Prices for plexiglass or acrylic sheet...

[Lt. Z0mBe]

Wise and Sagely Starship Modelers,

The completion date for my house fast approaches. The wife and I are doing a lot of the work ourselves. I have a basement full of free lumber and have been granted free reign over a 2100 square-foot unfinished basement.

I wish to construct large, sealed display cases. I've worked out scalable plans for said cases. I've purchased all the hardware. No I just need to purchase the acrylic or plexiglass.

I've looked around the interweb trying to find some prices on sheets of the stuff, and I can't really find anything definite for the small quantities I'd be interested in.

I have two questions. Which is more expensive for .50-inch thick sheet? Also, do you guys know of any prices I can compare so I can get an idea of what I'm in for?

Thank you in advance for the help.

Thank You,

Kenny

[Johnnycrash]

Grab your yellow pages, and look under plastic. And check with the local glass shop as well. They do more than just glass. If they don't have what you need, they probably can find it for you, or point you in the right direction.

As for 1/2" plexi... Ouch. That's going to hurt. You don't need anything over 3/16". And good ol' glass may be an alternative to consider. While you are talking to the glass shop, as for prices for plate glass.

[DennisH]

You can also check Lowes or Home Depot for sheets of plexi. Look in the "windows" section.

HTH


Dennis

[TER-OR]

WOW, half-inch plexi? I've got a little - scraps from Neil's previous job. It's cool but it's gonna cost you.

Do you need that kind of strength?

[REL]

I just bought a sheet of 1/2" plexi 30" x 20" and it was $80 just to give you an idea.

[Lt. Z0mBe]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I never considered a glass shop.

WOW, half-inch plexi? I've got a little - scraps from Neil's previous job. It's cool but it's gonna cost you.

Do you need that kind of strength?

I think I do. Here's why. My design is a basic wood frame. I want to attach the sheets from the inside via wood screws. Think like a aircraft greenhouse canopy scratchbuild with acetate pieces added. In this case, though, the canopy's big and rectangular and the acetate's really plexiglass or acrylic. Think of a Velveeta box turned on its end.

I figure it will have to be plexiglass, as I want to attach the plexiglass directly to the frame.

Am I sensing any make?

Kenny

[Kylwell]

Badwrench has some polycarb. Or there's US Plastics.

Uhm, why 1/2? That's mighty damned thick, bulletproof in fact.

Go with the polycarb.

[Lt. Z0mBe]

Badwrench has some polycarb. Or there's US Plastics.

Uhm, why 1/2? That's mighty damned thick, bulletproof in fact.

Go with the polycarb.

Holy cow that's some serious cheese! Maybe a .100 sheet would work.

Kenny

[Mr. Badwrench]

How much do you need?

[DennisH]

I think 1/2" is overkill and then some. And it's going to be really heavy.

It all depends on the size of your case. How big are you going to make it and are you just making doors or is it going to have a clear top like a store display case?

Get something thinner, like 1/8" or 3/16" and use the money you save for more models!


Dennis

[Kylwell]

Unless you're building a frameless case, the .100 will work fine.

And if you are building a frameless case....

[Bar]

Which is more expensive for .50-inch thick sheet? Also, do you guys know of any prices I can compare so I can get an idea of what I'm in for?

Holy moses!
Half-inch plexi...
Are you making a tank to hold two hump-backed whales?
8)
I have a stack of plexi(About 1/16th of an inch) that i bought from a local DIY store for about $5 a sheet(It's about five feet by four feet).
I have it all earmarked for a 1/1000 RSD...
Good luck on your display cabinets!
And be sure to post pics when you have them done.
Bar.