Help finding styrene rectangle stock

cylon75 · Post by **cylon75** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:48 am

Dose any one know where i can get 1/2"( or close) solid square stock in ABS plastic or styrene ? I have found it in a tubing but i need it solid. Thanks

DennisH · Post by **DennisH** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:28 am

http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastics/=4qptam

This will get you started. I tried to link directly to the page you need, but evidently, only it goes to the main subsection.

Dennis

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:53 am

Would acrylic work? Despite the image, it's a solid rod.

cylon75 · Post by **cylon75** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:02 pm

I'm looking to do a scratch build of the Gemini ship from BSG and i rather use styrene or plastic ,i need it in a rectangle shape 1/2"x1" and i believe that i have the rest of what i need or will be able to get it easily
The guy in the 2nd post tried to help but they didn't have what i was looking for i even called them.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:28 pm

Is the 'spine' going to be some 16 inches long (or thereabouts), right?

For that size, you may be better off with tubing anyway, because tubing (in any convex shape) bends/sags less per unit of length than a solid with the same shape (really) under the same load. Under extreme load, however, tubes collapse/break while rods remain. The question: is the weight of the rest of the model enough to break a tubular spine?

cylon75 · Post by **cylon75** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:03 pm

[quote="Chacal"]Is the 'spine' going to be some 16 inches long (or thereabouts), right?...

I need it solid because i have to shape it. When im done the hole ship should be about 8"

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:06 pm

& acrylic tends to be stiffer than styrene and is available in a much, much wider range of shapes and sizes.

DennisH · Post by **DennisH** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:04 am

Well, they had what you were asking for before you changed what you were looking for.

Kylwell has a good suggestion. You could ask if someone here has a length of 1/2" x 1" x 8" acrylic.

Or you cuold laminate several strips of styrene if it has to be that material.

Dennis

Rocketeer · Post by **Rocketeer** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:59 am

Chacal wrote:For that size, you may be better off with tubing anyway, because tubing (in any convex shape) bends/sags less per unit of length than a solid with the same shape (really) under the same load.

I think you meant to say that tubing sags less than a solid rod of the same weight.

Woody · Post by **Woody** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:45 pm

Plexiglass laminates nicely. I laminate 1/8th strips together to turn on my lathe. I use acetone as my solvent to weld them together.