Any experience with plastics?

chuckie108
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Mira Loma, CA US
12/16/2016 12:00am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2016 12:01am
Looking to fab up some fork guards for my YZ50 project. Can't find anything already done so was planning to make some up. Rob B mentioned repurposing 5 gallon buckets for the task in another thread, but I worry about getting them to bend around the small fork legs properly. McMaster Carr pretty much sells all kinds of plastic stock, I just don't know why type of materiel will work best. Anyone on here have any experience with different plastics and has an idea of which type of plastic will work best for this kind of application/heat forming?
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chuckie108
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Mira Loma, CA US
12/16/2016 9:09am
I could go that route, but I was hoping to get something more opaque/off white. I know, being a bit picky. Also thinking about future projects.
12/16/2016 9:45am Edited Date/Time 12/16/2016 9:48am
You can also use a lid from a plastic storage box
the one's on this YZ80 were made from a $3.99 lid from target
heated for 2 minutes , and wrap around leg, zip tie
lid

The Shop

TommyLee93
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6/17/2014
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Mansfield, TX US
12/16/2016 12:54pm
We would use golf club tubes and cut them to fit when I was on 80's.
slomoto
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4/1/2008
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San Luis Obispo, CA US
12/16/2016 6:07pm
DC plastics has them 49.95 a set
a22
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London GB
12/17/2016 10:03am
Have you thought about pvc pipe?
Years back my Dad made some great guards using PVC pipe (was on my YZ80)- cut it in half down the centre and sort of gradually heat moulded/ shaped them more exactly to the fork using a heat gun carefully. Cannot remember quite how he did it and if he may have cut around the wheel bolt but remember they came out really good, as what with the full pipe being cut in two halfs, was able to use one half for the back and the other for the front- just zip tied/ taped the two halfs together and forks were fully protected all round, not just the front or partially but fully.
Tdub13
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MA US
12/20/2016 9:36am
5 gal buckets are made of HDPE. That's what you want. McMaster Carr will have HDPE in different sheet thicknesses. You can heat and form it easily, but you can't bond it.

I wouldn't use PVC as it's more brittle and scars more easily as well. However, If you need to fabricate parts and bond them, then PVC will be easier to chemically bond with PVC cement. HDPE requires welding. Cool
chuckie108
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12/20/2016 12:57pm
Thanks all for the reply!

slotmoto, have a link by chance? I've been all over their site and all I've seen is stuff for big bikes.

Thanks Tdub13, that's the type of info I was looking for!

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