polyethylene / polypropylene blanks

[okpanda]

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?

[okpanda]

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

[tragwag]

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.

[okpanda]

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?

[Gridlock]

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.

[okpanda]

[okpanda]

what sucks about it?

[Gridlock]

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.

[piaptk]

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.

[okpanda]

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?

[nikc]

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

[trailerparkjesus]

PETG, same as water bottles

[nikc]

OK thanks. Will look that up

[Aussie0zborn]

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.

[markrob]

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

[nikc]

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

[nikc]

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

[Spiderxdeath]

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 ?

[PMST]

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

[discosdecorte]

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