Repairing Bent/Warped Soft Plastic

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Predakign2000, Jan 27, 2010.

  1. Predakign2000

    Predakign2000 Transformers Fan Since 1984

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    I have a few figures that have warped soft plastic parts, mostly due to my own fault when I packed them when I moved. How can I fix this?
     
  2. Sammael

    Sammael MightyMegatron from ATT

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    Use a hair dryer to soften the plastic completely, and then bend it back to the original shape. Then immediately place the plastic part in icy water to make it retain the new shape.
     
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  3. Salvanis

    Salvanis Probably not a true fan.

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    Basically, you just want a safe way to heat the plastic until it softens and goes back to its original shape; I've always found dipping the affected parts in boiling water for 5-10 seconds at a time (repeated as necessary) to be effective in straightening them out - I've never had to manually straighten the parts using that method; they just kind of move back on their own. You could probably just hold the parts over the water and steam them if you don't feel comfortable getting your toys wet, but I've never had a problem with hot water. After the parts are back in their normal position, just let them sit until they're cool and they should be fine.

    Never tried the hair dryer approach since I don't have one lying around, but I would imagine it would work about as well.
     
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  4. alenpoison

    alenpoison Well-Known Member

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    Hair dryer method worked for my GDO Megatron
     
  5. pokemonsdoom

    pokemonsdoom MadameVixen

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    I am not proud of this but i use my own body heat in m hands after drinking some monster, I **** you guys not, I could warp crayons into perfect circles with my fingers
     
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  6. tikgnat

    tikgnat Baweepgranaweepninnybong.

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    Hair dryer can melt the plastic if you're not careful.

    I used to use boiling water but now I use the steam that comes out of a kettle at the end of a boil cycle.

    Steam!
     
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  7. alenpoison

    alenpoison Well-Known Member

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    the best is the hair dryer :)  no doubt about it
     
  8. Agamus

    Agamus Not an Iguana

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    Do any of these techniques work for hard plastics as well?
     
  9. LSyd

    LSyd Well-Known Member

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    depends on plastic but in my experience yes (warm/hot water)

    -
     
  10. bman

    bman Well-Known Member

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    You could even fix stress marks, if you use a low temp heat gun. Stress marks begone.
     
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  11. Seamus McLame

    Seamus McLame Well-Known Member

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    With regards to these tactics working on hard plastic too, are they even satisfactory for clear plastic? I want to straighten out my Toxitron's sword but am afraid of it being brittle due to being clear.

    Sorry for bumping an old thread! I tried searching for something specific to bending clear plastic but didn't pull up anything.