FRP sheets...

[webtrekker]

Does anyone know of a UK supplier of sheet FRP (Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic) for sublimation?

So far, I've only found suppliers that sell ready cut blanks, such as coasters, door hangers, key fobs, etc, but I would prefer sheets that I could cut myself and print. Single-sided would do for my purposes.

Also, do you know if this stuff can be bent like acrylic sheet, using a hot wire bender?

Thanks.

[Ricky@Xpres]

Hello Webtrekker

We offer FRP in sheet-stock:

https://www.xpres.co.uk/c-945-unisub-sh ... xpres.aspx

Any questions please give me a call.

Ricky
Xpres

Does anyone know of a UK supplier of sheet FRP (Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic) for sublimation?

So far, I've only found suppliers that sell ready cut blanks, such as coasters, door hangers, key fobs, etc, but I would prefer sheets that I could cut myself and print. Single-sided would do for my purposes.

Also, do you know if this stuff can be bent like acrylic sheet, using a hot wire bender?

Thanks.

[knightweb]

Hi,

In theory it could be reformed with your Hot Wire Bender
The Fibreglass will make it tough, (you might need an extra shredded wheat!), and I'm thinking that the Plastic is probably a Polyester type, that you should be able to reform

Cheers,
Kevin

[webtrekker]

Thanks [MENTION=2631]Ricky[/MENTION]@Expres and [MENTION=5206]knightweb[/MENTION].

The reason I'm interested in FRP is to make desk/table clocks, such as my current Tide Clock design, which is made from a piece of clear acrylic, bent to shape, with a sublimated aluminium clock face. I was hoping to side-step the aluminium and print directly to a white stand, instead of the clear acrylic stand.

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clock_stand_NEW_2.57.jpg (52.54 KiB) Viewed 27 times

At the moment, I'm waiting for some white acrylic samples to arrive to see if I can sublimate directly to the acrylic ( it does conatin polymers, I believe). If that works, then I won't really need to explore the FRP route.

[pisquee]

If you get CAST acrylic then it is sublimatable (don't get extruded acrylic as this won't work)
If you use clear acrylic to print onto, up the colour saturation, as the print will be transparent, white acrylic won't have this problem, and frosted is a nice halfway house. You can get recycled acrylic for around the same price, which could work well for an extra USP.
Frosted also good with a light behind it...

[GoonerGary]

I did some experiments with acrylic 3+ years ago. Purchased it from Trent Plastics. They can laser cut any size for you. I'll see if I still have the printed versions in the cupboard.

[pisquee]

Other acrylic suppliers ... cut plastic sheeting, bay plastics, zap creations...

[webtrekker]

The samples I have on order are 3mm white cast acrylic. I hadn't considered the idea of using frosted! Could be a nice touch if it prints well.

It's important to me to be able to produce clean, accurate bends, which is another reason why acrylic may take precedence over FRP, provided the prints look good and I can control any warping/distortion of the pressed items.

[pisquee]

When we did some acrylic work on A3 sheets for an artist, we used two PressMech presses - one for printing, and the other turned off cold and kept them under pressure in the cold press while they cooled to try and minimise the warping problems.

[GoonerGary]

The samples I have on order are 3mm white cast acrylic. I hadn't considered the idea of using frosted! Could be a nice touch if it prints well.

There's nothing more enjoyable than receiving a nice big swatch with lots of colours. Perspex sent me a ton of stuff for free. I've got a shelf with all sorts of acrylic tools and samples. I was in the middle of a studio move when this was all happening, so other projects got in the way.

Just dug out a sample of clear PETG, I've written "Polyester acrylic printable but turns white" ..probably when I tried to form it. So finding the correct type of plastic will be your main priority.