I was up at the quick stop a little bit ago, and just happened to see some Coke posters behind the ice-cream freezer. I’m always looking for free posters to hang up in the barn, so I asked if they were done with them and she said they were brand new but she didn’t have a place for them so they’re mine now. Well, I noticed one had a chunk out of one side so I was going to throw it away and that’s when I noticed it…it was thicker and plasticier than normal posters, and best I can tell I just got two 3x3 sheets of styrene (and two Coke posters) for nothing!!! Beats Evergreen all to pieces!
Some people have noticed that some of the cheap “For Sale” or “Keep Out” signs from places like Wal-Mart or K-Mart are actually printed on styrene. For a buck or so, they are cheaper by far than the same size sheet.
I got a couple of big sheets from www.usplastic.com for a fraction of the Evergreen cost. These are the Rubbermaid people. The styrene was so cheap that the shipping was actually about half the cost, so I bought 2 sheets. Glad I did, as I’m almost done with the first.
Another source of inexepensive styrene is the commercial dress making industry. At a recent small factory closing, my wife picked up 4’ x 8’ sheets of thin styrene used to make dress patterns. Apparently styrene is used because it is a lot more durable than paper patterns. Huge volume makers would not use this, but apparently any business making low volume items that are hand cut would. Of course most of this type of work is done overseas now, the wedding dress maker in question was closing its Illinois facility and opening up factories in India I think.
I too always look for deals like this. I found black Foldgers coffee can lids work great for dumpster lids. I also cut these up for plaster spreading tools. I’m on the look out at any store I’m in for things I can adapt to my train layout. (it’s a fun sickness[:D])
Has anyone ever approached a window manufacturer for scrap plexiglass or vinyl material? I live in the Pinelands of southern New Jersey. There are three vinyl fencing manufacturers within 10 minutes of my house. I suppose I could obtain scrap PVC from any one of them.
There really is lots of this styrene around and a lot of people use it as a short-term one-time job and discard it, grab on it’s free. Trainwreck: (PLASTICIER) great new word ! I even understood it.
Another way to get cheap styrene is to save up all the plastic bubbles from things you buy from the store. (like Hot Wheels) The clear plastic bubbles can be cut with scissors, and it works real well as basic flat detail, as windows or as hidden construction material. I know, because I’ve used it to make filled pilots and windshields![:D]