Instead of aluminum, which is not perfectly flat, in the oven, I'd recommend using a silicon mat. That's what we do in our heat press, to prevent the canvas / paint texture of both plates from marring the acrylic sheet: we use 2 identical silicon mats, about 24" x 18" ( 1/16 thick or so ) to sandwich the acrylic. Then, use the silicon mat to lift the acrylic out of the oven, and deposit it onto your form. Keep the warm silicon mat underneath, on you form. Don't use the cloth, as the warm silicon mat - with residual heat from the oven - will ensure that the acrylic sheet cools _slowly and evenly_ over your form: you don't want big differentials in temperature between surfaces, as this will warble the acrylic; also, the cloth texture could potentially imprint on the hot acrylic.
Thanks for the warning about potential explosions! As my oven is decades old there's zero chance that I'll risk it. I think instead I'll try draping the sheet of acrylic over my form and using a heat gun to slowly heat it and hopefully it will become flexible enough to form to the form.
Did you find a heat gun effective? I find a heat gun isn't effective even for sharp bends, let alone a large curve surface. I'm thinking an iron might be better.
As with all your videos this was very informative, I enjoyed. A side note, back in the day I went to a several day seminar on effective presentation. An important theme taught was: 1) Tell them what you are going to tell them; 2) Tell Them; and 3) Tell them what you told them. I've got interested in several of your videos and you seem to follow this theme and I do enjoy it. Keep up the great videos and I am hoping to see your channel grow. :)
Thank you for this awesome video. This is extremely helping with the project i have in mind. I would like to add as a former appliance repair tech. A residential gas oven, the gas valve opens and closes keeping the temperature of the oven with a certain range. Up to +/-15 degrees depending on the brand oven. Hence the sound of the low sounding ignition or "woof' sound. Compared to a commercial oven where its keeps stable and constant temp. So even though you have your temp set to 350 degrees, again depending on your brand oven, it actually could be fluctuating at a temp range of 375 to 345 in order to maintain that 350. With this info, be extremely careful with the vapor build up within the oven
Some of this may not be the safest way but you certainly opened my eyes to other similar ideas I would love to try for similar results as yours. Great job good man you broadened many peoples horizons
thank you for providing an interesting video presentation on how to make prints which is very easy to understand I pray that you are always healthy and continue to work so that it benefits everyone🙏 greetings from Indonesia👌
Thanks Ryan, much appreciated! I do have a video for the circle cutting jig in works, just need to get it done and posted, hopefully in the next week or so.
Nicely done, and very informative. I really like that circle cutting jig and the dual method for getting a very clean outer edge. I also appreciate the information and how you managed to obtain the bend. For me, the concern is not so much the temperature of the oven and flammability of the acrylic but that as chemicals offgas from the heated acrylic, they plate onto the inner surfaces of the oven where you will be cooking food later on. So, they may get onto your food and then of course you’d be eating it. Further, if you have an oven that cleans itself by heating up very hot, those same chemicals that plated out would be converted into something that may be noxious to you and anyone else. Caution is advised! 👀 My wife would have a fit if I were to do this in our oven! 😁 I really enjoy your videos and I hope you keep it up!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Great information on outgases potentially plating on the oven inner surfaces. I hadn't considered that, and even more reason why i likely won't try this again in the kitchen oven.
Exactly what I needed -- thanks for doing this! ( I also found it fun that we have the same ol Delta chop saw.... still going strong, although the laser gave out about a yr after purchase. )
Glad to hear the video was helpful. I bought that delta saw 20 years ago, and still really like it. Bummer about the laser on yours, it's working on mine, and perfectly accurate!
I built a aluminium trailer very very similar to Airstream Basecamp. Am old and retired and needed the distraction. Built the frame from oak and skinned it with 4’x8’ aluminium sheet. To improve on the Airstream I made the front window much higher than they did plus instead of framed windows I made continuous black tint acrylic sheets 900mm wide (Australia) but 2.4m long (8’). I got the front curved piece out of one sheet which I draped over a saw horse in the sun for couple days. Then use hairdryer and strapping to bring it to shape...worked great. 2 rear 90 degree corners it used a jigs and butane torch and block of pine to get it right. This week I started to bring it up to ready for sale and realised what the design team at Airstream knew all along. In the sun the forward black tinted acrylic expanded breaking my elastic seals. Tomorrow I shall remove the front screen and fit curved channel top and bottom and slotted end attachment points to allow needed sideways movement. Need then added trim above to ensure waterproofing. May as well add LED strip lighting to the upper seal whilst I’m at it. Am sign writing side and rear for upcoming road trip to sell as a 2 berth camper or coffee kiosk.
