Which Plastic Sheeting?

[Ashley Burton]

I would like to make some plastic wheel arches for my van to help prevent further body rust. It seems the designers at Ford didn't let this cross their minds!

But which plastic sheeting would be best for the job?

ABS, Polypropylene etc...

I'm thinking 2/3mm thickness & it needs to be flexible to curve round the arches!

Many Thanks

 

[Melvyn Best]

Do you mean for the inner wheel arch or the outer? If the inner I think I would have a look around your local car breakers for some front arch liners to adapt rather than making some from scratch?

 

[Hopefuldave]

Polypropylene's a lot tougher than ABS, which a) cracks more easily and b) gets brittle with UV from sunlight over a few years.

Dave H. (the other on)

 

[Ashley Burton]

Do you mean for the inner wheel arch or the outer? If the inner I think I would have a look around your local car breakers for some front arch liners to adapt rather than making some from scratch?

Yes inner ones!

I can't be doing with going round scrap yards to get something that sort of works. Would rather make some that fit well

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Hopefuldave any better suggestions?

 

[Hopefuldave]

@Hopefuldave any better suggestions?

Only get black if you can, it blocks a lot of the UV at the surface (I've had problems with white plastics degrading, e.g. cable insulation so would go for black plastics outdoors).

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Yes inner ones!

I can't be doing with going round scrap yards to get something that sort of works. Would rather make some that fit well

Black gorilla tubs. Get the size closest to the arch.

 

[Shox Dr]

Black gorilla tubs. Get the size closest to the arch.

.

Out of the other two, propylene is better, (worth noting it will tear in one direction)

 

[Tangledfeet]

Black gorilla tubs. Get the size closest to the arch.

Genius!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Genius!

Can't take too much credit
We used to use em as mudguards on kite buggies.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Sounds like Polypropylene is the one to go with!

Just need to get my hands on a 8 x 4 sheet...

 

[knighty]

are black bin bags made out of Polypropylene ?

you can buy sheets of plastic made from black bin bags (or maybe offcuts, not actual bags?)

a mate used some once, they were cheap and really tough... apparently they normally put them down in stables for horses etc.

 

[Hopefuldave]

are black bin bags made out of Polypropylene ?

you can buy sheets of plastic made from black bin bags (or maybe offcuts, not actual bags?)

a mate used some once, they were cheap and really tough... apparently they normally put them down in stables for horses etc.

High density polythene, also good stuff!

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[Ashley Burton]

Just been & looked at this stuff:
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Bl...wuF6I93yPkYYPVUK4nhoC-6oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Should do the job I'm pretty certain

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Just been & looked at this stuff:
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Bl...wuF6I93yPkYYPVUK4nhoC-6oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Should do the job I'm pretty certain

Nope.
It's the same stuff estate agent boards are made of. Coroguated and rips easily down it's length..have 6 in the back of the van now.
Much better than dustsheets on solid floors and safer too.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Nope.
It's the same stuff estate agent boards are made of. Coroguated and rips easily down it's length..have 6 in the back of the van now.
Much better than dustsheets on solid floors and safer too.

It seemed to flex enough for wheel arches

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

It seemed to flex enough for wheel arches

It flexes. It also rips very easily
Wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]