Styrene sheet info

[BABAR]

Short version
My sample of styrene 0.040” thick weighs out at

0.73 grams/square inch

0.11 gram/ square cm

winston posted a video of a modeler using polystyrene sheets.
I figured I would try some out
This is what I ordered from Amazon

White Polystyrene 12" X 24" X .040" Plastic Sheet Styrene Pack of 4
About $17 with shipping

may be a bit heavier than I need, but not too bad. Plenty strong.

Stuff is a bit tricky to cut because knife slips. It does have a very slick side and a slightly more paper or cardboard like side. It is not easy to cut, but the blade does cut better if you hold the blade flat, but that only works for straight cuts.

I am looking at this to build a set of three polygonal body tubes /fuselages to build my own MIRV rocket.

Anybody have any other tips working with this stuff?

 

[Alan15578]

There are many ways to cut high impact styrene. You can cut it with a sheet metal squaring shears. You can cut it with tin snips. You can cut it with a saw. You can cut it on a lathe. You can even carve it with a sharp Exacto blade. It does not cut like paper or balsa, but there are much harder materials to cut.