Questions about a step in vacuum forming.

CB2001 · Post by **CB2001** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:24 pm

I have a couple of quick questions about one step in vacuum forming. I know that when it comes to vacuum forming, you need to head up plastic before using a vacuum form table to make what you need. Now, I live an in apartment with an electric oven, but I fear of using it to heat up the sheet of plastic for vacuum forming. I'm wondering, is it possible to just use a heat gun to heat up the sheet while you are vacuum forming or do you really need to use an electric oven? What's the detail difference between using a heat gun or an electric oven?

Rogviler · Post by **Rogviler** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:37 pm

In my experience a heat gun doesn't provide even enough heat, so when you're heating up one section the last section you heated is starting to cool...

But if it's only like a 6" square it would work. Larger and I'd use an oven. As long as you control the heat there's nothing to worry about.

-Rog

CB2001 · Post by **CB2001** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:45 am

Okie dokie. Thanks for the info.

Wug · Post by **Wug** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:59 am

If you're not doing big pieces, You can use a toaster oven.

If you don't need one immediately, check yard sales. I think I paid four bucks for mine.

Mike

Mark Yungblut · Post by **Mark Yungblut** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:44 pm

When I worked for Kenner we had a gigantic vac machine that would do it all for you. However we also had some small table we used for pulling things and we would use a heat gun and go as large as 18" or so with the heat gun. The key is even heating with the gun. it's tricky until you get used to it then it is a breeze. the really nice thing about the gun is once you have the sheet pulled (while it is hot and the vac is still on) you can nudge things by softening areas that are not seating fully.

Either way, the plastic is gonna fume cause you are heating it to nearly it's melting point.

Cheers,

Mark

CB2001 · Post by **CB2001** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:37 pm

Mark Yungblut wrote:When I worked for Kenner we had a gigantic vac machine that would do it all for you. However we also had some small table we used for pulling things and we would use a heat gun and go as large as 18" or so with the heat gun. The key is even heating with the gun. it's tricky until you get used to it then it is a breeze. the really nice thing about the gun is once you have the sheet pulled (while it is hot and the vac is still on) you can nudge things by softening areas that are not seating fully.

Either way, the plastic is gonna fume cause you are heating it to nearly it's melting point.

Cheers,

Mark

Thanks for the heads up, Mark.