Homemade plastic castings

[ActionTekJackson]

Ok, so, I remember back in the day doing those retarded things such as making napalm with styrofoam and gasoline. I also remember not using all of the gooey styrofoam, and letting it sit in the can it was made in, then finding it some few days later and it had dried up to become pretty hard and almost just like hard plastic. I have a project where I am going to be making and electric ignition system, but have not the wood to build the box, plus it'd be really nice to have smaller casings for some inner workings. What about using this styrofoam gasoline goo and moulding it, then drying it solid? Has anyone tried this? Good idea, bad idea?

[Draco_Aster]

I imagine it being alot of work with poor results. Many bubbles, poor colour and not very strong. Most electronic stores like Dicksmith (australian) or your 'radioshack' will have cheap nice looking cases.

 

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefro...duct/View/H2872

[pa_pyro]

Why not use acetone? It would be much safer than gasoline.

[ActionTekJackson]

Not sure I follow ya there... Dissolving styrofoam in gasoline doesn't generate any noticable heat or anything... And... isn't acetone more volatile anyway? Either way doesn't matter, switchboard is made, no plastic casing was needed. Works flawlessly :-D

[dragonman586]

Its not about generating heat period. He wants to make styrofoam goo and dry the goo into a shape he can use to make boxes and such. Think plaster of paris.

[Swany]

I belive there were people at the old forum who made plaster of paris molds, then lead molds for casting thermoplastics, not making a goo and then forming, into shell hemis. I could be right or wrong, but I belive someone did it...

[BigBang]

Rooster took that route to making paper hemis, and I believe someone tried molded plastics, but failed.