How to make a semi dump bed
 

How do make a semi dump bed ? What materials do you use to make it?:eek:

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

I make mine from .125 plastic styrene from Plastruct 12x36" sheets.. easy to work with.

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

How do you glue the plasti card together?

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

this stuff:
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...Gng4D7YGBtKins

except it doesn't actually "glue" it, it sort of welds it together. Or melts it together. Much stronger bond than simply gluing it.

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

Thanks i have found the welding stuff but no plastiic styrene

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

Try searching you local businesses for a plastics supplier or a sign shop. I buy styrene in 4ft x 8ft sheets from my local supplier and as long as I am not in a hurry they will cut it into smaller 2ft x 4ft pieces which are easier to work with. You will also be surprised as to how cheap it is compared to buying small pieces from a hobby supplier.

Here are some exampls of beds I have built from styrene.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/100_1434.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/100_1030.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...p/IM000710.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...IM000740-1.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...IM000878-1.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...p/100_1019.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...p/100_1369.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/IM000785.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/IM000939.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...K/100_0428.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...K/100_1649.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...k/100_1776.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps8c1b0014.jpg



Travis

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

I use Testor's model glue.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1UmAdnQ_ph.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DToutside2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/005-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/019.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ker/bdtrl2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...r/IMG_1149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...er/bottom2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...er/bottom1.jpg

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

I finally found a supplier and all of them models are brilliant ;)

Thanks Scott

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

I use the Plastruct Bondene as well and just by luck I picked up another case of it today. The Bondene has other ingredients in it to make it work better. Just to be clear this stuff is not MEK. MEK is the main ingredient of Plastruct Plastiweld which is more suited for combining different plastics where Bondene is made for like materials.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/100_1806.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...Gng4D7YGBtKins

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/100_1808.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/100_1811.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/100_1810.jpg

Travis

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

Scotty,

Dont know if it helps, but here is a vid of a dump trailer I made a few weeks ago, took me about 20 hrs. It only has a screw drive, but seems to work quite effectivley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syoxV5SVbOc

Cheers

Cam

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

Thanks for all the help and i still cant fine plasticard :( theres none the size i need at the local hobby shop:mad:

Cam how did you manage to make the dump body ?

Thanks Scott

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

ive bought from these guys(not styrene) and had good service. not sure if its big enough.

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-P...item5aeafcd062

also this, but its a bit pricey:

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-...item35c19662ec

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

how has it held up to the wear and tear of your operation?

i know testors glue does melt the plastic a bit, but has it gone brittle over time?

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

It's all as strong today as when I built both the green & yellow dumps 12yrs ago. No cracks, nothing coming apart.. 5yrs ago the green KH dump broke a driveshaft near the top of the 1st ramp with a full load of dirt & took off backwards, striking the wall near the bottom. Quite a bit of damage to the back of the box, including destroying the hinge! Glued it all back together with Testors & it's still working perfect to this day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...7/IMG_1292.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...7/IMG_1291.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...7/IMG_1286.jpg

Keeping both hidden from the sun is probably what has helped to keep them from becoming brittle. ;)

Re: How to make a semi dump bed
 

I order my 12x36 plastic sheets directly from Plastruct in City of Industry, Ca.

http://www.plastruct.com/