Alternative Sources for Art Materials: Plastics & Styrene

Styrene/Polyester/Plexiglass: large sheets
+ pour-able 2-part plastic resin

for Building Models or the Printmaking technique of Monoprinting [or plastic-forming using molds or vacuum-forming devices]

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Plexiglass

We carry 12″x24″ completely clear Polyester sheets in three different thicknesses: .030, .040, .060. These are perfect for model building and mono-printing techniques.

We also do sell 6”x12” sheets of the various plastic products [polyester, lexan, styrene, PVC] in various thicknesses and various colors which are useful for small models.
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Polystyrene

We sell smaller sheets of the polystyrene which can be used for the vacuum-forming process. This will handle any small job you guys can come up with. The sheet size that we carry is 6”x12”.

However, especially with the fantastically wacky Georgia Tech professors and graduate students, many of you have designs for building robots, cars, or houses out of vacuum-formed plastic. For you, I list the following resources.

Our sheets of polystyrene make a really neat boing-y noise when you wave them in the air. So they also would be useful for wacky sound effects.

I have been un-able to find larger sheets of polystyrene available at any of the traditional consumer hot spots [ACE, LOWE’S, Home Depot]
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Plastic Resin

We do sell an assortment of the smaller quantities of the 2 part plastic resin which can be poured into a mold. The product is by SMOOTH-ON. Their web site is at address:

http://www.smooth-on.com/

I have had no complaints about its usefulness. I have, however, had complaints about the small quantities that we carry. The sets that we carry will make 1.8 lbs of plastic. The gel time is 2-3 minutes. The castings can be de-molded in as little as 10 minutes. They can also be dyed/color-matched.

There are some listings below for those of you that have designed a whole new set of ½ scale army men and soldiers who will guard your grave when you have passed. You know who you are. I am also impressed with the inner-city baby-doll designer. A little saddened, but impressed.

At Lowe’s and Home Depot they sell a 2-part Epoxy Resin [TABLE-GRADE—do NOT get “Floor grade”] which can be used in the lower-detail casting—or the flat pour-in sort of molds to make medallions. This stuff is relatively clear. It is also useful for varnishing 2-dimensional pieces that are on a rigid support.
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