Tabletop vacuformer

Creative Arts
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So we’ve had a tabletop vacuformer in the CA room for a bit. I’ve saved it from the donation pile a few times. @mreynolds is going to work to get the machine into a nicer more workable state. I purchased a heater and additional sheets to help him get to the finish line. Please let him do what he do so well and we will keep you updated on the progress. Looks like the sheets will be in the $1.50-2 range and this will be a machine that you will need to take a class on to operate. She be small (12X12) but she be mighty.

http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/12_x12_Hobby_Vacuum_Former_p/vf-12x12-vac_former.htm

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This looks great, but what kind of heater is available to use?
Also, this is a great start to getting vacuforming back at DMS. I’ve heard from Alex that 2 larger machines have come and gone due to lack of use.

I’ve seen some larger models on that website, and I would definitely have use for a 2’x2’ model if the funds were available to get it.

eBay item for a similar tabletop model.

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Hummmm… Whish I knew about this before I backed this https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1094489804/formbox-a-desktop-vacuum-former-that-makes-beautif

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Well that will be your at home one - this one is the DMS one, don’t fret.

Mark had me buy a small heater and he’s wrapping his head around how it’s going to be housed. I trust the man to imagine something wondrous.

It’s not available yet. Just hang tight - let him know if you want to help.

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I’m glad to have access to this again.

Eons ago I received written permission to remove it from the space for 24 hours to use it elsewhere (since we didn’t have a heater). It worked nicely for me (using my shop vac) and I’m glad that it will be usable at the Space.

@mreynolds - I have a suggestion. I recommend that we make a smaller frame to clamp a smaller sheet of plastic - specifically 6" x 6". (I did this when I used it - mine was 6"x7" but I recommend 6" x 6"). Nearly any kind of plastic will work in this vacuum former, but “hobby styrene sheets” come 6" x 12", and the plastic sheets available through Widget Works are 12" x 12". No need to “waste” an entire 12" sheet if you’re making something small.

01 vacuform machine w text.jpg602×638 65 KB

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Oh, and BTW, since it took me several tries to get the right recipe for heating the plastic and then forming it, I was grateful to use smaller pieces of plastic for this testing.

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I saw a video of a guy that used a reflective film lined mdf box frame with a heater at the bottom to heat sheets of plastic at the top. The heater looked like the kind that is similar in shape to a fluorescent light fixture. I think it was a ceiling mount unit. That’s why I was wondering what kind of heater was available. I’ll see if I can find the video and link to it.

EDIT:
Here is the link to the video I watched on how to make a heating box. It starts at 4:28 into the video.

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Very cool. I was looking into making one for home to make holsters.

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We purchased this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V06MWC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Yeah that is exactly what i was thinking. I follow James on Youtube (fellow countrymen and everything).

Shouldnt need to make it as big as his as we have a smaller setup.

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If you’d like some assistance I’d be happy to help!

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I would really like to try using a vacuformer.

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Here is a really good instructable about how to make one for home. This guy is very practical and has great advice on how to do this.

If you’re using Kydex, I’d love to know how your experiments go. Kydex is supposed to vacuform marvelously.

EDIT: Oops. Here’s the link::blush:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-good%252c-cheap%252c-upgradeable-sheet-plastic-vacu/

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Is that bigfoot I see?
Nope, it’s the missing link… :slight_smile:

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This is very exciting. I make muppet-style puppets for use in my library, and would love to be able to vacuum form the internal “skulls.”

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Hmm, I wonder if I could use this to duplicate this 1960s lamp that I have? The plastic shade/reflector has become crazed due to heat, & is starting to disintegrate.