Buying pieces of plastic?

Question

If I wanted to make jewelry or something

Could I buy like a big... square piece of plastic from like Home Depot or Lowes?

If so, could I buy a plastic cutter there too?

Answer 1

yea if that stuff isnt at homedepot it prob would be a lows

Answer 2

Depending on the thickness, you can buy this at a DIY store, but keep in mind, the thicker the plastic, the longer it takes to cut manually.  If you have a Dremel or a craft power saw, you will have an easier time making more accurate cuts and shapes.  Cutting plexiglass by hand does take practice and it is a pain.

Answer 3

Well, if you don't need CLEAR plastic, you can get dozens of shapes / styles / thicknesses of polystyrene or ABS plastic from a good model-hobby store.

The brand I use is "Plastruct": it comes in sheets, tubes (square and round), as well as beams and angles.  It's for model building... but my daughter has been "liberating" scraps and making jewelry. It will take ANY color enamel paint... think model-car colors.

The styrene is easy to cut with an X-acto knife an straight edge, and the tube is best cut with a "razor-saw and miter box" (about $15).

GOOD LUCK !!

Answer 4

Both Lowe's and Home Depot stock clear and some tinted sheet plastic and plexi-glass. In thicknesses from about 1/16" to 1/4" and sometimes as thick as 1/2" but this is usually only available in clear. As far as cutting goes you can use a utility knife and a straight edge or pattern to score one side pressing down firmly to get a deep line then flip the material over and carefully press down on the back side along the score and the material will follow the score much like cutting glass but at a much slower run or break. This may take a little practice to get it right. If real tight turns or very small pcs. are needed try scoring both sides first or even using a dremel type tool.