ABS Plastic How-To

using ABS plastic for your projects is a cheap alternative to acrylics. ABS is super easy to work with, is very strong and durable and bonds in just a few minutes using ABS cement. You can cut and flaten ABS pipe to give yourself an unlimites supply of material.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ABS
• plastic
• cheap

[SarahCozz]

Would this work with pvc pipe?

[helpmonkey]

@SarahCozz I have not softened ABS in this way but I would imagine it would react pretty well the same ... and remember dont melt it just heat it up untill it softens ... you should not smell any fumes

[helpmonkey]

pipe is much easier to come by especially in a scrap pile

[helpmonkey]

if the plastic starts to bubble on its surface you are exposing it to to much heat... what happens is gases are released inside the plastic causing tiny bubbles to form... if overheating continues these bubbles increase in size and come to the surface...

[910Rayzor]

Great idea - As you heat the ABS in the oven - does it give off any dangerous fumes?

[helpmonkey]

@910Rayzor ... it will fume if you overheat / melt it... other than that there is virtually no odor at all... ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene has a melting point of 221deg F or 105 deg C ... as all ovens perform slightly different I would recommend start at a (pre-heated) temp setting of 175 deg F , heat for 5 min test and increase it by 25 deg F untill the pipe becomes malable.

[theoceanse]

oh my god no no no dont do that chemicals attack your body

[clthiel]

You use that oven to cook food in? Hope not! ABS lets off dangerous chemicals that is why it is not used for potable waster.

[matt357]

WARNING - just so you know abs is very toxic 

[GeorgeGraves]

What's the reason for doing this and not buying sheets?