polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

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okpanda
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polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46525Unread post okpanda
Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:43 pm

i was recently forwarded this article:
http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx

and asked if there were any less toxic materials than pvc that could be used for blanks. i have seen pvc and polycarbonate blanks, but are polyethylene or polypropylene blanks available or advisable for cutting?

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okpanda
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46527Unread post okpanda
Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:17 pm

curious about acrylic, is it possible to buy blanks or have them made?

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tragwag
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46536Unread post tragwag
Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:42 pm

I think experimenters have tried nearly all of the clear, extruded in sheets plastics out there.
Acrylic can't be embossed it needs to be cut. and comes out OK, but not worth the chip pickup hassle.

different companies have slightly different formulations of polyethylene and polypropylene blanks, but I had some success in the past.
the standard uses for these materials, and the testing they doesn't really cover our needs as cutting grooves into it.
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okpanda
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46539Unread post okpanda
Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:35 pm

i'm being asked specifically about high density polyethylene as it is a recyclable plastic. any experience cutting with that? what might i need to be aware of?

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Gridlock
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46543Unread post Gridlock
Fri Mar 31, 2017 6:54 am

Ok so I live in Oregon where weed is legal and they are making fancy presses and extruders and shit for hash. Also hemp fiber cellulose. Which has got me thinkin records and cutting and whatnot. Also, cutting on acrylic sucks don't do it.
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okpanda
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46546Unread post okpanda
Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:45 am

:mrgreen:

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okpanda
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46547Unread post okpanda
Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:47 am

what sucks about it?

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Gridlock
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46549Unread post Gridlock
Fri Mar 31, 2017 12:59 pm

The swarf is a mess and the cuts sound like crap and it'll wear your needle down too fast. Just do lexan or whatever.
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piaptk
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46550Unread post piaptk
Fri Mar 31, 2017 3:29 pm

Cuts on acrylic actually sound pretty good... for the first ten discs on a brand new $123 cutting needle. Then the surface noise builds up really quick and the needle is useless after 25 records.
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okpanda
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 46706Unread post okpanda
Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:20 am

ok, i've acquired a 48" x 96" sheet of 0.060" black HDPE from amazon, now i just need to figure out how to make it into disks. i may have access to some tools and machinery at a local makerspace, i just don't have any experience with that kind of thing so i'm not really sure what to use. my cousin recommended cutting the sheet into 7" or 12" squares and then using a mandrel (?) to make them round. would that be effective or would there be a better way of doing it?

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nikc
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61539Unread post nikc
Sat Oct 01, 2022 4:59 am

Hi I know it's been years but did you or anyone else get anywhere with propylene blanks? I am really interested in the possibility of a more environmentally friendly blank. And also other new plastics that are as good as PVC.
Best
Nik
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Pearl Home Records

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trailerparkjesus
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61544Unread post trailerparkjesus
Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:43 pm

PETG, same as water bottles

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nikc
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61550Unread post nikc
Mon Oct 03, 2022 11:13 am

OK thanks. Will look that up
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Aussie0zborn
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61602Unread post Aussie0zborn
Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:01 pm

All plastics are recyclable and if you’re not going to eat it, it’s not toxic. If you want to be environmentally friendly it might be best to find another hobby and make yourself useful by collecting plastic from the beach.

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markrob
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61603Unread post markrob
Wed Oct 12, 2022 12:01 am

Hi,

There is no need to make them round. Especially for testing. Just cut them as squares with whatever means you have and drill a hole.

Mark

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nikc
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61608Unread post nikc
Fri Oct 14, 2022 1:42 am

Aussie0zborn wrote:
Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:01 pm
All plastics are recyclable and if you’re not going to eat it, it’s not toxic. If you want to be environmentally friendly it might be best to find another hobby and make yourself useful by collecting plastic from the beach.
I think pvc , because of the chloride is very toxic when being recycled. And is hard to reclycle. Compared to other plastics. No, I'm not going to stop this hobby. I was just asking in an interested way. This being the place to speculate an all :)
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nikc
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61609Unread post nikc
Fri Oct 14, 2022 1:51 am

markrob wrote:
Wed Oct 12, 2022 12:01 am
Hi,

There is no need to make them round. Especially for testing. Just cut them as squares with whatever means you have and drill a hole.

Mark
Yes good idea. I used to order polycarbonate squares for embossing because they were cheaper. Pre cutting on myshank blanks. I think I still have the 7.3mm drill bit
Nik Clifford
Pearl Home Records

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Spiderxdeath
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61875Unread post Spiderxdeath
Sat Dec 03, 2022 5:04 pm

Generally I just cut on my shank blanks, always the best . But I friend of mine gave me some polycarbonate blanks recently and I wanted to give them a spin. Any massive differences between the two ?

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PMST
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61877Unread post PMST
Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:07 am

Shanks are PETG, whereas Polycarbonate is harder and generally used for embossing, it likely isn't a good idea for your diamond.

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discosdecorte
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Re: polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

Post: # 61882Unread post discosdecorte
Sun Dec 04, 2022 12:53 pm

Hi!

I cut on polypropylene sheets almost two years ago, it was fun and had no issues with my cutting needle (MyShank diamond). Sound was OK, but after some weeks the discs turned smelly! 😂
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPX3ojje-5/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLPcyIUjntK/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I did have much better results this year using thin acetate sheets (better sound, no smells) 🤩
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgeSEytjOE8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Best regards,
Fer
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