Post by raito on Feb 22, 2005 12:14:17 GMT -5
Here's my experiences and recommendations with the various plastics I've used:
1. Kydex (or royalite)
Pros: easy to form, stiffer than others, decent finish
Cons: gets brittle in winter, though not as much as some others, comparatively expensive
Comments: I generally use 1/8" for everything. It seems to do the trick, but us old knights don't feel pain so well...
2. ABS
Pros: cheap, easy to form, decent finish
Cons: doesn't seem to last as long, gets pretty brittle in the cold, appears more subject to stress-whitening
Comments: I avoid the stuff now, because my Kydex pieces lasted a decade, and the ABS ones maybe 2 years
3. HDPE (aka barrel plastic)
Pros: come pre-bent in barrels, relatively cheap, does not get brittle in the cold as easily as some
Cons: lousy finish, not as stiff so you need thicker
Comments: It's not too bad if you cover it with lots of odoshi. It doesn't do you any favors design wise -- the material will not make poor design look good.
1. Kydex (or royalite)
Pros: easy to form, stiffer than others, decent finish
Cons: gets brittle in winter, though not as much as some others, comparatively expensive
Comments: I generally use 1/8" for everything. It seems to do the trick, but us old knights don't feel pain so well...
2. ABS
Pros: cheap, easy to form, decent finish
Cons: doesn't seem to last as long, gets pretty brittle in the cold, appears more subject to stress-whitening
Comments: I avoid the stuff now, because my Kydex pieces lasted a decade, and the ABS ones maybe 2 years
3. HDPE (aka barrel plastic)
Pros: come pre-bent in barrels, relatively cheap, does not get brittle in the cold as easily as some
Cons: lousy finish, not as stiff so you need thicker
Comments: It's not too bad if you cover it with lots of odoshi. It doesn't do you any favors design wise -- the material will not make poor design look good.
