I'm looking for some 5mm think (ish) polyethylene sheet (stuff they make plastic chopping boards out of), to make a skid plate from. Seems the logical stuff to use. It can be easily formed with a heat gun and is abrasion and impact resistant. The question is where can I buy a small piece from ? I have called various suppliers but all want to sell me large sheets (I only need about a metre square, and that's allowing for mistakes). Does anyone work with this stuff or know of anywhere I might get an offcut from ? Colour or condition not important.

I hate gritting my teeth every time the aluminium sump just catches a speed bump (even at 2mph)

thanks

a big chopping board shop!

sorry..couldn't resist it..

sounds like a good idea though....

I don't know what size they are available in but they might be worth a look.

Any plastics wholesaler should be able to supply it. I wouldn't use it though. it is tough, but not rigid enough to withstand the sort of thump you're trying to protect your sump from.
You'd be better off using a high-tensile aluminium alloy sheet. CF would be a nice choice with a modern slant. Spensy though.

I'm not really looking to protect against the impact stuff, more the grinding as I drive over objects such as speed bumps, too high lowered kerbs etc. I don't really have enough clearance to fit a proper guard. Plastic seemed the obvious answer. Just looking to stop the sump from slowly wearing away.

http://www.plastexe.co.uk/stockrange.html

or

http://www.gcip.co.uk/EP/ep.htm

Mac

Don't forget that the air flowing past the surface of the sump plays a significant part in cooling the engine oil - that's why ready-made sump guards have lots of holes drilled in them.

DJ

Machine guards use Macralon. Not cheap but you only need a small piece. I would try a company that makes industrial machines, they may have off cut or similar for a good price. It has good impact resistance.

I managed to get some once when i worked at Black and Decker from an old machine that was being scrapped off. There are companies about that specialise in scrapping old machines for spares, i would bet the old guards are usually thrown out.

Hi,
I have a offcut of 6 mm thk white nylon .
935mmX795mm.
Is this any good to you ?



Yours if you want it !!

sound like it could be ideal lukefab (can I form nylon with a heat gun ?)

Where abouts in Nottingham are you ?

thanks

Not sure,
Its yours if you want to try.

I am just down the road from you at Bingham.

Thanks Luke U2U me your phone number and I'll pick it up. I am working in Nottingham the next few days so could come back home down the A60 past you. As far as thermoforming the stuff, what's the worst that could happen ? I guess a hot, smelly sticky mess of melted plastic on the garage floor !

I know you can thermoform ABS plastic. Nylon will soften when heated. Main problem will be the thichness of the sheet.

Ive seen 3mm ABS being vac formed. I cant help thinking that the Nylon should be OK, only problem is to get enough heat into it it may get a bit charred on the back face. Will sheet be small enough to go into oven to get it an even temp first? (send SWIMBO out shopping first! - line oven with tin foil). Hot air heat gun maybe best.

Picked up the nylon from lukefab the other night - thanks much appriciated.

I cut a piece off this morning and managed to bend it using the heat gun. The surface bubbled a little but nothing too diasterous. Plan is now to make a cardboard template prior to making the skid plate for real.

Thanks for your help on this one and thanks again to lukefab for the donation of the nylon sheet. Pictures to follow...........

Well it's finished and on the car.

Thank you Lukefab for donating the sheet of nylon. It was formable with the heat gun but only just. The guard attaches to the zetec engine using two unused M10 tappings on the block and to the two lower type 9 gearbox mounts (that are unused in a zetec / type 9 installation) with some big tie wraps.

I'll post some details of the dimensions etc when I have more time. Basically now I've worked out the basic shape etc you could make another one out of anything you want.

So if anyone wants to make a skid plate for their Zetec watch this space

thanks again Lukefab.

[Edited on 18/6/05 by givemethebighammer]
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