Plexiglass for pressure strips

[monterey]

Any suggestions for thickness of plexi pressure strips for rubber band forms?

It seems like they would be more consistent?

[Dazzad]

I'm starting out on the assumption that we're talking about the material alternatively called acrylic, lucite, perspex etcetc...

That's not a bad idea now u mention it... 1/8" may be a little thin, whereas 1/4" may or may not have the flexibility to be easily conform to the tighter curve of the riser ramps....there would be a sweet spot somewhere there though.

Given that you'd need to have strips that size cut to order, it would be worth going to a plastics supplier and handling various thicknesses. You'd know pretty quickly what the optimal thickness will be.

I was still pondering on what to use for my D/R pressure strips....keep us posted on what you discover mate.

Darren

[Bvas]

Never tried it, but maybe 1/8” with a narrow piece of 1/16” down the middle to get even pressure across the limb.

I wonder if it would take a set/memory after a trip thru the oven?

[monterey]

Daz, I can't claim the idea since I got the idea here from someone who had tried it but I don't remember who.     I was thinking of getting some of the sheet stock from HD and cutting it.

Hadn't thought about the heat from the oven that could be a problem!!

[Dazzad]

oh yeah....heat.

I'm now remembering tech.studies classes in high school (what you would call ('shop'). We would heat sheets of acrylic over a strip heater, or place pieces into a warm oven for various projects - it goes 'floppy'.

When it cools it does faithfully retain it's new form, but yes - in that warm 'floppy' state it may not really perform it's intended role too well.

I didn't instantly think of this, as I have no bow-oven and so my bows tend not to cure at that higher temperature...

I'm  a bit curious now - am going to go and find some more technical data on this. I'll be back!

[Dazzad]

Ok, I'm back.

It seems that 250 - 300degrees Farenheit is the point that Acrylic becomes formable. If Smooth on cures well at around 150, it could be a goer.

I guess a simple test would be putting a sheet of the desired thickness acrylic into your bow- oven for a normal curing cycle, and seeing if it is springy plastic or floppy pasta when you lift it out!

Now given that perspex does heat bend safely and predictably at that higher temperature, it may be that the pressure strips could actually be molded to the exact curvature of a given bow form. I'm thinking that this would further simplify a glueup if the strips did not have to be forced into shape over the form, but rather just dropped over the stack and banded/ clamped down.

Ok guys, who's going to do the experiment?! if perspex doesn't reach it's floppy, formable state at bow curing temperatures, it may be almost the perfect option for pressure strips on a rubber band glueup....

[monterey]

I'm going to get ahold of a piece and test in the kitchen oven.  It's minimum temperature is 170F but I'll run it at 185 to be sure of being in the range (that there is an unintended pun)  

[Bvas]

Originally posted by monterey:
I'm going to get ahold of a piece and test in the kitchen oven.  It's minimum temperature is 170F but I'll run it at 185 to be sure of being in the range (that there is an unintended pun)      

So your using the range to test the safe range to get you shooting on the range  
Sounds simple enough

[monterey]

Gotta love the Bench.  Abounding with common sense and intellect.