The Ship Model Forum

I need a source for blocks of plastic. If you know of a company that sells blocks 7" height x 30" lenght x 13" width please post a link. Ive looked under scratch building supplies but did not find anyone that has what I need.

Im not looking to buy today but soon.

Ive thought about milling wood blocks but Im not sure if it would crack or splinter while being machined. My mill is for cutting metals and plastics so Im not sure how it would react to dust or chips from wood. The coolant pump probley wouldn't like dust jambing it up either. Not to mention the mess wood creates. Air blast is an option but will it cool the tooling down enough or just burn the cutter up..............many things to figure out. Wish Steve was still around for guidance.

I need a cheaper hobby.

TommyL.

Any idea's? Anyone? Someone has to know atleast one source.

TommyL.

What kind of plastic?

I get my solid stock PVC from MSC Industrial Supply.

Most areas also have local plastic companies- I've gotten materials from locals quite often as well.

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Sean Hert

Oh I forgot to say what Im looking for. Thanks Sean. I'll take a look.

TommyL.

If you are thinking of milling wood, dont bother, it is not an engineering product, your milling cutters do not remove material fast enough and would result in burning, you can machine MDF quite well as it has no grain, but the edges tend to fur up.

That is no small amount of plastic you are looking for, what is the project.

regards

Mike

Turrets, Superstructure, Hull, and some other fittings. Fun begins in a few months hopefully.

TommyL.

TommyL, if you still haven't found anything, try contacting Modern Plastics. They are one of the few places I can get styrene sheet in sizes and thicknesses I need: http://www.modernplastics.com/ shoot them an e-mail with what you are trying to do, they carry it all. - MT

You might try TAP Plastics. I imagine they have a website.

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Any ship larger than a Destroyer is a waste of metal.

Very Interesting. Their site is now bookmarked.

TommyL.

Go to McMaster-Carr. You can order thru the net, and they have very fast delivery. Solid blocks of plastic will not be cheap though.

As far as wood, if you use a fine grain hardwood, it will machine fine.

For years mahogany was the material of choice for making patterns, and I used to machine it on a mill; in fact it gives a very clean sharp surface.

Other woods like maple, ash, bass, clear pine, and various tropical hardwoods will cut very clean. Remember, using a shaper or lathe is high speed cutting of wood. You just need to find the speeds needed.

Hope this helps