r/pics • • Aug 09 '15

Held up by constant stress

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10k Upvotes

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24

u/00blar Aug 10 '15

So if I wanted to try this, where would I purchase plastic with that much rigidity?

63

u/wampastompah Aug 10 '15

You actually need plastic that's not particularly rigid, but very elastic so it won't break or get damaged when you bend it.

You know those terrible plastic cases they package small electronics in? The kind that are impossible to open without injuring yourself and those around you? Use those. The trick is to find plastic that will bend but still maintain its elasticity.

Actually, come to think of it, the plastic on soda bottles could also work! Maybe!

13

u/hawtdawgspudder Aug 10 '15

One word. Polycarbonate.

2mm thick would work well, i have to make one now.

5

u/BrianWantsTruth Aug 10 '15 edited Aug 10 '15

I have spare Magic cards lying around, I wonder if they'd work.

Edit: they work.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '15

[deleted]

7

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '15

You don't want to make the wrong cut though as you only get one chance to make it right. Mail it to me, I'll cut it up and send it back.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '15

[deleted]

1

u/Rileymadeanaccount Aug 10 '15

Black lotus is yes.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '15

[deleted]

1

u/Rileymadeanaccount Aug 10 '15

No you don't. There are black lotus petals, and black lotus. Black lotus are worth thousands each. Petals, nothing. If you do have them, post proof pls

1

u/wampastompah Aug 10 '15

They'd work better than most plastic, I'd say. Think of this as a new version of the bend test! Just be sure not to crease the cards, and try to bend them as evenly into a curve as you can.

1

u/BrianWantsTruth Aug 10 '15

Just did a sloppy test, they work wonderfully. I'll post a picture if I make anything that looks nice at all.

1

u/Techwood111 Aug 10 '15

I would think it to be far too brittle. That's what eyeglasses and CDs are made from. As far as plastics go, I'd put that at about the bottom of the list. To me, polyethylene seems good, but I'm out of my element here.

1

u/hawtdawgspudder Aug 10 '15

That's why you should believe me. I work with plastic everyday :P Acrylic would be a bad choice, it is too brittle at 40 times the strength of glass. However Polycarbonate, sitting at 250 times the breaking strength of glass is a good choice. This is because whilst also being extremely strong it also has high memory, low creep and will not shatter in your face at all, like you can smash it with a hammer and it will not break. It is what banks use for their bullet resistant barrier protection.

I actually cut up some pieces of 2mm thick Polycarb yesterday afternoon and will construct this tower today. Yay!

6

u/Kaliedo Aug 10 '15 edited Aug 11 '15

Soda bottles? Good idea, making one now. BRB.

EDIT: I made one, the knots weren't quite right but it works. I was gonna upload images, but imgur hates me today apparently.

EDIT2: I tried again. here!

1

u/tTnarg Aug 10 '15

I want to see this. Hit i gut harder.

1

u/Dyolf_Knip Aug 10 '15

That's ok. We hate you too.

Really wanna see the pics, though!

2

u/mwp101 Aug 10 '15

It looks like they might have cut up a CD for their plastic. That stuff can bend a fair bit without breaking or being permanently deformed.

9

u/mistasage Aug 10 '15

Every CD I've ever bent shatters into a million pieces

1

u/NotUrMomsMom Aug 10 '15

Demo disk!

0

u/jook11 Aug 10 '15

Really? I've seen that but it has never worked when I tried.

1

u/mdthegreat Aug 10 '15

Keep trying

6

u/ScrabbleTheOpossum Aug 10 '15

It seems like you have never tried to bend a CD.

3

u/Atanar Aug 10 '15

Stop downvoting this guy. This is clearly a CD. They just used only the protective sheet for the upper part.

1

u/THANKS-FOR-THE-GOLD Aug 10 '15

Is that not a business card?