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Recycling sprues

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Recycling sprues
Posted by wibhi2 on Saturday, March 22, 2003 11:31 PM
The other night a thought occured to me that might be beneficial to both the modeller and the kit manufactuers.

I was thinking about the effectiveness of returning the parts sprues to kit manufactuers. The way I saw it was that it could be reground, melted and reinjected into the molds. Or even as a mix filler with new pellets. I believe that it would be a cost savings to the manufactuers that ultimatley could get passed on to the hobby at large by reduced kit prices or atleast a way for the manufactuers to spend more on mold development, resulting in better kits(?)

I understand that each kit manufacturer has a slightly different "formula" for thier styrene, but keeping the spures seperate shouldn't be a problem. I also understand that there would be certai offset costs, but once the process is in place I think that it would end up paying for itself.

what do you think the viability is?
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Sunday, March 23, 2003 12:15 AM
It's a great idea, but not a new one, unfortunately. Shy [8)]

If I recall correctly the plastic, once used for making a kit, is no longer useful for that same process again. I may be wrong, but for some reason it sticks in my mind that you can't recycle this stuff to make more kits. Perhaps if Toad sees this, he can shed some light for us.

Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley
Posted by berny13 on Sunday, March 23, 2003 10:03 AM
This same question was brought up as a question when I toured a model kit manufacturer. They said a bonding agent was applied to the plastic during the mixing process. To recycle old plastic the bonding agent would have to be taken out to prevent the plastic from becoming too hard or brittle. It is much cheeper to use un cured plastic than to recycle old.

Berny

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Posted by wibhi2 on Sunday, March 23, 2003 12:58 PM
okie dokie. Thanks for the info
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:28 PM
hi i have a different way to recyle my left over sprue. 1- stretch it to form filler rods for gaps , 2- remove with a flat file the back of the plastic from the numbered parts area till i can see through , then cut out numbers for use as casting numbers and letters , 3- use to build up open frame work for ground work in dioramas and cover in mod rock , light and very versitile .esp if used for creating berms , trenches ect , cheers ian
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