Vac-Forming (At Last !!!) - Page 2

subzero · 11-04-2007

Useful info thanks...I have made one very similar, but with a deeper base so I can move the shelf up and down to accomodate deeper components.
I use mine in a grill cooker one of those little cheap electric ring things with a grill, its ideal..you need to keep an eye on it, the plastic card rises a little as the air beneath it gets hot then the card starts to sag, I switch on the vac at this time and remove it from the heat and hey presto.

**Bluewavestudios** · 11-04-2007

Thanks Sub,

Nice to see someone else using one of these too, The one I have posted up can be made to basically any size you want, I suppose it depends on the size of plastic sheets available and what you want to Mould with it. I find mine at the size it is now will cater for most things no problems.

Regards.......Mark.

DUNMINING · 03-06-2007

hi - i,ve just aquired a mattell vac - u - form machine (this one has some instructions) - i presume it works in a similar way - its very old and comes with plastic sheets but i,m after molding a couple of clear canopies with it when i get it up and running - any idea how i find some clear plastic sheet - many thanks, dave

bogstandard · 03-06-2007

Have you tried clear plastic pop bottles, make sure they're empty first. You can get a fair sized sheet out of a two litre one. Its only thin but you should be able to pull a fair depth if you get the temperature right.
Costs nothing, and you have nothing to loose. I have used it before now to form gun turret canopies for model boats by heating it up and stretching it over a male mould, with about 50% success rate, but if you are only after one or two it should be ok.

John

**Bluewavestudios** · 04-06-2007

Hi Dave,

I usually source my plastic sheet from my local model shop (when I can find one near me that is, they all seem to be disappearing these days !!) apart from that you could try the Pop bottles as mentioned by John in the post underneath yours, this does work well for small parts and some canopies too.

Regards.......Mark

DUNMINING · 05-06-2007

hi Mark - i had thought of the clear lemonade bottle idea but didnt mention it cos i thought it might be a diff type of plastic and poss catch light - still wondering about the power supply on this mattell machine - 2 pronged american bit of kit - i know i,ve been through this before but is anyone out there using one - dave

**Bluewavestudios** · 19-04-2008

Hi All,

Just thought I would share this one with you, found this video today which shows how easy it is to make a Vac Former very similar to the one I have described here.

Make a Vacuum Former! Video - Metacafe There is a quick advert in the middle but keep watching past that.

This guy is a regular contributor to this site and makes some cool gadgets.

Enjoy !!

Regards..........Mark.

Spyderman_uk · 20-04-2008

I just wish you could get peg board still!
I have been after some for a display case for ages and it is pretty scarce and expensive in this country now.

proplinergeek · 20-04-2008

Just a few lines Made a vac set up last year used a large stainless steel terminal box scavinged from scrap bin. Spent a long time drilling 1mm holes @ 10mm centres in a square of 12mm MDF which is secured to term box using pan heads in counter bored hole and a rubber gasket between the two . Vac entry via the original cable entry points enlarged and fitted with MDF to 'snug' up the pipe have a wet 'n' dry workshop vac which works well,For heating use a small electric oven/grill I got from Wilkinsons for £10.Frames from Hobbycraft designed for use with embriodery/cross point make ideal frames for holding plastic sheet for heating and forming. Will post some picies if any one interested

Allan · 22-04-2008

Hi,
I just don't believe this - I need one of these things urgently and I was trying to find an old friend I used to know who worked in a college as a technician. He built one of these vacuum formers. Unforunately he retired and is now not with us any longer so his experience went with him.
I joined this forum some while ago now, but have been ill since then, (not due to joining of course, <g>). and tonight is the first time I have had to reallylook at everything and get used to it. The first thing I landed on tonight was this thread! Is that luck or is that luck?
Grateful thanks to you for writing this up - it is just what I wanted. Well done indeed.
I'm still chuckling about this - it just couldn't be better and I'll build one tomorrow.
Best wishes and thanks again.
Allan