoplastics!

Pilgor · Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:09 pm

you know those axe cans the size of chapsticks, those are 1/2 inch

iisthemuffin · Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:14 pm

If i were speaking of purchasing something i would purchase epoxy before that as i can use it more than once. Its goo information to know though. Just in case someone has one lieing around.

The dilema is over. I thought i had used all of my epoxy but turns out my dad found it on the dryer and put it in his tool box so it wouldnt dissapear.

I was in the kitchen throwing all kinds of plastic into a pot and he walked in like what are you doing? So i said im melting plastic so i can mold it. And he said why dont you just use that epoxy stuff you have? And i told him i used it. He said no you didnt its in my tool box.

Gee thanks dad. That would have saved me a few hours.

blind909 · Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:41 pm

For future reference, For a 1/2 inch chamber you could use marker caps with a little bit of rubber on the end.

iisthemuffin · Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:14 am

I tried that. It did not work. Well i take that back. I could only find the marker itself. No cap.

battlemonkey · Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:29 am

i know just the stuff. Its called shape lock. it comes in a tub and is thousands of plastic beads. you put them in hot water and you can mould it into any shape you want. its really strong when its thick and flexible when its thin. ive seen it and its also nice and slippery so it should be good as a piston.

Hotwired · Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:01 am

Also known as Polymorph but either way it's polycaprolactone plastic

The grip on my cannon's made of it.

If you can find a non-plastic mould to mash it into while it's soft it would work fine.

It has a horrible tendency to stick like tar to certain plastics when it's been softened.