How to bend Acrylic?

[madman133]

Hey there does anyone here know how to bend arcylic? If so could you give me the step by step process? Thanks Mad

 

[caomt]

get a sheet of arcylic..torch.. straight part of a desk or outside cement wherever you can get an edge at..then you slowly toch it to bend.. not so close.start far away and heat it up and bend it.. thats what i learned from reading.. im not sure if theres any other way.. you could probably use other tools like a tool that they use for tinting.. a heat gun..

 

[mitzel]

I'm wondering if that shop on santa fe would do it for me ? I would be willing to pay for it. I know its very unforgiving when heated up to high. it will get bubbles and they wont go away.

 

[caomt]

heating it at a far distance and slowly moving in will not make it bubble.. would it?

 

[my way]

I have used a heat gun to bend a piece of 1/2 90 degrees With very little distortion. Bend it over a sharp square edge after removing the paper lining and go slowly moving the heat gun back and forth without stopping. I was told by a guy who has a glass shop you can bend it in a sheet metal brake, you have to get your bend right the first time, if you try to bend it a second time it will break. You can also flame polish the edges to make them clear again if they are scuffed from cutting.

 

[caomt]

thre you go.. from someone who has experience.. i just did most of mine reading and worked with mostly 1/4 they break really easy after you score it

 

[madman133]

hmmm after i saw the you have to get it right thr first time im starting we should just let the shop do it Mitzel

 

[psusocr1]

acrylic is awesome to work with!! (just make sure your working in a well-ventilated area when using the weld-on or youll go for a loop or two) i also 2nd the heat gun method , i put my heat gun on low and put it about 2 inches from the glass,,very slow process but works great.
also a hair dryer does work very well because you never have to worry about it getting to hott and bubbling the glass, it does however take longer but you want to take your time anyway!!

 

[madman133]

yeah the hair dryer could be a better choice for me then that way i could get it right.

 

[chipmaker]

I use an old electric oven or heat lamps (IR type) for all my bending needs. I also have a home made strip heater which works but most times the shop is too cluttered up to use it. The majority I bend is heated in an oven on a large flat cooking sheet, with the oven set 265 to 270 deg, no distorton and it readily conforms and contrary to what may be heard it does not smell or smoke up the shop..... A torch or heat gun is doable, but its hard to keep a larger area heated properly so its uniform and all it takes is a split second to get a bubble or blister. I do use a torch to flame polish edges though. I just ifnished making a custom hood (lots of bends to eliminate joints where possible) to fit my one bowfront tank and it came out looking great.