Easy way to make a vacuformer?

[Wes R]

I was wondering if anyone here has suggestions for making a good, and cheap, vacuformer for customing? I have several plans but wanted to see if there is a better way to do it than all the super expensive parts they call for. I appreciate any help.

 

[Rens]

Volpin just posted an amazing "how to build a budget vacuum former" guide on his blog:

Volpin Props: Budget Build Mini Vacuum-Former

I'm still trying to get my husband to build me one

 

[bwayne64]

Hi man, welcome to the forum. I would recommend the book, Do it yourself Vacuum forming for the hobbyist, by Douglas Walsh. Very good book on building small formers. Also explains the process very well. When your ready for a larger machine, check out the book ,The prop builders molding and casting handbook, by Thurston James. It's one of the best on the subject, IMHO, Both should be available on Amazon. As for a small former. It's basically a box with a perforated top, some use pegboard. It will be sealed at all joints, with a hole in the side for your vacuum hose. You should be able to pull 1/8 inch thick with this setup, depending on your vacuum. Some have pulled thicker, but you will have to have a very good vacuum source. You definately came to the right place. You might want to find some of the guys who do Trooper Armour here. They will know a lot about it, Cheers,

Joe

 

[Wes R]

I think i have teh do it yourself book. i have to look and see. I started making one years ago for my custom action figures but never finished it. I appreciate all the help. Hard to believe i've been a member on here for 5 months and rarely even posted.

 

[bwayne64]

I think i have teh do it yourself book. i have to look and see. I started making one years ago for my custom action figures but never finished it. I appreciate all the help. Hard to believe i've been a member on here for 5 months and rarely even posted.

Don't feel bad, I had to renew my membership here, but haven't posted a lot either. Just been busy elsewhere. This is a great site though. A lot of clever people here to help with whatever you're doing, Cheers,

Joe

 

[stormtrooperguy]

Doug Walsh's stuff is great. My vac former is based on his protoform plans... I've pulled at least 200 pieces on it in the last 3-4 months and there's no sign of slowing down!

 

[ChickenHaunt]

I second The Prop Builders Molding and Casting Handbook by Thurston James. I built mine based on his design. Works great

 

[Wes R]

My stuff is mostly for anime conventions so its going to be alot of armor pieces and such that you just can't do well without a former.

 

[clonesix]

Vacuforming can be as simple as frame, home oven, and a shop vac. It depends on how much vacuforming that you want to do. A table hooked to a shop vac can make a whole suit of armor. It is only limited by the size frame that will fit into the oven.

Do you want to do lots of pulls? Then you need to build a machine. You can look tthrough reference material and build one on your own (I did), but if you want to skip the trial-and-error part, buy the Protoform plans for $75 and build one for $1000.

 

[GunsAndGloryFX]

That volpin machine is beautiful. On the other end of the spectrum is the ugly-but effective DH2 table: Building a Vacuumform Table
Cost about $100 for me altogether. Took 2 hours to make. Been using it at work with very satisfactory results.

 

[Wes R]

1000.00 is a bit much as i'm on disability and making less than 700.00 a month. The volpin is probably the way to go as its the right size for most anything i'll need to make (and i can always make it in sections). Now i just need power tools as my family rarely replaces them as the bust since we never use them. Actually the DH2 table is one of the plans i printed out. The one thing about the Volpin i wish was listed was the sizes/dimensions.

 

[Hamsterstyle]

Make a good, cheap, upgradeable sheet plastic vacuum former

I'm building this one right now. If you own a good vaccum you can build this thing in a cave with a box of scraps. Then just use your home oven (I wouldn't cook a pizza afterwards).

I'm a complete newb to vacuforming so take my advice as such, but it's where I, another newb is going.

 

[Wes R]

I saw this one but my family vetoed it lol. Especially given my talent for forgetting things on/in the oven.