Anderzander Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I've had the plastic door card off my back door to fit a wheel carrier - and thought to take the opportunity to push out a dent it has, but it just pops back in. Can I heat it to reset it somehow ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Warm it with a hair dryer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Will that work then ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Will that work then ? Yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPendrey Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 ...and there I was expecting a thread about using a paper clip to reset warning lights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 as said, warm it up with a hairdryer, you have to get it fairly hot, work it back into shape and if it doesn't like staying there, weigh it down into that position while it cools down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Thank you - that's really helpful. I didn't know if ABS was a thermoplastic or not and didn't want damage it in anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 If the part will pop out - but then pops back in again, preferrentially heat it around the crease. The plastic there has stretched and you need it to compress and stay compressed. ABS melts proper at about 260C but becomes plastic (non elastic deformation) at about 150-200C. If you have a temperature controlled hot air gun, it makes this easy, at least not letting it get too hot. A hair dryer is a good option as they will rarely get hot enough to melt fully. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 Thanks Si I have a hot air gun - though it's not temperature controlled. I'll just have to watch the temperature doesn't get too hot. I'll post up how I get on. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Be very careful! If it gets too hot it will boil and make a proper mess! If the gun has a low setting, use that. It will take what seems like forever to get hot enough, then seconds to get too hot! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 It worked a treat ! Input the gun on low and built the heat over the stretched area - pushing the dint in and letting it pop up as I did so - at a certain temperature it just stayed in, so I let it cool from there and it's stayed there. There is a slight dint where the plastic must have stretched - but the crease has gone and its a million times better. Brilliant . Thank you everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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