Vacuum Former

Post by **Spartanbula** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:05 pm

Hey I was wondering if anyone around orange county N.C had a vacuum former?

Post by **NegativeEleven** » Sat Sep 27, 2014 1:19 pm

A vacuum former is just a table with suction and a heat source. I use my oven and a box I made by drilling holes in the top and a fitting for my shopvac in the side.

Post by **Spartanbula** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:04 pm

I've done that too. Just when I tried it is used 1/16th of an inch polystyrene sheets and the surface was real dimpled almost like a golf ball. Any suggestions?

Post by **NegativeEleven** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:37 pm

you mean the parts around the form you're making where the plastic hit the holes in the table? Why does that matter? That's the part you'll cut off.

Post by **Spartanbula** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:22 pm

Haha not those ones. When I form a buck they are like little imperfections all along the form. Kinda like air bubbles so I'm not really sure what to do about it.

Post by **NegativeEleven** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:56 am

Prop making is 90% sanding!

Post by **Spartanbula** » Sun Oct 05, 2014 2:43 pm

Oh wow really! I had no idea that a pull was supposed to be sanded I thought it came out smooth. That helps a ton!

Cantina Security · Post by **Cantina Security** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:49 am

I don't think the pull gets sanded, you have to bondo and smoothe out the buck till it gets how you want.

Cantina Security · Post by **Cantina Security** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:50 am

doublepost

silverBoyd · Post by **silverBoyd** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 7:36 am

Yeah...I would think the buck has to be perfect. I've never seen armor sanded after it's been vac-formed

Post by **Spartanbula** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 9:12 am

OK, my bucks are smooth it just gets some bubbled surface on the pull kinda like trapped air between the buck and the plastic. I'm using a shop vac for suction, should I use a vacuum pump instead?

Post by **NegativeEleven** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 6:15 pm

Yeah, as it says on Studio Creations tutorial, you're gonna mess up a lot of plastic learning what works. I've never had bubbles necessarily, but there are areas that air gets trapped. I typically think of it like if I poured water over it, where would it get trapped? That gun barrel buck has holes drilled through the indented parts to pull down there.

Post by **Spartanbula** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:25 am

Do you use a shop vac or a vacuum pump for suction?

Post by **NegativeEleven** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:26 pm

5hp shop vac

RogueTrooper · Post by **RogueTrooper** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:34 pm

the original TK lids (movie used) were very very bumpy/rough and reworked without refining....

not to say that is the way it should be, just a mark left by the fast pace their worked on the first movie.

Also you have to watch out for points that the plastic and get locked on etc... and webbing.....

There is a lot of math knowing what shapes can and cannot be thermoforming........

Lot of skill to do thermoforming properly.....

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