Question on spacer material ABS Plastic

Shaughnessy

Shaughnessy

Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
1,077
Hey guys,
I have talked with a few of you offline and everyone has been very helpful and knowledgeable. This is really my first question here, mostly just do lots of reading. Have any of you tried using ABS plastic for spacers or liners. I was wondering how you think it would compare with other spacer material.

Thanks,
Larry
 
Some plastic is soft, some will not glue well. Test to be sure it will do what you expect of it.
 
ABS is not too good.
Chemical resistance is low.
Severe reactions to things like Petrol and Acetone.
 
I don't know if ABS makes a good spacer material or not, but its chemical resistance is not poor. It's strong solvent resistance is poor.

Of the common plastics that have good chemical resistance and oil resistance (PP, PE, PA, POM, PVC) ABS is the only one that glues well. Well, PVC glues well with a solvent cement (but solvent cement doesn't work with steel or wood), but ABS actually glues well with super glue and epoxy also. And it is one of the few plastics that will accept paint that is also chemically resistant. And it is also tough and takes a high polish and is relatively scratch resistant.

Down sides is it can stain or yellow with age, so I'd stay away from white. And it is not going to epoxy as well or augment joint strength as fiber spacer material.

ABS is commonly used on things like telephones, copiers, keyboards etc.
 
Ooops...

Poor solvent resistance.

Like all those wonderful chemicals (solvents) we all use around the home/shop.
Acetone, MEK, etc..

My first round of sheaths for my E.C.S. knives were all ABS.

Several got eaten up by solvents in the field.
Now I use Delrin.
 
Thanks guys, I thought it might have a use as spacer material. I have a few sheets of 1/8th inch in black (smooth on one side and orange peel on the other) and thought it sanded well and was pretty tough, but didnt think of the chemical resistance piece. Well I guess trial and error is in order then.

Larry
 
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