Daggers wrote:So i found this
https://www.inventables.com/technologie ... le-plastic and it's basically plastic pellets that you put into hot water and it comes together into a solid piece of moldable plastic. When it cools down, it turns solid white and is a hard and durable plastic. Reusable as many times as you want, just drop it in hot water again. It seems like it would be great for pick handles especially since you can add various dyes and change the color. The only problem would be leaving it somewhere hot but the point at which it becomes soft is 140 degrees. Someone asked a question on the site about the material in direct sunlight and it seems that as long as you keep it out of direct sunlight in a hot car in the middle of summer then it's alright.
Question that was asked on the site:
I'm trying to make vane traps for sampling populations of bees. Does this plastic have a chemical odor, and what's its specific heat? I need to know if it will reach melting temperature in the sun.
Asked by Margaret Wallace on Jun 22, 2012
Hi Margaret, the plastic is classified as “odourless” on the MSDS. It has a melting temperature of 60-62 degrees Celsius. On a very, very hot day it might begin to get slightly tacky if left in direct sunlight too long, especially if its sitting on a surface that is getting baked by the heat.
What are your thoughts on this for making handles? I'm thinking about ordering some to put on my picks to try out.
Oh man, that stuff stinks to high heaven like a hot limburger and liverwurst blend!
Nah, just kidding... no smell at all.
I will at some point use it to make some handles, so I guess the answer of suitability for at the very least attempting using it for handles is a resounding YES.
When heating it to be able to form it, it doesn't become liquid, just soft and malleable. If left on the dashboard during the summer in direct sunlight, it might deform, but you could easily shape it back too. I've brought it up to 200degF and it is still close to the same consistency as it is at 140degF but with more time for shaping and a bit softer. As far as the texture of it, it is mildly slick-ish when cooled. That could easily be overcome by either adding a texture pattern by pressing a loose weave fabric or steel mesh against it while still moldable or you could add some kind of fine material to it such as sand or something so that you can gain a better purchase on the handle.
As for mounting the pick within it, I would suggest either notching the handle side of the pick or drilling/punching a few holes through it. If making holes, the contact with itself through the holes should be good enough to secure it well; however, I would recommend placing some cut short pieces of roll pin or metal rod through to provide an even better hold on the handle.
As I also plan on trying it out myself for handles, I look forward to hearing about your experiences with it after giving it a go. Also, aside from making pick handles from it, it is an incredibly useful easy-form plastic with countless applications. The only limits being temperature and your imagination, and well, I guess extremely excessive force.
Hope this helps...
Elbow