Acrylic / Plexiglass / Lexan

[seusscaboose]

So, I am in need of a few nice, 3 or 4 inch wide pieces of clear, material that is @ 6 feet long.  I am trimming out a piece of the layout and the traditional wood approach takes away from the aesthetics.  SO...  where would a person start looking for a solution that included "not having to buy a huge piece and cutting it down to spec"

Essentially, I am looking for a clear plastic version of masonite I suppose.

I don't want to bandaid a bunch of small pieces.  i would prefer one long piece, but would settle for two.

I am trying to trim out "this"


thoughts or resources would be appreciated.  Everywhere i look on the web has peices that are too short (ebay and home depot, etc)

so, what material should i be searching for, and how does one acquire it int he appropriate lengths.

Lee, is there a "re-Store" approach?

EP
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[wazzou]

Try and see if there is a Tap Plastics location near you.

[Chris333]

The plastics place by me has a CNC machine that will hold a 4x8 sheet of plexi. I'd just look around.

[Bob Bufkin]

Years ago I replace my large front window with plexiglass.  Got it done at the small local hardware store (now closed) which I would think that any large box store could do the same.

[seusscaboose]

thanks guys... i will do some more poking around

[John]

thanks guys... i will do some more poking around

See the google ads that are poping up

[seusscaboose]

NICE!

[DKS]

See the google ads that are poping up

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid?

[Chris333]

The place by me is called Baker's Plastics:
http://www.bakerplastics.com/
Never tried, but they may do mail order.

I had parts for a fish tank cut by them. Just walked in told them what I wanted, by the time I was done looking through the showcase my parts were done and handed to me.

[seusscaboose]

thanks for the feedback guys...

i have found a simple solution, the local true value hardware stores can make 8 foot cuts (local big boxes only do 6 foot cuts) and usually have scraps of 3-4 inches laying around.



EP

[Bob Bufkin]

True Value is where I got my plexiglass.

[wm3798]

Years ago I bought a box of 6" x 6' plexi when Hutzlers was gulping its last gasp, selling fixtures to the bare walls.  I ended up donating it to the WMRHS for their layout, as I didn't have enough of one to use it at the time.  I'll have to check my local true value.

From what I saw Friday night, it looks like your solution worked!
Lee

[seusscaboose]

yeah... the 1/4 inch stuff works like a champ on the straight aways....  but is too thick for curves.

i dropped down to 1/8 inch for the curves...   the bad thing is, it is quite fragile... so... lesson learned = drill pilot holes for screws BEFORE you are holding it up and stressing the mterial.  that way, you can take your time, drill the pilot holes on a flat surface and (this is important) not crack the material (thereby making it look ghetto).

so anyway...  it was A $10 learning experience.  I am stoked about being able to do it right in a re-work session.

the ONE bad thing is that it does (in some places) limit the photo options.  Then again, the alternative is a 5 foot drop to the floor.

EP

[davefoxx]

yeah... the 1/4 inch stuff works like a champ on the straight aways....  but is too thick for curves.

Eric,

Can you heat the 1/4" plexiglass with a heat gun and bend it?  Think about it: one person applies the heat while another person holds the straight plexiglass and slowly bends it around the corner.  Perhaps a third person could be drilling holes and screwing the plexiglass to the fascia.

If so, it won't be as fragile as 1/8".

DFF

[DKS]

Heating thick Plex definitely works. Used to be in the sign business, and we'd make lots of stuff, like point-of-sale displays, by bending Plex. We'd use a special strip heater for sharp bends, but a heat gun (or possibly even a hair dryer) works for larger bends.