Carve it, heat it, bend it.

[Dhaffner]

I brought home my sample of Azek pvc from the conference.
It's a hard, dense material that is like HDU sign foam on steroids.
I plan to experiment with this stuff like crazy...but in the mean time
I wanted to show my first bit of fun.
I carved up a logo I had on hand, and it came out great. The carve is clean, sharp and hard as maple (harder).
Then I took a little trip to our grill...yeah, that's right...I said it...I put this baby on the barby.
I turned the grill to about 350 degrees and I cooked the piece for about 4 minutes. Then I put on some oven mits and took it out and gingerly bent it into a nice curve.
WOW!!!
The carve still looks great, and it cools back down to being rigid and hard in very short order.
This is my new favorite material. Next I'll be trying paint and glue ups...
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/20800/2508640680101109960S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/45071/2157684090101109960S600x600Q85.jpg

[Kenm810]

Going to have to look into "Azek pvc" products, -- just checked and I have 2 Dealers that stock it within 5 miles of me, and 5 more within 20 miles.

Thanks Doug for the Photos!

[b.sumner47]

Great Stuff !! It won't take me long to find some . Thanks, Capt Barry

[gregsolano]

I brought home a few samples as well, Have not had time to play with yet but looks like its going to be great!

[atauer]

Doug,

What are your thoughts on the cleanup afterwards? There is a piece running out in the shop right now, and it is making a mess! Even with a dust collection system, it still makes quite a mess. It appears that it tends to "cling" to some of the internal parts.

Did you encounter the same?

[gregsolano]

:(wow, just checked and no dealers in New Mexico at all :-(:-(

[Dhaffner]

Atauer...
Yeah, it certainly is a maker of shavings. My dust collection wasn't quite keeping up (but holding it's own). I had to supplement with some
compressed air from time to time to clear it out. I think the shavings are just a bit too heavy for the dust collector to pull. Other than that, I really really like it.

[CarverJerry]

I did the same thing except I used corian for making a lithopane, 350° for about 4 to 5 mins and rolled it around a 5 gal bucket. Details came out just as nice as being flat. And with corian or cast acrylic the stuff sticks to everything inside the machine as if it was a big magnet, even with a dust collection system.

CJ

[Old Salt]

I have been using the PVC board for out side signs for the last 3 years and had good luck with it.
I use can spray Plastic pant or PVC primer .
You are right the dust is hard to control , good vac system and air gun to clean up is a must.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

THEY CARRY IT AT LOWEs ............. I found it there yesterday.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

They carry 6 sizes in stock and you can special order all the way up to 4 x16 feet 3/4 thick.

They call it 100% PVC Trim Board ...........

Here is link http://www.lowes.com/pd_238351-99999-282912005_0__?productId=3195359&Ntt=rot+free&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Drot%2Bfree

[Jeff_Birt]

That look awesome Doug!

I brought home a few sample too but have not yet decided how to use them. Our local lumber yard is 'supposed' to carry Azek, but I won't hold my breath. We have a Lowe's too so I'll pick up some of the material Jason found and see how it works as well.

'Let's throw another carving on the barbie!"

[Digitalwoodshop]

Is it the same as I cut the letters from.... PVC Trim Board....

1 in x 12 in x 18 feet $96.00

AL

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Yes ... I believe it is the same product -or at least some form of it.

[Dhaffner]

Happiness is a 4' x 8' sheet of this stuff arriving monday.... 3/8" and 1/2" thick.

[Pratyeka]

how much for a 4' X 8'?

[Dhaffner]

Location may have an impact on cost...I don't know.
For me a 4' x 8' sheet of 3/8" was $86.00. 3/4" would be 154.63....almost half the cost of HDU (30lb density).

[Capt Bruce]

All this talk of 4' x 8' sheets makes my little 3"x5" samples seem rather insignificant. Time to go seeking real pieces if I'm going to run a decent test.

[Jeff_Birt]

I've been wondering how a larger sheet of Azek will do once it has been carved and is exposed to the sun. Plastic expands quite a bit when heated so I am wondering if the varied thickness of the carving would cause differnet expansion rates and warping? As I understand it one of the big benifits of sign foam is that it is stable. The biggest piece of Azek I have on hand is only 12" x 5.5" so I'm not sure it will make for a good test. A trip to the lumber yard in order I think (all in the name of science).

[myshop1044]

The Azek I located is priced as 1" x 12"( 11 1/4) x 18' $100.00, 1" x 8" ( 7 1/2") x 18' is 64.65
3/8 , 1/2 , 3/4" 4 x 8 runs $170.00 down to $96.34. They all come out about $5.50 a sq ft.
I have some signs I want to try and outdoor or deck coasters,
so I think I will go with the 1 x 8 and 1 x 12 first.

[kenrik]

I've been wondering how a larger sheet of Azek will do once it has been carved and is exposed to the sun. Plastic expands quite a bit when heated so I am wondering if the varied thickness of the carving would cause differnet expansion rates and warping? As I understand it one of the big benifits of sign foam is that it is stable. The biggest piece of Azek I have on hand is only 12" x 5.5" so I'm not sure it will make for a good test. A trip to the lumber yard in order I think (all in the name of science).

Here is a welcome plaque I did for a client two years ago. ( carved from 3/4" Azek ) They have it mounted outside their front entry door exposed to the elements. It has held up very well.

[myshop1044]

That's a very nice project , what types of paints and finish dis you use?

[Dhaffner]

Looks good Kenrik! Been carving some myself...44771

[liquidguitars]

Now I want to try a violin with it.

[Jeff_Birt]

Thanks for the feedback out stability kenrik, seems like great stuff...

[Woodhacker]

That stuff look pretty cool. I checked their site and they don't sell it in Florida. Bummer!

[ktjwilliams]

Was strolling through Home Depot today... They had AZEK ,, They had a good selection of widths and lenghts ....

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Some Samples of Carved Azek from a couple of years ago ...

I have removed the attached files because they don't work .............

[Kenm810]

No Luck -- No Joy,

vBulletin Message

Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator (http://www.carvewright.com/2010CWweb/contactus.htm)

[LittleRedWoodshop]

It gets kinda old that those images don't work ... can someone fix this.

http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/14/04/28/42/cbg10.jpg

http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/14/04/28/42/not_su11.jpg

http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/14/04/28/42/not_su12.jpg

[ktjwilliams]

Bought an 8' 1x6x3/4 from Home Depot $ 29.... Started carving,,, what a mess it makes, clings to everything !!! Didn't let lite through very good for photo lite box... Anybody have any suggested setting for this stuff to work for litho's ???

[fwharris]

Bought an 8' 1x6x3/4 from Home Depot $ 29.... Started carving,,, what a mess it makes, clings to everything !!! Didn't let lite through very good for photo lite box... Anybody have any suggested setting for this stuff to work for litho's ???

I do not think it would do good for lithos. It is to opaque for this purpose. Better suited for signs and plaques..

[ktjwilliams]

Thx... I think I figured that out last night... I had to plane it down to a point where if I wanted to I could push my finger through the carve.. Not to mention that, That stuff just came out of the planer in globs... I had to detach the planer from my central vac because this stuff was just clogging it up,, and I use 4" hose... Well an experiment and lesson learned... I like signs in wood, it lets the carving show, once a sign is painted it kinda losses that carved effect... To me anyway... I just color or gold leaf lettering... or I fluid the carved areas with stain (oil) and wipe the high sufaces,, so the carved areas take on a darker tone and highlites the carvings and letters...

Kevin