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Newest Paul Budzik film on vac forming

Newest Paul Buszik film on vac forming

What a valuable resource this man is.

I spent more than $95 for just plans and a heating element to build a vacu-forming table. Sheesh, I would have jumped on one of those units if I knew they existed. Still might since most of the suff I want to form is small anyway.
 
Newest Paul Buszik film on vac forming

That is very cool, I like how it's all together, no heating plastic in your oven,
then hooking up the table to your vacuum cleaner.

Wish it was a tad bigger, looks like the material size is 5" x 5", then again I doubt
I would be forming anything much bigger anyways.

Thanks James!

Tom
 
Newest Paul Buszik film on vac forming

Nice video, I'll have to think about one of those.

A few years ago I started working on making my own vacuum box but haven't ever gotten beyond the basic construction. I used a piece of pegboard from Lowes and glued it to a plastic shoe box, w/ the intent of attaching a vacuum connection to the box, but its never gotten that far. I also hadnt really figured out yet how to hold the plastic. I was thinking about using window screen frame and binder clips.

I've got a couple models I'm working on that I wanted to vac form engine hatches and compartment doors to get doors that were much closer to scale thickness, but those builds haven't progressed either, so I haven't had a need for a vacformer.

DSC02029.jpg
 
Newest Paul Buszik film on vac forming

To think this affordable gadget was so available to those who knew where to look is interesting.

Never though to look in a dental office before.

It appears I will need to find a space for yet another gadget :rotf but it looks much easier to use than my home made one.

Cheers, Christian B)
 
Found the same type like what James posted, also for sale on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0067FFW6E/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00BSWDEEI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1YGYTJYH5F8BWD43N8H1

And Tom, you're correct, it does use 5x5 sheet.
 
I've been looking these over today, $85 to $100 seems to be the sweet spot, including shipping (in the US).

Just be careful to get proper plug and voltage for your area, since it looks like this design is reboxed by many. The one he uses in the video is around $300.

The cheaper ones remind me of the Daleks. When I get mine, I won't be able to stop myself from yelling 'Exterminate' every time I press the lever.

I've tried a few of the pegboard/drilled hole types with shop vacs and they'll never produce vacuum in the timeframe to get good results. I bought plans and the wire for a heating element from a company that used to make small table setups. It's a big project to build and it the end, probably not to good for small stuff. I also have an industrial vacuum pump for resin, so I'm ahead of the game in that sense, but this little baby really seems ideal for $100 and making small parts.
 
I still have the original Mattel unit I got for my 9th birthday (I think) Had the price sticker on it for many years (maybe still does haven't looked in a bit) $14 sold American in 1968. I found that Evergreen doesn't really soften well on it, nor does lexan. Rigid vinyl however works wonderfully. Can get sheets of it from plastic supply houses or could probably order it and get it shipped in inside a tube. About 20 years ago I made a couple of fixtures out of lexan to cut plastic sheeting to size and a second one to drill all the holes so the plastic would stay in the machine. Still use it every once in a while. Lasttime was to make a couple of parts for the Ju88 wheel wells. (y)

Had not seen any of the dental units though I had seen the unit that Micro Mark is selling now.

The best surface to have on the form is NOT a smooth glossy surface. The plastic will stick to it and air will be trapped. A surface that has been lightly sanded with very fine grit sandpaper works best. This helps the air to flow out from under the soft plastic and if fine enough grit was used, wont affect the surface appearance on clear parts. :D
 
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