I am trying to make some hangers and other parts out of Evergreen Scale Models strip/rod styrene. What can I use to bent without breaking the strips/rods? I have tried heat from a heat gun but the bent section will straigthen out before I can heat the next bend. And the same goes for using boiling water to soften the styrene. Does anyone have the answer?
How about making a jig. Kinda like for pipe bending. You need a post for each bend. Put the styrene in place, tape it and heat the whole thing.
I have had the same problem with Evergreen rod. I gave up on it and use copper wire instead when building handles or hangers. I get the wire from old electrical motors or electrcal cords. As to bending the strip and keeping it bent i dont know of a solution. Somebody may have a technique.
I’d try to shop around for rod/tube/stock that is as close to the shape you want first. If the hangers are for, say Tiger II track, Plastruct makes “Z” shaped strip and stock in several sizes. Visit their catalog; they make an enormous variety of shapes.
http:://www.plastruct.com
My hobby shop carries this stuff and I look at it and think it would be cool to make some building etc. Also, model ship parts can convert into some neat AM stuff.
I bought a sheet the other day of plastic that was not styrene. Started with “B”. It was unaffected by heat also, but bent well like metal. I needed to make headlamp covers and made a mold in a pice of wood, then pressed it and it has held the shape. If I find out what it is, I’ll let you know.