For sale signs: cheap styrene?

[zaphod]

I seem to remember about a year or so ago there was a discussion of cheap, subversive sources of styrene sheets. I used the search function, to no avail. Wasn't someone saying that a particular brand of 'for sale' sign fits the bill? Please review and advise.

Brian the somewhat forgetful

[Darkov]

Yep you can use for sale signs just fine. Most of the signs are .013" thick. they can be bought just at just about any hardware store for under a dollar. Some of the larger signs are thicker (.100"). These work well if you don't have access to a plastics supply shop. I bought a 4'x8' sheet of .02 for $18.00. Just look in the yellow pages under plastics suppliers.

[Lt. Z0mBe]

I seem to remember about a year or so ago there was a discussion of cheap, subversive sources of styrene sheets. I used the search function, to no avail. Wasn't someone saying that a particular brand of 'for sale' sign fits the bill? Please review and advise.

Brian the somewhat forgetful

I use the yellow "POSTED: NO TRESPASSING" signs They seem to be about .020 of an inch thick. They're great for building just about anything where scale isn't a concern.

I hope this helps.

Kenny

[Mr. Badwrench]

Be aware that some yard signs are vinyl, not styrene.

[zaphod]

Brad, do you mean the sort of vinyl that they extrude for window frames? Just wondering. If that's true then I might be able to tell the two materials apart by flexibility, such that styrene seems slightly more rigid. I will definitely be wary of the vinyl signs.

[Mr. Badwrench]

Yes, it isn't too hard to tell them apart.

[Bar]

If you have a yellow pages to hand, look for a local vac-forming company.
Usually they order immense amounts of material, and might not mind ordering some for you(Adding a small amount onto their order from the wholesaler company, and letting you have it at cost).
Also, because a lot of their work requires lots of scrap, they might let you rummage around in their scrap bin to salvage stuff you can use but they would send back to be recycled(Another avenue if you have an eye for interesting shapes, is look around at the tools they have sitting in their workshops. Usually a bag vac-forming company will make things which make a scratchbuilders knees go weak, and will let you have a few forms for next to nothing!).
Turn up at the place and have a quiet word with the receptionist(They will usually get the boss in to have a quiet word to see if they can help you). They are usually very helpful.
I have a good relationship with my local vac-forming company(They made me copies of the Jedi Starfighter).
If you turn up(If it's not too far away from you) and be nice to them(Obviously, you offer to pay whatever they want, but they usually give you off-cuts for nothing). It's better to speak to them in person, because it's harder to say no to someone who's standing next to you than it is on the phone...
If you are respectful to them, they will help you again and again.
Bar.

[zaphod]

Heyyyyyyy........
That's great advice Bar. I'm all over it! 8)

[Bar]

No problemo.
It's an avenue few people would even consider.
Let us know how you get on with it.
Bar.