Plastic source....

[Greg Koch]

My neighbor started a small laser engraving business in his garage and showed me his equipment. I asked him where he got his plastic, and he explained he got it at a plastic shop for $1.50/lb...from their "scrap" box in the store. So today, I stopped by and picked up about 13lb of various thicknesses and tints...from clear, to blue to dark smoke. The largest pieces they "scrap" are about 10 x 12.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Woodworking/th_IMG_2520.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Woodworking/IMG_2520.jpg)

I plan on using it for some jigs and stuff for my shop. There are a lot of them in various books, especially Bill Hylton's Router Magic.

I also stopped at Sears and picked up a plastic cutting blade for my Band saw.. BTW, the tires arrived and I got the wheels cleaned up, lubed, and everything back mounted and tuned on the saw. She works well for a small saw and should be perfect for the plastic work too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Woodworking/th_IMG_2511.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/Woodworking/IMG_2511.jpg)

Anyone else make jigs/tools out of plastic?

[Jim Becker]

If you are doing anything that involves making "guards", it's best to use Lexan or the equivalent, rather than common Plexiglas and other plastics. You can probably get scraps and cutoffs from the same local plastics supplier you already raided if it was not in your initial "haul". They can also sell you the proper solvent to "weld" these plastics together should that be useful to you. (Must be used with good ventilation and a respirator...contains MEK)

[Greg Koch]

Thanks for the info, Jim. I'm thinking more of things for the router, templates, guides etc. I'll ask about the Lexicon and "weld" this weekend or so. I have a resperator mask, and I'll probably do any solvent work outside.

Greg