"Using Plastic Card Board to Make Buildings"

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Contents

• Introduction
• "Plastic Card board"
• "Corrugated Plastic Knife"
• "Cutting Plastic Card Board"
• "Trim and Moulding"
• "Adding the Corner Trim"

"Introduction"

One of the fun things about scratch building is trying new materials and finding just what they can be used for. Plastic cardboard is one of those materials. Building with it is a quick simple method of construction. I know, "That's easy for you to say", but I'm all thumbs and I have never did more than glue together a plastic kit"".

With just a few tools you can build a basic structure. The basic cutting tools would be a utility knife or Xacto knife, and a straight edge, pencil and felt tip pen. Hot glue gun, for temporary holding and out door glue, "Goop, etc." for holding your project together.

This will be a basic box building, no windows or doors, just to show the basic construction.

Door and window making will follow later with another page on "Trim for your Plastic Board Building's".

"Corrugated Plastic Knife"

When working with corrugated plastic, you will want to get one of these knives for cutting the material.

Before buying my tool I used a utility knife for cutting.

Information on obtaining one of these tools can be found on my home page, click on Plast-Kut Knife.

"Plastic Board - A.K.A, Plastic Cardboard, Corplast, Plastic Core, etc."

To save confusion since the material has many names. I will refer to the material as, just plain "Plastic Board".

The best part of using plastic board is the part that it is free For the asking. Every Gas Station, Dairy Store, Super Market, has signs of all sorts and is a source of this building material.

When they take them down, ask if they will save them for you. It is surprising how fast you can use up a lot of these signs.

The plastic board comes in different thickness, 1/8", 1/4", 3/16", and 1/2". The 1/2 inch is usually in the form of a product display stand.

For the Novice scratch builder Plastic Board is an easy way to making your first scratch built building. Using the plastic board for building has advantages over other building material, but lacks the detail in the finished building achieved when using wood.

This doesn't mean that details can't be added to the Plastic Board Before assembling . I will take that subject up later.

If this is the first time you are trying to use the plastic cardboard for building and have used other materials to build with before. I think you will be pleased with how easy it is to use. This type of material also holds up out-doors and takes paint well when applied properly.

I will be making a small rectangular building as you might see along any right away.

A few basic tools are all that is needed to build a the building. The basic tools for cutting would be a utility knife or Xacto knife, and a straight edge, pencil and felt tip pen, rubber bands for holding things while the glue sets. Hot glue gun, for temporary holding and out door glue, "Goop, etc." for holding your project together.

"Cutting Plastic Board"

You can cut the Plastic Board with a utility knife and straight edge or a Band saw across the cells and a Plast-Kut knife when cutting along the cells. Since I intend to make more than one building of this type I'm cutting multiple pieces at one time with my band saw. I might use the same size ends for different buildings, but the length of buildings may very.

Lay out your cutting lines on the plastic. For multiple cuts you can put a couple of spots of hot glue between the pieces where the saw won't be cutting.
Cut up any pieces you need for your project at this time.

For the building I'm making I will cut the following.

List of material for this project.
2- End wall sections 6" by 6"
2- side walls sections 4-1/4" by 6-1/2" 2- Roof sections 3-1/2" by 7"

"Trim and Molding"

Besides the Plastic Board you will need some 1/4" panel "Corner Trim", and "Edge Trim" in 8' lengths, I bought mine at Loews for under $2.50 each. I bought the white trim for my use, paint covers white easier, and white is the cheapest.

Be sure you are buying 1/4" Trim. I have found 3/16" trim marked as 1/4". I take a small piece of plastic cardboard with me and make sure it goes into the trim easily.

"Adding the Corner Trim"

I find it best to glue the corner trim on the end sections of my building first. Glue the trim to the building end sections by applying the glue to the trim then pushing it onto the end section. Make sure the trim goes all the way onto the end section.
I found the trim would start to slip back off if left alone so I used Hot Glue to tack the trim in place till the glue set, about 12 to 20 hours to set up all the way.

Any glue that might squeeze out onto the outside of the trim can be removed later by running a knife along the trim, then peel the excess glue off. Glue on the inside can be left alone. After the glue is dried cut the trim to fit.

With the trim glued on the end sections. The Front and back sections can be glued to the end sections.
When gluing the front and back panels to the trim I have found it almost impossible to clamp the pieces together as they have a tendency to slip apart or buckle the Plastic.

I use my hot glue gun with low temperature glue to temporary spot weld the parts together. Holding the corner square while the glue cools. A piece of damp cloth touched to the hot glue will help it set faster. The glue can be left in place or removed later.

"The Roof"

Note*

You should now have the basics to building the "Box" for a structure. Larger structures may need to double up for added for support of roofs or to strengthen the side walls. If you want doors and windows now, cut them out before assembling your building.

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