How to Build a Vacuum Form Table
Ever fancy making your own Imperial Storm Trooper armor? What about a one-of-a-kind Halloween mask? A mask you get to choose and customize? All that can be yours with a simple vacuum form table. The go-to tool for anyone involved in the special effects business, a vacuum form table draws heated plastics down onto a pre-cut mold, allowing you in turn, to create as many masks or body parts as you desire.
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden Table (any size or shape)
- Hand Drill (Screw Tip Bit)
- Circular Saw Drill Bit (1 1/2-inch diameter)
- Metal Threaded Base Plate (1-inch diameter)
- Galvanized Steel Nipple (1-inch diameter, 2 inches long)
- Self-Adhesive Heavy Duty Weather Stripping (15 feet)
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Using a tape measure and pencil, measure and mark the dead-center of the table top.
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2
Insert a 1 1/2-inch circular drill bit into a hand drill and place the point on the marked dead-center.
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3
Drill through the center of the table.
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4
Blow away any debris and turn the table over so the top is on the floor.
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5
Place the threaded base plate over the hole and screw into place with a hand drill and screw bit.
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6
Screw the 2-inch long nipple into the threaded base plate.
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7
Turn the table over again, standing it on its legs.
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8
Mark off your desired working area on the tabletop, using a tape measure and pencil.
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9
Measure out the appropriate length of self-adhesive weather stripping and cut to size with a pair of scissors.
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10
Lay the self-adhesive weather stripping along the perimeter of your designated work area, peeling away the adhesive cover as you work your way around.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When using a circular drill bit, press the drill pint firmly into the wood before activating the drill.
References
- Photo Credit Image from Wikimedia Commons.
