[Jewelry making - Article 00766] - Re: [Orchid] Forming acrylic

[sinico]

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Hi Katherine,

    This is risky but I do from time to time form plexiglas. It's
    thermoplastic - I hope that's the correct term, in any event it's
    the kind of plastic which softens with heat, can be bent to shape
    when hot, and retains the shape after it's cooled down again. 

    I use a blowtorch with a bushy broad flame, gently, from a distance,
    to heat as evenly as possible the area I want to get soft, then bend
    the soft hot plastic over a mandrel of the appropriate shape, then
    when it's taken the shape spray it with water to cool it & freeze
    the shape before it sags or some awkward motion of my own messes it
    up. An assistant can be helpful. 

    As I said it's risky. Too much heat will bubble the plastic, a bit
    more will set it on fire. Been there done that. You might want to
    experiment with a few pieces of scrap to get a feel for how it
    reacts.


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