DIY Pinball - Bending Plexiglass in Toaster Oven

I use and ordinary toaster oven to heat plastic for my custom pinball machine build. Thanks for all the great comments and questions.

DIY bending Tool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQGoKUVfe6g

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Jeri Ellsworth
• DIY
• Pinball
• Homebrew. custom
• pinball

[head2toepainter]

In the heating and forming process, do you ever encounter problems with fingerprints embedding into the plastic?

I ask because I want to handle the plastic to form around a cylindrical mold, but I hear that fingerprints are an issue (so gloves would probably not work either).

Thanks also for the video. Nice to know I can use a toaster oven instead of dealing with full oven.

[jeriellsworth]

@head2toepainter The temp is beyond what I can touch with my fingers. Maybe you can roll it on a smooth surface, so it doesn't leave marks.

[dudie5000]

is it possible to bend acryllic in two planes, like making a half dome, using this, or a normal oven?

[jeriellsworth]

@dudie5000 Sure. We used to make negative plywood shapes and press the plexiglass in with gloves. It's a little tricky. You can use a regular oven.

[dudie5000]

@jeriellsworth err, i found a darth vader mask that would be the perfect size for what im making. would i bend the plastic over it? and what would i need to put over the helmet before i start?

[jeriellsworth]

@dudie5000 Do a little searching on vacuum molding. Some of the techniques there might help.

[pumkinvine]

I wish the world was full of women like you Jeri.

[KC8YOQ]

thanks you for the great video! I needed to bend some plexi for an old cb radio I have and just couldn't do it. I saw your video and within 5 min had the shape I needed THANK YOU

[IRideYouRide]

I stumbled on you twice today. Once earlier on Instructibles, and now when I searched for forming plexi glass. You are a really neat person.

[qualitatserzeugnis]

hi, I am wondering at which temperature do you set up the oven? txs

[paaghi]

thank u for your video. i found it useful.

[dudie5000]

@jeriellsworth so, i would make a shape like a bowl, not a ball, then form the plastic in it?