Weekend Project: Kitchen Floor Vacuum Former
From take-out coffee lids to Stormtrooper costumes, vacuum formed plastic is everywhere. Now you can build your own for thousands less than professional models and still make cool 3D objects!
To download Kitchen Floor Vacuum Former MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the Kitchen Floor Vacuum Former MAKE 11 "Kitchen Floor Vacuum Former" & You can see that in our digital edition.
Posted by KipKay |
Apr 18, 2008 07:00 AM
MAKE Podcast, MAKE Video, Weekend Projects |
Permalink
| Comments (10)
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Comments
Oldest comments listed first.
| Posted by: Sean St. on April 18, 2008 at 10:13 AM |
Great video, and a cool project!
Is there anything you can do to increase the seal between the frame for the plastic and the top of the peg board, or would that stress the engine of the vacuum too much? Oh, and out of curiosity, why do you avoid duct tape? Just looks, or because of some property of the tape?
| Posted by: ND on April 18, 2008 at 10:23 AM |
Looks like if you heated the plastic a bit more, till the plastic dipped, you'd be able to pull greater detail from your original (form).
| Posted by: ND on April 18, 2008 at 10:29 AM |
Something to note, if you are going to use the heat gun, leave the vacuum on, otherwise you're heating the plastic but have nothing to pull it down.
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Posted by: KipKay on April 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM |
@Sean St. - Thanks. Glad you like it. I avoided the duct tape mainly because it's nasty to work with and the HVAC tape gives a much better seal. I was also concerned about the heat of the oven possibly melting the tape.
| Posted by: Eliot on April 18, 2008 at 11:09 AM |
Oh my god....I love it. I have been wanting something like this since I saw it on Myth Busters.
| Posted by: Ryborg on April 18, 2008 at 1:56 PM |
Kip,
I think this is your best video yet. Interesting subject, and you seem more comfortable and less scripted than in past videos. Good job, and thanks for the video!!!
| Posted by: zweistein.myopenid.com on April 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM |
good video! I think it was your best yet, you were a little bit more relaxed than in the other videos. However you didn't mention that you could drill small holes in the mold for the airflow, to get a better result and more details.
it would be fun to see some weekend project not from the magazine sometime, even if it's good with things from the magazine too, because it's often easier with video instructions.
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Posted by: Tyler_Durden on April 19, 2008 at 3:36 PM |
Where is THE best place to get CHEAP plastic sheets? Also which thickness of sheeting is best?? (ie: yeah depends on what ur gonna use it for, but I'm just wondering what thickness falls about in the middle/general range needed for most homebrew forming) ?
I've been dying to make a vacuformer for at least 2 years now, but that is the main thing holdin me back. Thanks for any help (from anyone)
And good video mang, keep it up! :)
-(v(@-
| Posted by: collin oelkers on May 12, 2008 at 2:47 PM |
Heating styrene in your oven is not safe, much better if you use an oven you dont cook your food in.
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