Thanks for this informative video. Just as a small tip that might come in handy for some. When you are building something that is based around one or two pieces that really define the piece or are unusually expensive or labour intensive, I usually design and build that special piece first then build the rest of my work around it. I'd make the curved piece first then design the cabinet around it. That way, even if there is some minor deviation in the piece like shrinkage or you don't get the exact curve you want or whatever, instead of buying another piece and trying it again because it no longer fits, you simply alter the dimensions of your piece slightly to fit the finished size of the specialty piece.
Nice job on the video and your case. You may be aware of a product called 3/8 bending plywood. It is designed to bend easier than that 1/8 plywood. Its not as smooth, but your "bedsheet" would eliminate any grain transfer.
I need to do something similar and Im ok with trying the oven but a quick question, is your oven gas or electric? I would thing electric would be safer if there was a buildup of the flammable gas.
My oven is electric, and I agree that is seems it would be safer than a gas oven. my oven is also convection, which I think helps to reduce hot spots by swirling the air inside.
I really appreciate the video. I wanted to float an idea...1. Would heating the acrylic outside prevent the vapour explosion risk? 2. If so, Iwonder if you could create a makeshift oven using fans (for circulation) and gas forge (like you would use to cast metal)? 🤔
Nice work, looks very professional. I've done acrylic in an oven like this before. I don't really recommend doing this inside your home, it gives off some strong toxic gas/odors.
I've not had much experience working with polycarbonate, I do believe that the temperature that you heat it up to in order to make it bendable are lower than acrylic.
I used my wife's tea kettle to steam some wooden strips for bending. She wasn't overly enthused. I'd like to know your wife's response to the acrylic sheet heating in the oven. Inquiring minds...
Thanks for the info, and great point, I could have tried that! I was a bit concerned about my ability with a heat gun to heat it evenly across the entire sheet, and keep all areas hot at the right temperature to get the continuous and smooth curve that I was looking for.
Instead of aluminum, which is not perfectly flat, in the oven, I'd recommend using a silicon mat. That's what we do in our heat press, to prevent the canvas / paint texture of both plates from marring the acrylic sheet: we use 2 identical silicon mats, about 24" x 18" ( 1/16 thick or so ) to sandwich the acrylic. Then, use the silicon mat to lift the acrylic out of the oven, and deposit it onto your form. Keep the warm silicon mat underneath, on you form. Don't use the cloth, as the warm silicon mat - with residual heat from the oven - will ensure that the acrylic sheet cools _slowly and evenly_ over your form: you don't want big differentials in temperature between surfaces, as this will warble the acrylic; also, the cloth texture could potentially imprint on the hot acrylic.
This is really great info, thanks so much! I'll try the silicon mat next time!
Thanks for the warning about potential explosions! As my oven is decades old there's zero chance that I'll risk it. I think instead I'll try draping the sheet of acrylic over my form and using a heat gun to slowly heat it and hopefully it will become flexible enough to form to the form.
An alternative could be to heat the air in the form from the inside.
Could work if it is metal. And the have e.g. Teflon-like baking sheet
on the top.
Did you find a heat gun effective? I find a heat gun isn't effective even for sharp bends, let alone a large curve surface. I'm thinking an iron might be better.
As with all your videos this was very informative, I enjoyed. A side note, back in the day I went to a several day seminar on effective presentation. An important theme taught was: 1) Tell them what you are going to tell them; 2) Tell Them; and 3) Tell them what you told them.
I've got interested in several of your videos and you seem to follow this theme and I do enjoy it. Keep up the great videos and I am hoping to see your channel grow. :)
Wow! Thanks so much for the kind words!
Thank you for this awesome video. This is extremely helping with the project i have in mind. I would like to add as a former appliance repair tech. A residential gas oven, the gas valve opens and closes keeping the temperature of the oven with a certain range. Up to +/-15 degrees depending on the brand oven. Hence the sound of the low sounding ignition or "woof' sound. Compared to a commercial oven where its keeps stable and constant temp. So even though you have your temp set to 350 degrees, again depending on your brand oven, it actually could be fluctuating at a temp range of 375 to 345 in order to maintain that 350. With this info, be extremely careful with the vapor build up within the oven
Great info, thanks!
