Flexible plastic rod

[Hipper]

As this site seems to be the font of all knowledge I thought I'd try this.

I'm looking for flexible plastic 10mm square rods They should be able to be bent to a diameter of about 16cm. They will be lightly screwed down so they don't have to hold that curve, just not break when it is applied.

Or, is it possible to bend a 10mm square piece of wood to that curvature, perhaps with hot water or steam?

Or, an L shaped piece of metal but of course that would have to be already the correct diameter. Biscuit tin lids or even old film cans might be a possibility!

I probably need around 5 metres.

Any ideas please?

[Devils_Advocate]

ebay

[Zlatan]

What’s the intended purpose? Might be more possibilities if we knew what they were intended to be used for

[dougcollins]

You'll struggle with wood if you don't know what you're doing, expect to break a few.

[atlantalad]

Guessing here but seems like you are improvising and intend to make visors?

Easiest way to form 160mm dia structure may be using 10 mm copper tube - bend over a 80mm rad former.

If you need it to be a plastic then you may also consider something like a plastic curtain track and thermoforming ( use hair dryer to soften) around a 80 mm rad former. Could maybe use small saucepan as the former.

[LS7]

Sounds like a miniature gazebo or perhaps a home made girdle?

[mikeS]

This place sell plastic extrusions.
https://www.tubewayextrusions.com/plast ... gK5cvD_BwE

[Funkydrummer]

What about adapting Hoola Hoops (not the snack variety !!! )

Just a thought.

[dsr]

Flexible plastic? I wondered if you might be after a sort of J-Rod.

[Jel]

A couple of thoughts, maybe a slice of drainage pipe.
Another idea, depending on how many you need is to make a mold and use a resin to create the ring. These are readily available, maybe a PU composite

[Millertime v1.7]

Lads if the guy isn't bothering his arse to say what they're for I wouldn't bother with him at all. Clearly one of those folk who takes and gives nothing back. Very self centred.

[Funkydrummer]

Lads if the guy isn't bothering his arse to say what they're for I wouldn't bother with him at all. Clearly one of those folk who takes and gives nothing back. Very self centred.

Knowing Hipper, there will be a very good reason why he's not come back on here.

[Bullabill]

Lads if the guy isn't bothering his arse to say what they're for I wouldn't bother with him at all. Clearly one of those folk who takes and gives nothing back. Very self centred.

Then don't bother with him, I'm sure he'll not miss your input. BTW .. just check the 'likes'.

[Millertime v1.7]

Mate he should have replied to people to express his gratitude for helping him

[bfcjg]

Hi hipper as intimated on here buy on ebay a hair driver helps soften enough to bend. Re timber you'll struggle stick with plastic.

[Hipper]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm looking to attach these pieces to this:

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod-bak/quad.html

The idea is to be able to use the levers with notches. Near the base of the lever I would attach a small round headed screw. The pieces I'm looking for would be screwed (I envisage three screws) close to the levers and they would have small indentations drilled into them. As the lever is moved it would lightly catch in the indentation. I would need a number of different pieces as various operations require different numbers and placement of the notches.

I like the idea of using a mold but it looks like a lot of work. Using a hair dryer on stiff plastic sounds good too.

At the moment of course we are limited to investigating on the internet and usually it is a problem of asking the right questions. I've trawled through Amazon and elsewhere. The modellers world seems a likely place but most of the plastic they use is styrene which is stiff. One possibility is buying thin sheets of styrene and building up an quadrant shape.

The nearest item that may fit the bill are some film cans made of plastic:

https://pec.co.uk/product/35mm-400ft-ar ... -film-can/

This one is 18cm diameter so could yield up to eight pieces and perhaps using a hair dryer might work. There also pretty cheap so could be worth an experiment.

[IanMcL]

I always thought Rod Stewart sang from the heart.

[atlantalad]

Hi Hipper. Looks like you are not improvising but wanting to make something that looks both professional and functional. If it was me I would look at 3D priniting as this gives you much more control over dimensions and you can even print in the notch and hole feature. Use ABS or even PP as the plastic since these are both tough ( unlike polystyrene).

I no longer have access to 3D printers - Lowbankclaret seems to be the man of the moment for 3D printing.

[Nonayforever]

Hi Hipper,

Small square electric cable housing may do the job you require.
As it is a "u" shape with a capping, it is very flexible.
Available in white plastic from almost everywhere and quite low cost.
I don't quite understand your application re the throttle control but it may be worth a look.

[Hipper]

Hi Hipper. Looks like you are not improvising but wanting to make something that looks both professional and functional. If it was me I would look at 3D priniting as this gives you much more control over dimensions and you can even print in the notch and hole feature. Use ABS or even PP as the plastic since these are both tough ( unlike polystyrene).

I no longer have access to 3D printers - Lowbankclaret seems to be the man of the moment for 3D printing.

3D printing sounds like a good idea. Indeed there are 3D made parts that people use for Flight Simulator. However I think what I want is pretty simple (a workable 10mm square piece bent to the appropriate diameter) and the notches can only be found by installing the piece and locating their position by moving the lever and marking the location. There could be up to nine notches on some pieces, not necessarily evenly placed. It may be possible to mess about with the lever controlling software to position the lever exactly where notches are but I want to keep it simple.

[Millertime v1.7]

Still no clearer as to what Hippers trying to do. Lads listen, he should have been more transparent from post 1

[Croydon Claret]

Something like this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/222307632272?c ... gIHy_D_BwE

[atlantalad]

As Jel suggested above. You can get 160 mm pvc underground drainage pipe and slice it into rings of appropriate width. Bit yucky brown colour mind, but builders merchants should have the 160 mm size. If you don't want the 3 m length they have some short broken / cracked rejects that you could try.

[JohnMac]

You don't need a map of prominent Western world public buildings as well by any chance do you?

[Rileybobs]

You don't need a map of prominent Western world public buildings as well by any chance do you?

Careful. I had a post removed for a similar jest.

[HunterST_BFC]

This is actually my favorite thread from the last few weeks.

[Hipper]

I've gone for something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1

I actually have one of these from years ago. It's rubber with a flexible steel ribbon inside and about 11mm square. It can bend to the shape I want, is easy to drill through and make notch holes. How it will wear is anybody's guess.

So there we are. Thanks for everyone's help.

By the way, the idea of a film can or biscuit tin lid that I had was dumb. The L shape would be on the inside of the arc. This came to me when I was half asleep. I think I'm more intelligent then (and perhaps even more intelligent when fully asleep before anyone says so).

[Bosscat]

Careful. I had a post removed for a similar jest.

I thought I had seen something along those lines Rileyb .... at least I now know am not going senile (well hope I'm not )