Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Engineering Techniques and Materials. => Topic started by: david48 on July 17, 2012, 10:24:03 am

Title: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: david48 on July 17, 2012, 10:24:03 am

 Good morning
 I have been trying to bend 4mm dia wood  dont know what it is it came in the Kit but it is as hard as nails  I have tryed steaming it  In a steam tube  until it is nearly too hot to handle  and soaking in boiling water  but it is that small it will not hold its heat long enough . So the next move is Platistrut rod I have never worked this before ,how do you work it please  tools available ,Steamer,  heatgun.
Thank you david

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: Tug-Kenny RIP on July 17, 2012, 10:36:16 am

I would use a heat gun and  'Care'.  It sort of goes soft quickly at a certain point.

It's best  to be moving it under heat until you feel it going faster.    %) (a sort of learned skill !)

Hope this helps

ken

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: sailorboy61 on July 17, 2012, 10:45:23 am

Bowl of hot water? Never tried it myself but that's how I was planning to do it as I have similar job coming up. Suppose it depends on the diameter of the rod, but I imagine its a less intensive way of heating it.

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: Circlip on July 17, 2012, 10:45:55 am

You don't say what radius you're trying to bend David? If it's a large rad. you can overbend the Styrene round a former without heat.

  Regards  Ian.

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: Mad_Mike on July 17, 2012, 11:49:29 am

you might find this useful:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=36072.45

scroll bout half way down

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: david48 on July 17, 2012, 04:17:46 pm

 Thanks everyone for your help  and advice . The job I am going to do is for the port and starboard quarter about 2 1/2 " radius on Fairmount Alpine , .The wood thing was a none starter  Thanks Again .
 David

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: boatmadman on July 17, 2012, 10:25:20 pm

I have successfully bent small wood stock using a hot air paint stripper. Just move the wood backwards and forwards in the heat while putting pressure in the direction you want to bend. Take your time and dont let the wood scorch, once burnt it goes brittle and will probably snap.

Ian

Title: Re: How to bend Platistrut rod
Post by: Peter Fitness on July 17, 2012, 11:54:02 pm

I managed to bend 12mm styrene tube for a RIB using boiling water, so I imagine solid rod would be much easier to bend using the same method.

Peter.