Welcome to the IMF Online Forum!
The easiest way to connect with your fellow Mountmakers!
Archived topics are available to anyone - but we encourage you to create a Login, which allow you to post new topics, as well as receiving notification of new posts from other contributors.
To create a new Login: Click the Log in/ Sign up prompt. You can use your existing Google or Facebook account or enter an email address and create a password - you're good to go!
To be alerted of any new Online Forum topics: Click the Follow icon, located on the right side of each topic category and you will receive updates to new postings by email.
If there's anything we're missing, needs fixing or you'd like to contribute, just let us know through the Contact Us prompt!
If you are looking for a colleague, mountmaking training, or freelance mountmakers in your area, check out our new
IMF MOUNTMAKERS DIRECTORY.
We look forward to your participation!
Thanks so much for the info! I've put that acrylic bender on my shop list and will definitely be looking into the Vivak for some work as well.
PJ, Id love to see some pictures of your setup
I agree with PJ's recommendation of Vivak. It is very easy to bend, and if you want to make something like a shoulder form for suspending a costume from the ceiling, that's your go-to product. The Vivak I've used is a little gray in tone, rather than crystal clear the way acrylic is, but that's not always a bad thing. And I too would defer to acrylic for strength when needed.
Side note: Vivak is what a lot of the POP displays that you see in retail stores are made of. It also comes in several thicknesses.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NDK4P9Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is the strip bender I bought, and I love it. It's very robust and well made. Previously I used a homemade bender which was good, but this is soooooo much better. The metal construction is very smooth and doesn't leave marks on the acrylic, and the heating element works quickly and consistently. If it could be improved, there would be a ledge where one could clamp the acrylic while waiting for it to heat up, but there are other methods of securing that are just as effective. Highly recommended.