Looking for a source for a Lexan strip. I'd like to get a strip 1/4" X
1/4" X 8' (Shorter down to 4' would probably work too)

More supplies for my little slot car project.

I know I can get squares and such at the BORG's but wasn't sure if
anyone knew of a place that makes this kind of item and what the cost
would be.

I'm open to suggestions for alternatives. It's going to be used as a
guide for routing curves on MDF board. It will be drilled every 1.5"
for nail holes to pin it down.

I'm pulling a blank on what else I could use. It needs to be stiff
enough to be able to guide the router, but flexible enough to do a
decent radius curve.

As always....Thanks for your help.

bremen68 (in )
said:

| Looking for a source for a Lexan strip. I'd like to get a strip
| 1/4" X 1/4" X 8' (Shorter down to 4' would probably work too)

Check your Yellow Pages under "Plastic". Most urban areas have one (or
more) distributors who should be able to provide the stuff. If you
treat 'em right, the distributors here in Des Moines will sometimes
make just a token charge (or none) for anything they regard as
"scrap", which is what you're looking for.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

The bremen68 entity posted thusly:

Looking for a source for a Lexan strip. I'd like to get a strip 1/4" X
1/4" X 8' (Shorter down to 4' would probably work too)

Try any place that does glass (windows, etc.) work. They usually have
lots of Lexan, though I don't know how the availability of that size.

More supplies for my little slot car project.

I know I can get squares and such at the BORG's but wasn't sure if
anyone knew of a place that makes this kind of item and what the cost
would be.

I'm open to suggestions for alternatives. It's going to be used as a
guide for routing curves on MDF board. It will be drilled every 1.5"
for nail holes to pin it down.

I'm pulling a blank on what else I could use. It needs to be stiff
enough to be able to guide the router, but flexible enough to do a
decent radius curve.

I'd use something thinner, and lay out the lines with a pencil, onto
1/4" hardboard, then cut/sand the hardboard, making a template. Then
use a guide bushing and a straight bit in your router to cut the slot
(assuming it's a slot you want to cut). Don't forget to allow for the
offset from the bushing to the bit.

"bremen68" wrote

Looking for a source for a Lexan strip. I'd like to get a strip 1/4" X
1/4" X 8' (Shorter down to 4' would probably work too)

I call that scrap that I have to discard! You have several choices here ...

1. Find your local industrial plastics distributor(s) in your local area,
and ask them if they might let you pick through their scrap bin for what you
need. Also check with your local glass distributors ... they use
polycarbonate sometimes (they mostly use Plexiglass - Methyl Acrylic, which
resists scratching, but doesn't bend like polycarbonate) ... can't hurt to
ask, but be sure to ask whether it's plexiglas or Lexan.

2. McMaster Carr has polycarbonate rod 1/4" diameter available as part
number 8571K12, $0.85/foot, sold in 8' pieces. This isn't square cross
section, so you may want to look at their other offerings. Here's a 0.22" x
1" x 48" piece (use it on edge?), P/N 1749K12 for $3.48 each.

3. Consider using 3/8" copper tubing. It bends easily and will hold its
shape fairly well. Available at home centers and hardware stores everywhere.

I'd offer you stuff from my scrap pile but unless you're close to NC you're
better off buying what you need.

Hope this helps,


Rick

TAP Plastics (it's a chain of stores)

"bremen68" wrote in message
ps.com...
Looking for a source for a Lexan strip. I'd like to get a strip 1/4" X
1/4" X 8' (Shorter down to 4' would probably work too)

More supplies for my little slot car project.

I know I can get squares and such at the BORG's but wasn't sure if
anyone knew of a place that makes this kind of item and what the cost
would be.

I'm open to suggestions for alternatives. It's going to be used as a
guide for routing curves on MDF board. It will be drilled every 1.5"
for nail holes to pin it down.

I'm pulling a blank on what else I could use. It needs to be stiff
enough to be able to guide the router, but flexible enough to do a
decent radius curve.

As always....Thanks for your help.

DAGS for scrollsawing wood and lexan. It might be mikes thin woods,
but one of them had 24"x24" x whatever pieces of lexan quite
resonable..

Alan

I'd use hardboard to make the curve - just cut a 1" strip of 1/4" or
1/8" hardboard, 8' long or whatever you need. Then 3 finish nails -
one at each end and one in the middle of the curve (or at the apex of
each curve if you're doing multiple curves). Then use the strip of
hardboard propped on its edge, bent around the nails. Does that make
sense? I can email a picture if you really need it.
If you're anywhere near central New York I actually have an extra 8'
strip of hardboard... And I'm sure the borg has 4' squares of clear
1/8" acrylic or lexan or whatever the flexible stuff is, and it's easy
to cut that stuff into strips also. I'd be careful drilling if you use
the 1/4"x1/4" strip method - it seems like it would tend to break at
the drill holes.
Good luck,
Andy

"Andy" wrote in message
ups.com...


If you're anywhere near central New York I actually have an extra 8'
strip of hardboard...

Where in CNY Andy?

--

-Mike-