melt ABS pellets on kitchen stove ?

--Not sure about this stuff, but it's safer to use a double boiler with some of the lower temperature plastics, so you don't risk starting a fire..

I thought about this but ABS has a melting point of right about 212F. The inside of the double-boiler would never exceed that temperature, and would probably be less. So, the material would be in a loose plastic state, but probably not flow.

ABS is an extraordinarily smelly plastic when melting and burning, and it's never a good idea to melt any plastics in the kitchen except the ones specically for craft applications because the gasses can get into open food containers, etc.

-- Gordon

that could be melted on a kitchen stove and poured into a mold ? Any comments on this sort of thing are welcome!

Have you seen Polymorph aka Shapelock?

As described on

regards, Colin

something that could be melted on a kitchen stove and poured into a mold = ? Any comments on this sort of thing are welcome!

Good suggestion but I have already tried their sample a while back. I = need something that will flow into a mold and this stuff - as far as I = can tell - needs to be mashed around with your fingers, as you = mentioned.=20

Good suggestion, though ! Thanks !

Phew! Thanks for the warning about the gases. Good to know! JCD

That's good info on the double boiler.

Of course I found out more on the net after posting this. I'm thinking = that using a solvent is the way to go with stuff. Acetone maybe. And = from Gordon's post, definitely do it outside! As I discover more I will = post if here for others to benefit from.

Thanks ! JCD

that could be melted on a kitchen stove and poured into a mold ? Any comments on this sort of thing are welcome!

ABS is an amorphous plastic. What this means to you is that it won't ever get very liquid-- it doesn't really have a melting point-- so a lot of pressure is required to get it to conform to a mold.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

something that will flow into a mold and this stuff - as far as I can tell - needs to be mashed around with your fingers, as you mentioned.

can you inject your mold with a large syringe?

regards, colin

I need something that will flow into a mold and this stuff - as far as I = can tell - needs to be mashed around with your fingers, as you = mentioned.=20

Yeah I could do that. You thinking about using the Shapelok stuff in a = syringe ? I don't know ... seems very viscous for that. Maybe one of = those big metal ones like used in zoos and stuff ?

--Plan B: there used to be a couple of companies that manufactured small injection molding machines. IIRC one could be chucked in a drillpress; very simple design. The two companies that spring to mind are Minijector and Simplomatic. Time marches on and Minijector's smallest unit is this one:

Plan C: Used fused deposition modelling; one of the plastics that can be exploited is ABS. Just a few weeks ago this topic came up, and Dean Schrickel provided a very interesting Web site for a home-made machine in the $400 range: reprap.org. FDM is cheaper than injection molding, easier (no need to construct molds), and safer. The RepRap uses polycaprolactone (polymorph), which has a lower melting point than ABS, and would be the material of choice for a low-end machine. Melting ABS can cause very serious third-degree burns, and I personally wouldn't handle it without some good training.

There's also this Wiki page folks should look at:

-- Gordon

Minijector and

Cool! Didn't know such an item even existed! Thanks - JCD

Dear Pogo,

Recently I started using a two part casting plastic called InstaCast. The supplier is Douglas and Sturgess. Product is CR-1014W. I got it in SF but you can order online at

It pours like a heavy cream, picks up fine detail, and you can add stuff like glass fiber to it to change it's chars. I think it would be easier and less smelly than boiling ABS.

Brad Smallridge AiVision

Man those are good prices on that stuff ! Thanks for the tip! JCD

You don't say what the intended use is, but you can probably melt hot glue sticks on the stove top. You might need a double boiler with cooking oil in it instead of water to get the higher temperatures.