Very nice video. This band saw / router jig is very useful. And thanks for providing the heating temperatures
Thanks!
Some of this may not be the safest way but you certainly opened my eyes to other similar ideas I would love to try for similar results as yours. Great job good man you broadened many peoples horizons
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Thank you, This is just what I needed tot bend a screen for my motorcycle. :) :) :) :) :)
😃
Glad I could help!
Work, details, information = just great! I watched other videos, well... this is the one I needed. Thank you!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
thank you for providing an interesting video presentation on how to make prints which is very easy to understand I pray that you are always healthy and continue to work so that it benefits everyone🙏 greetings from Indonesia👌
Thanks!
Good, informative, thoughtful video. Also here planning to make a motorcycle windscreen.
Thanks!
Built a plastic melt oven in the 70s galvanized trash can and 6 infrared bulbs works great with fan venting old school tech
Nicely done. Your duel step circle cutting jig is very interesting. Perhaps that could be a future video?
Thanks Ryan, much appreciated! I do have a video for the circle cutting jig in works, just need to get it done and posted, hopefully in the next week or so.
Very nicely done and well explained. I hadn't considered the off-gassing of the acrylic as a safety issue. BTW...great looking display case!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Outstanding display, thank you great tips on bending on acrylics.
Thanks again!
What a great idea! Love how you explained it so perfectly! Thank you 😊
Thanks so much!
Nicely done, and very informative. I really like that circle cutting jig and the dual method for getting a very clean outer edge. I also appreciate the information and how you managed to obtain the bend. For me, the concern is not so much the temperature of the oven and flammability of the acrylic but that as chemicals offgas from the heated acrylic, they plate onto the inner surfaces of the oven where you will be cooking food later on. So, they may get onto your food and then of course you’d be eating it. Further, if you have an oven that cleans itself by heating up very hot, those same chemicals that plated out would be converted into something that may be noxious to you and anyone else. Caution is advised! 👀
My wife would have a fit if I were to do this in our oven! 😁
I really enjoy your videos and I hope you keep it up!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Great information on outgases potentially plating on the oven inner surfaces. I hadn't considered that, and even more reason why i likely won't try this again in the kitchen oven.
Thank you 🙏
Exactly what I needed -- thanks for doing this! ( I also found it fun that we have the same ol Delta chop saw.... still going strong, although the laser gave out about a yr after purchase. )
Glad to hear the video was helpful. I bought that delta saw 20 years ago, and still really like it. Bummer about the laser on yours, it's working on mine, and perfectly accurate!
Very educational and entertaining. Your cabinet look great.
Thanks so much!
I enjoyed the video, and it has given me some ideas for future projects! 😊
Awesome! Thank you!
Quite useful, thank you🙂
I am goimg to try using a heat gun for a much smaller piece of acrylic
Glad to hear the video was helpful!
The heat gun will work but you have to keep it moving and it takes some time.
Looks nice. Beside the explosion safety concern, any time you're heating any kind of plastic, you must vent. Plastic fumes are toxic.
More than one good idea in this video, well done
Thank you very much!
I built a aluminium trailer very very similar to Airstream Basecamp. Am old and retired and needed the distraction. Built the frame from oak and skinned it with 4’x8’ aluminium sheet. To improve on the Airstream I made the front window much higher than they did plus instead of framed windows I made continuous black tint acrylic sheets 900mm wide (Australia) but 2.4m long (8’). I got the front curved piece out of one sheet which I draped over a saw horse in the sun for couple days. Then use hairdryer and strapping to bring it to shape...worked great. 2 rear 90 degree corners it used a jigs and butane torch and block of pine to get it right. This week I started to bring it up to ready for sale and realised what the design team at Airstream knew all along. In the sun the forward black tinted acrylic expanded breaking my elastic seals. Tomorrow I shall remove the front screen and fit curved channel top and bottom and slotted end attachment points to allow needed sideways movement. Need then added trim above to ensure waterproofing. May as well add LED strip lighting to the upper seal whilst I’m at it. Am sign writing side and rear for upcoming road trip to sell as a 2 berth camper or coffee kiosk.
Thank you for the lesson on heating the acrylic. I want to form a cylinder for a cake stand. Have you formed a cylinder yet?
I haven't done a cylinder. What I'd probably do is try 2 half cylinders, then glue them together with some acrylic glue.
