thermoforming shaping plastic egg crate

[jesserettele]

I am working with some egg crate to design caves and passages before stacking live rock and below are the pics of my results. I cut three pieces of some old crate and placed it in my household oven to test this out. We have an infrared closed loop thermoforming oven at work for large pieces but this worked well for at home. Make sure that you work quick after pulling it out of the oven because it looses its forming ability as it cools quick being ABS (styrene) plastic. BE CAREFUL WHEN HEATING IN A NON VENTED AREA AS CHEMICALS ARE RELEASED http://www.cityplastics.com.au/pdf/abs%20msds.pdf

1. first pic was a disaster, way too hot, 350 degrees at about 7 minutes.
2. was better but still shrank compared to uncooked at 200 degrees for 5 minutes.
3. Finally success at 180 degrees for 2 minutes.

I could have formed it more but I just wanted to make sure I could work with it and it not break, crack, or cool too quickly.

I also want black egg crate, anyone know where to find it in town? It is on the web for $8 a sheet measuring 2'X4'. I know Allied plastic has a location here in San Antonio but with limited inventory.

[Mr Cob]

Pretty cool. I haven't ever seen anyone do this. I kind of think they are all a success and could still be used in different ways, especially if you will be using foam.

If you are using foam, why would you need black eggcrate? If you aren't using foam then I can understand wanting black, that's a good idea.

Anyways, looks like you are very creative and I can't wait to see what you do with that stuff.

[Europhyllia]

The 'hot' cave is actually my favorite :)

[Mr Cob]

The 'hot' cave is actually my favorite :)

Same here...that could look nice with a light application of foam and aragonite zip tied to the structure.

[Pennies2Cents]

I must admit karin that is a pretty cool idea! :) Thanks for sharing.. Dont forget to post more pics when its all complete with foam! :)



Edit: Sorry I meant to say Jessi! :)

[Mr Cob]

I must admit Karin that is a pretty cool idea!

^think you mean Jesse?

[jesserettele]

O.K., let me in on this 'hot' cave thing! :shades:


The 'hot' cave is actually my favorite :)

[jesserettele]

I was hoping to foam up the back drop as you did, then place a shelf in front of it for live rock (made out of black egg crate) but not foam it so that it was open and let water flow through it to the live rock it would be holding. I want to get rid of that "dead area" under the rock on top of the substrate. I would like to do the cave this way too but am worried that if I don't foam it then you would be able ot see under the live rock and see the egg crate a little. What do you think?


Pretty cool. I haven't ever seen anyone do this. I kind of think they are all a success and could still be used in different ways, especially if you will be using foam.

If you are using foam, why would you need black eggcrate? If you aren't using foam then I can understand wanting black, that's a good idea.

Anyways, looks like you are very creative and I can't wait to see what you do with that stuff.

[Mr Cob]

Sounds like a good idea... when you see mine on Thursday and we talk about how I did mine you can take the "good" and add it to your ideas...should get some pretty cool results.

You plan to use PVC for the shelf?

[jesserettele]

great question..... I'd like to use the egg crate as the shelf but it won't support the live rock without a sturdy frame of PVC. Then you will see the PVC if the substrate doesn't come all the wya up to the rock......


Sounds like a good idea... when you see mine on Thursday and we talk about how I did mine you can take the "good" and add it to your ideas...should get some pretty cool results.

You plan to use PVC for the shelf?

[Mr Cob]

Well, I've done the shelf/pvc thing before and I covered all of the edges with black pond foam to hide all the white bling.

That's how I had my old 120g. It was two tier, was nice, but I think yours could be better with your caves you got going on.

Just don't make any permanent decisions until you see mine, you might be able to incorporate my plastic tunnels and zip ties into your idea in some way. I think it would be cool to see your tunnels you are making as part of the foam background.