Acrylic Rod for display stand

EdGrune

I've curved the Plastruct rod using the kitchen stove.   Twirl the rod while heating like you would a piece of sprue being stretched.    Don't let it get too hot or it will bubble & discolor.   When soft bend it around a soup can or similar to get a smooth, even bend.

 Before shaping your acrylic, try out your shape with a piece of wire (a section of coat hanger would probably be best, though stiff electrical house wire may work).  Use the wire to make sure your shape will be the appropriate dimensions, will balance your model properly, etc. It will be much easier to make adjustments to the wire.

Once you have your shape correct with the wire, use it as a template for your acrylic.

Visit your local department store, check the aisle where they sell curtain stuff. There you'll find acrylic rod which is used to open and close blinds and curtains. Cheap.

I've curved the Plastruct rod using the kitchen stove.   Twirl the rod while heating like you would a piece of sprue being stretched.    Don't let it get too hot or it will bubble & discolor.   When soft bend it around a soup can or similar to get a smooth, even bend.

A workshop heat gun should also work,  but keep the piece moving in the heated air stream to prevent bubbles.

I think commercial plastic benders use a hot sand bath to provide an even heat soak

You must have read the same issue I did. It looked great. I haven't found any curved rod but I went on Ebay and found some from Discount Plastics Inc. I ordered the 1/2" X 72". They have a wide variety of sizes both solid and with a hole through the ID (which might work for fiber optics). I'm going to try and heat mine up with a heat gun and try shaping it to how I need.

If I may add a question, where can curved acrylic rod be found? In the July 2007 issue of FSM Pat Hawkey built an X-15 and displayed it in flight with a curved acrylic rod mounted in the back of the plastic base and shoved up the X-15's exhaust with interior reinforcement. Looks really good and I want to give it a try but need the curved stuff first.

Thanks.

http://www.estreetplastics.com/    I ordered from these guys a few times in the past.  Nice products.  They will cut to any size as well.  I bought some acrylic sheets that I use as shelving to display built models. 

Just an idea.

My LHS carries it in the Plastruct display,   several diameters in clear,  blue,  yellow & hot pink 

Tower Hobbies has Plastruct 1/4" x 9 1/4"  10 pack for $4.49,

I picked up a pack last month.

I get mine at the local plastics shop here in Ft. Collins.  I'd say Google it up and see what pops up under "plastics" for your area.