Thanks for this informative video. Just as a small tip that might come in handy for some. When you are building something that is based around one or two pieces that really define the piece or are unusually expensive or labour intensive, I usually design and build that special piece first then build the rest of my work around it. I'd make the curved piece first then design the cabinet around it. That way, even if there is some minor deviation in the piece like shrinkage or you don't get the exact curve you want or whatever, instead of buying another piece and trying it again because it no longer fits, you simply alter the dimensions of your piece slightly to fit the finished size of the specialty piece.
I used a “blowtorch” and wafted it back and forth and got two 90degree corners.
Nice job on the video and your case. You may be aware of a product called 3/8 bending plywood. It is designed to bend easier than that 1/8 plywood. Its not as smooth, but your "bedsheet" would eliminate any grain transfer.
I wasn't aware, thanks for the info, and thanks for the kind words!
I need to do something similar and Im ok with trying the oven but a quick question, is your oven gas or electric? I would thing electric would be safer if there was a buildup of the flammable gas.
My oven is electric, and I agree that is seems it would be safer than a gas oven. my oven is also convection, which I think helps to reduce hot spots by swirling the air inside.
I've used a torch to bend acrylic before and it never caught on fire, it bubbled on a spot i was on to long on the test piece.
Good video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much!
I really appreciate the video. I wanted to float an idea...1. Would heating the acrylic outside prevent the vapour explosion risk? 2. If so, Iwonder if you could create a makeshift oven using fans (for circulation) and gas forge (like you would use to cast metal)? 🤔
Sounds like a great idea!
Thanks for the temp issue with safety concerns. I will do mine outside, with a heat gun.
Great, thanks!
love your work
Thank you so much!
Fantastic video!!
Thank you very much!
You are the man!
Thanks!
Thank for sharing dad
Nice work, looks very professional. I've done acrylic in an oven like this before. I don't really recommend doing this inside your home, it gives off some strong toxic gas/odors.
Thanks!
Great information. Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the great comment, much appreciated!
Thanks
Welcome
Great content! What thickness acrylic was that if you dont mind me asking?
Thanks! It is 3 mm thick, 1/8 inch
@jkmwoodworking okay great thanks so much that's what I'm working with
thank you very much
You are welcome! Glad it was useful!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
This is an amazing video!! Thank you sooooo much!!!!!!
Thanks so much for the kind words! Glad it was helpful!
Awesome thanks
thanks!
Great video thank you for the math formula
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Thank you
You're welcome. thanks for watching!
Perfeito
Thanks!
did you use a wood blade on that table saw?
yes, it is just the same blade that I use to cut wood with. works great!
Hope you are doing well , sorry to bother , just wanted to know is there same technique for polycarbonate ?
I've not had much experience working with polycarbonate, I do believe that the temperature that you heat it up to in order to make it bendable are lower than acrylic.
I used my wife's tea kettle to steam some wooden strips for bending. She wasn't overly enthused. I'd like to know your wife's response to the acrylic sheet heating in the oven. Inquiring minds...
Haha! I actually did it while she was at work, and she doesn’t watch my TH-cam videos,.. so no harm, no foul
❤❤❤
thanks!
Heat it with a hair dryer??
Maybe? I would think it would be difficult to get it evenly heated and get a consistent curved shape to it.
@@jkmwoodworking maybe, you can use something to apply pressure to curve it?? Maybe like wood?? Just guessing but thumbs up for your video. 👍
Thanks!
⭐
Just use a piece string to measure
Oven time baby .akimg a visor for my motorcycle helmet. Tired of eating bugs
I probably would have put the entire form in the oven and sag formed the acrylic over it.
Great idea!
Use a heat gun next time much safer and better to work with they cost roughly $25
Thanks for the info, and great point, I could have tried that! I was a bit concerned about my ability with a heat gun to heat it evenly across the entire sheet, and keep all areas hot at the right temperature to get the continuous and smooth curve that I was looking for.
And it doesn't off gas toxic fumes into your oven...
But it takes an eternity holding the gun and aiming it all around the piece… ending with uneven heating. This can be acceptable on small pieces .
My project is 42" X 23" . Finding someone to let me use their commercial oven is probably not an option.
Did you end up pursuing this project? I'm looking at similar dimensions. Thanks!
@@JasonRobinsonArtDesign I did not.
That voice made me cringe.
Very informative. Tx for sharing
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!