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Can you id this?


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  • #1295869
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    I have a plastic rod that is about 1/8" in diameter and about 8 feet long. I got it at a surplus store many years ago. The clerk said it had been part of a pop-up tent of some sort. It is very stiff yet pliable. I think it would work as a bivy hoop or maybe a rounded top for a tent like the Mountain Hardware Hoopla.

    But what is it made of…….nylon, delrin, flubber? Any clues?

    here

    here

    here

    #1927036
    Green Thumb
    Member

    @greenthumb

    It looks sort of like the piping that they put in the trim of upholstery.

    #1927052
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Green Thumb,

    I do recall seeing that stuff where old furnture has worn spots. I think the stuff I have is much stiffer than that but without a piece of it in my hand I can't be sure.

    Daryl

    #1927181
    Paul McLaughlin
    BPL Member

    @paul-1

    If you have enough of it that yu can sacrifice some, and the ability to measure the temperature you could try melting a piece and then look up the melting points of various possible plastics. Or, take it down to your nearest TAP plastics store and see if they can identify it.

    #1927188
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Paul,

    TAP plastics?

    There's one just down the hill from me.

    Never been there.

    Oh boy, a field trip.

    #1927385
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    My suspicion is that it could be a nylon.
    I doubt it would be Delrin, but not impossible.
    It could also be a polyethylene or similar.
    It could be glass-reinforced, possibly/maybe, as it looks a bit stiff. Try cutting 5 mm off the end and see what happens.

    Yes, melting point would help, or accurate density if you can measure the weight and diameter accurately. If you do the measurements I may be able to convert them into material. I have tables.

    Cheers

    #1927387
    Tad Englund
    BPL Member

    @bestbuilder

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    Roger, you never cease to amaze me.

    #1927417
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    +1 on Tad's comment.

    #1927449
    Sam Farrington
    BPL Member

    @scfhome

    Locale: Chocorua NH, USA

    Daryl,
    My money's on fiberglass.
    If so, a sharp utility knife blade applied near an end should show the fibers.

    #1927456
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    > My money's on fiberglass.
    Yeah, that too is very possible. You will find out fast if you try to trim the end!

    Cheers

    #1927501
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Samuel and Roger,

    I did the end trimming experiment you suggested and I'd say it is fiberglass. When snipped the end tended to crush and form a mini shaving brush. It makes sense to me because the stiffness feels like fiberglass. I was initally thrown off because it looks white and shiny like nylon.

    here

    here

    here

    Roger,

    I also took the measurements if you want to see how it comes out on your charts. However, at this point, I have little doubt about it being fiberglass.

    Length =2590.8mm (about 102 inches)
    Diameter = 3.12mm (about 1/8")
    Weight = 38.2 grams

    Thanks to all the detectives for the help.

    #1927503
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    Yeah, it looks like a plastic of some sort with fiberglass embedded. This was especially common amungst tool manufatcurors(Makita, Milwalukee, etc) about 20 years ago. Nowdays, it is mostly just plastics they use.

    #1927517
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Hi Daryl

    The density (~1.93 g/cc) is too high to be any common plastic. The ends are dead set for fibreglass though. And yes, the stuff has been used for that sort of thing.

    Just a suggestion: be a little careful when you cut it: the fine glass can be an irritant. If you want to be really safe, cut with a fine hacksaw with water flowing over it. Or just do it outside with the dust blowing away from you.

    Cheers

    #1927548
    Sam Farrington
    BPL Member

    @scfhome

    Locale: Chocorua NH, USA

    A mini cut-off saw, widely available, has a thin 2" circular blade that is good for FG and Carbon. OK for ALU also, but dulls quickly with that.

    Amazon now has a beefier 3" blade cut off saw for around $70, or twice the price of the mini, that takes both composite blades like those used on arrow saws that are 1/32" thin, or carbide tripped blades that are 1/8" thin. The carbide tipped ones have less teeth, so might do some tearing. On the other hand, the arrow saw composite blades come with a warning about shattering. That's why I always liked the 2" metal blades on the little saw, but it is on the anemic side. Maybe it's time to take another look at saws.

    Also, good quality fine particle masks are not hard to find. Carbon fiber has a distinct odor when cut without using a mask – a good warning signal.

    #1927607
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    So, assuming this is fiberglass, I ordered some 1/16 and 1/8 diameter pieces to compare and play with. Only $2 each for 4 foot long pieces.

    Thanks for the safety and cutting tips.

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