| thedrake | 02 Apr 2014 5:39 p.m. PST |
Am using a plastic container to convert into a space dock and am wondering what folks would suggest for a good rotary tool with cutting attachment and file. Looking to cut open the closed end on the circular area and possible removing the threaded end from the other side. Any suggestions please???? Thx,
Mark link link |
| DOUGKL | 02 Apr 2014 5:58 p.m. PST |
A Dremel tool or one of their competitors should work fine. |
jurgenation  | 02 Apr 2014 6:17 p.m. PST |
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| Mako11 | 02 Apr 2014 6:46 p.m. PST |
Band saw would work as well, if the throat is large enough to accommodate your bucket. |
| CorSecEng | 02 Apr 2014 7:00 p.m. PST |
I'd do it by hand with a razor saw and exacto. Dremels are nice but that is thin plastic and hard get straight lines. Plus it will melt generally instead of cutting. If all your doing it slicing the end off then use the exacto to cut a slot for the saw and run it along the edge. Bandsaw might be tough as well. Once you cut that base off the sides will start to flex a lot and probably bind up/shred the piece and your arm. |
| corporalpat | 02 Apr 2014 7:22 p.m. PST |
Got to agree. A Dremel looks like overkill for that piece.I would do it by hand. |
| JezEger | 02 Apr 2014 9:36 p.m. PST |
If you do use a Dremel make sure you wear some kind of eye protection. Those little cutting blades have a habit of snapping and sending shards flying everywhere. you don't need anything fancy, sunglasses would work. |
| thedrake | 03 Apr 2014 12:07 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! |
| SouthernPhantom | 03 Apr 2014 7:04 a.m. PST |
I'd do it by hand. Dremels are hard to cut straight lines with- and yes, they can get very melty. Having globs of molten plastic stuck to your skin is not fun. Trust me. |
| TheBeast | 03 Apr 2014 7:07 a.m. PST |
If that's the soft plastic I think it is, I think your best bet is razor knife, slowly going over the same line repeatedly. With the walls so easily deformed, scoring and slowly cutting would seem the best way, maybe even filling the insides with some kind of batting to keep the shape. Also, 'cut outside and carve in' might suffice. If you do need to use power, go for even more overkill, and make sure you use one that has infinitely low speeds to avoid the melt-a-goop on your blades, and skin. Doug |
| MAD MIKE | 03 Apr 2014 7:40 a.m. PST |
For cutting out the circle on the bottom you could chain-drill (drilling a series of closely spaced holes around the perimeter) then cutting the material between the holes. |
| TheBeast | 03 Apr 2014 8:16 a.m. PST |
Good one! Overlap the holes, and you just need to 'carve out' to make a smooth circle. Still, drills can overheat the plastic, too; 'infinitely slow…' will mean a long process. Doug |
| MAD MIKE | 03 Apr 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
@ TheBeast: You don't want to overlap the holes for two reasons;
1) The drill will want to slide off to the open side which is really annoying
2) Leaving a small amount of material between the holes keeps the structure rigid making drilling easier |
| Darkrazor | 03 Apr 2014 10:37 a.m. PST |
Rotozip on plywood with a plastic sideing bit you can easily control it and its a nice cut |
| super johnny rocket | 04 Apr 2014 3:10 a.m. PST |
i agree with cor sec the saw a way and then trim .. i will say it's going to be a hard fight that kind of plastic is soft when its smooth and strait but its thicker on the curved bits and can crack ..in the end they all be good ideas just go slow and get it done good luck |
