Interesting Bit of Information

[Zerohour]

I haven't read anything about this here on Ecomodder, but I was doing some searching on ABS plastic and stumbled across this idea:

Take bits of ABS plastic, add acetone in an air tight and acetone safe container. Let set for few hours to days. You'll end up with an ABS putty. Stinks like high hell but I played around with this and it works!

The site I found it on had someone building a custom gauge pod into the existing dashboard of his car. He molded a custom bezel into the existing black trim ring around his factory gauges.

Was a cool idea, and the stuff is sandable afterwards. That means so of the more artistic ecomodders can mold or fill in those rough edges on those mods!

There was also reference to use MEK (fiberglass hardener I do believe) to achieve the same result. Either method yields a pretty unique product!

[dcb]

They used to warn us about not handling the MEK unless necessary, FYI.

[Zerohour]

Yeah MEK is nasty chemically. I've gone to charcoal masks, face shields, and tyvex suits for fiberglassing and sanding.

Thats why I used Acetone. Still not healthy, but a little better MEK. This stuff really wouldn't be any worse than using acetone or even paint thinner normally, just need gloves, a mask, and goggles.

[saand]

good find zerohour.
I found a while ago that this concept also works with polystyrene (i assume it isn't the same as ABS plastic). There are a few instructables about forming your own plastics by "melting" down polystyrene with acetone letting it dry out then you have a hard plastic thing in whatever shape you formed it into.
I tried this out, it works ok for small things but i wanted to make plastic sheets and the sheet deformed somewhat.
I also tried melting down polystyrene (bad fumes) but it worked, melts down to a workable goo and can be put into forms and will make a sheet of hardend plastic however the plastic that is made is not at all flexible. It also destroys your fry pans . Also need a lot of polystyrene do make anything of significant volume since polystyrene is mostly air and when melting it down all the air comes out.

[kgwedi]

We used to do the same sort of thing with plexiglass (acrylic) and used the goo to repair aircraft windows. Also if you make it thin enough it wicks into cracks.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by kgwedi

We used to do the same sort of thing with plexiglass (acrylic) and used the goo to repair aircraft windows. Also if you make it thin enough it wicks into cracks.

...ala' DIY windshield "repair"!?!?!

[aerohead]

ditto on the MEK warnings.If you like hemlock,puffer fish and ZYKLON-B you'll love MEK!
Really,be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!