Rolled black plastic - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

California98Civic · 08-22-2016, 03:17 AM

For anyone considering making grill blocks wheel well skirts or other mods that will be in constant view on the exterior of the car ...

I learned of this Allstar ALL22400 Black Plastic Roll from Xist. (0.07" Thick 24" Wide 10'). Xist used it for an airdam two years ago. (Thanks Xist!)

Pros: It is better looking than coroplast by far, does not fade in the sun, and has flexibility and rigidity characteristics that are pretty cool.

Cons: It flexes just enough to change shape slightly when it gets hot, either from sun or engine heat. It is also a little hard to cut cleanly and regularly. You'll want to experiment but I have gotten some really good results with razor cutting tools for lexan. I prefer the look and durability of this stuff to coroplast by a mile.

Here is what my roll looked like the day it arrived:

niky · 08-22-2016, 03:56 AM

Subbin'

serialk11r · 08-23-2016, 05:09 AM

HDPE? I thought that has poor UV resistance. I guess it can be Plastidipped or something for durability.

This is really cheap though, I might as well try making some underbody panels with it.

California98Civic · 08-23-2016, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serialk11r

HDPE? I thought that has poor UV resistance. I guess it can be Plastidipped or something for durability.

This is really cheap though, I might as well try making some underbody panels with it.

Well, I cannot guarantee anything, but this plastic has been on my car as wheel well skirfs for a long time now without the slightest change from the sun. The old coroplast, or a plastidipped or painted surface would already have faded long ago. Unpainted, this is the best black surface I have had.

serialk11r · 08-23-2016, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Well, I cannot guarantee anything, but this plastic has been on my car as wheel well skirfs for a long time now without the slightest change from the sun. The old coroplast, or a plastidipped or painted surface would already have faded long ago. Unpainted, this is the best black surface I have had.

Ah, that's good to know.

Since it comes in a roll, I am guessing it is pretty flexible and easy to bend right? Do you use a blow dryer to soften it or just cut a chunk out and bolt it up?

California98Civic · 08-23-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Ah, that's good to know.

Since it comes in a roll, I am guessing it is pretty flexible and easy to bend right? Do you use a blow dryer to soften it or just cut a chunk out and bolt it up?

So this is a slightly tricky area. It comes rolled and tends to retain that bend. I tried shaping it with a heat gun and had limited results. But I am inexperienced with most tools so my first efforts are usually tentative. It gets softer in heat, and I am sure easier to cut. But I have found that the work of heating it is not worth the benefits over a room temp piece. The best tool I have for marking and cutting it is this one:

That hook on the blade is really handy once I have started the groove using the main point like a pencil. It is easy to slip out of the groove and make a wrong cut mark. But once I have a good deep groove, I can bend the piece along the line and it will crack. Even a curve line will crack well this way. The result is a pretty clean cut. Doing it this way in MUCH better than with tin snips because with the snips there is no way to avoid jagged lines.

Hope that is helpful.

james