7 replies to this topic

[JohnB]

After a bit of searching on the Lowes website for "Polycarb", all I was able to find was roof panels. Where can I find polycarbonate panels locally? 

 

I live near a Lowes and a Home Depot, and I'm not very willing to purchase online.

 

 

Edit: Also while on the subject of this, how much force can I apply to this before it breaks? I was thinking of making a pump-grip at some point and this is my only available option for a set of pump arms.

 

That's not all I'll be using it for though...

Edited by JohnB, 09 July 2016 - 11:50 PM.

[Spud Spudoni]

Unfortunately, you won't have much luck finding any polycarbonate at Lowe's or Home Depot. From my experience, they sell almost all plexiglass, which is slightly different in its tolerances. However, cutting board is a cheap, and strong material that can be used to make just about anything that polycarbonate can be made out of. I'd look into that.

[Aeromech]

Mcmaster is the place to get it in the US, member Spiderbite has a service here to get it for relatively cheap, and if you ask around, I'm sure there are dozens of people here that are willing to sell you some of their scraps. If you want to make pumps grip arms you can use steel or aluminum, polycarbonate would probably work but I couldn't say it would be ideal.

 

As for force application, it's a little more complex than that, It is all dependent on how the forces are applied and what kind of geometries the force will be applied to. Look for material data sheets or the appropriate moduli, and 15 minutes of googling will allow you to make the determination for yourself.

Edited by Aeromech, 10 July 2016 - 08:25 AM.

[The2ndBluesBro]

Call sign shops or plastic suppliers in your area, they will usually have scraps for sale that are more than large enough for nerf applications. You'll probably have to buy it online if you live somewhere with less shops, though.

[JohnB]

I was planning on using some parts of an old Erector Set, but I only have one long bar that would work. I'd need two. 

 

Cutting board sparks my interest. Is it a type of plastic? I'm cutting with a bandsaw, and if necessary I can always layer two pieces with epoxy if reinforcement is needed. How well would it accept paint (with or without sanding) just out of curiosity? 

 

edit: ...So the type of cutting board as in the type of thing that you use while cutting stuff with a knife??

Edited by JohnB, 10 July 2016 - 09:50 AM.

[Meaker VI]

Edit: Also while on the subject of this, how much force can I apply to this before it breaks? I was thinking of making a pump-grip at some point and this is my only available option for a set of pump arms.

 

That's not all I'll be using it for though...

 

Wood would work just as well in that case.

 

 

Cutting board sparks my interest. Is it a type of plastic? I'm cutting with a bandsaw, and if necessary I can always layer two pieces with epoxy if reinforcement is needed. How well would it accept paint (with or without sanding) just out of curiosity? 

 

edit: ...So the type of cutting board as in the type of thing that you use while cutting stuff with a knife??

 

Yes, a cutting board like you'd use a knife to cut vegitables or meats on. IIRC, the ones we look for are usually HDPE; but the trouble with cutting boards is that there is a *ton* of variety and they're not at all made from the same materials.

[The2ndBluesBro]

Cutting board sparks my interest. Is it a type of plastic?

As Meaker said, the ones we want are the thicker ones made of HDPE. If you can find a plastic supplier locally they will carry sheets of better quality HDPE. The stuff they use for cutting boards isn't as good quality, although it'll do if it's all you can find.

[CaptainSlug]

Home Depot sells LEXAN or GE branded sheets of polycarbonate, but the sheet sizes that they are likely to sell at your local location can vary widely. The one near me sells then 2 ft x 3 ft in three thicknesses. Other locations may only sell 4ft by 8 ft sheets in one thickness.

http://www.homedepot...E-102/202038069

 

Lowes also sells it but will (correctly) list the thickness in millimeters.

http://www.lowes.com...e-Sheet/3143411

 

Other potential brands you will see in your local store include Makrolon, Tuffak, Hyzod, and a few others.

 

As others already pointed out there are much cheaper options, from selling offcuts to re-purposing common products.

 

If you're just trying to make some long strips then you should consider aluminum strips or u-channel. Lowes and Home Depot have those near the threaded rod, yard signs, and mailboxes and you'll just need to cut it to length and add holes.