Looking for very low friction plastic

[Kevin Doe]

I'm looking for some low friction plastic. I dont' really care what type it is, but it must be low friction. I'm thinking 1/4" minimum thickness, any thicker would be stellar.

I know many types would work, including the following. I think PTFE (Teflon) would be best, but others may work as well.

PTFE (Teflon)
ETFE
CTFE
ECTFE (Halar)
Rulon
PVDF
FEP
Polyethelene (UHMW)
Garolite

Some are oil impregnated, some are graphite impregnated, some are just sliperly by nature. I don't care how or why its low friction, as long as it is.

I'm making slip/turn plates for a DIY alignment setup at my house. I'd like to avoid buying a real set of $800 turn plates. Figured someone may have access to plastics like these. 08Vette?

[k062693w]

It depends on how often you plan on using them..A buddy of mine in Michigan always used basic fooring linoleum, And put it face to face with a thin layer of grease between them.. It worked really well..
Just an option...

[Kevin Doe]

It depends on how often you plan on using them..A buddy of mine in Michigan always used basic fooring linoleum, And put it face to face with a thin layer of grease between them.. It worked really well..
Just an option...

I thought about using something similar, except two pieces of 1/8" thick polished stainles steel with some grease on them. But I'd rather stay away from messy lubricants. Plastic by itself, or with a spray of silicone on it would probably be quite a bit cleaner.

[facemelter71]

08VETTE has been gone since 5-1-08.I dont see him coming back any time soon.

How big of pieces would you be needing?.....12x12?

[k062693w]

I thought about using something similar, except two pieces of 1/8" thick polished stainles steel with some grease on them. But I'd rather stay away from messy lubricants. Plastic by itself, or with a spray of silicone on it would probably be quite a bit cleaner.

:bigthumb The silicone may work on the Linoleum too..

[Kevin Doe]

What happened to 08Vette?

Anyways, I'm thinking I'll need 2 sheets under each wheel, so probably 8 12"x12" pieces.

[facemelter71]

Its when the board got all F'd up from them banning Maximus.08VETTE and Blackhole have since left the board.They both left last year in May.Thats why 05yellowgt took over most of the modding.
Ive been lookin on google for places in Cincy that has the plastic you want.So far the only thing Ive come up with is CRC in the downtown area.Dont really know if they have the stuff "there" though,or if they just direct to other companies.

[Kevin Doe]

I called Peidemont Plastics in blue ash. For a 4'x4'x0.25" piece of Teflon they wanted like $622 or something crazy. Then when I seemed shell shocked he said they had UHMW which is next in line of low frictionness, but cheaper. He said they had some in stock for $125. Hmmmmm.

[facemelter71]

Might have to go with the UHMW.The regular metal plates on some of the alignment machines ive worked with were so freakin terrible,im surprised they even aligned right.Have you thought about metal and caged ball bearings? Maybe even grabbin a used pair of turning plates from a tire store? Some times they have a used older set that just need cleaned.
Im just chuckin idea's.
https://millermotorsportspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=671

[Black Horse]

For as much as you will be using the plates, just sandwich a couple of pieces of shiny magazine covers between two aluminum plates and you'll be fine. Don't use the gay porn mags as lube might be required.

[Kevin Doe]

I may have to try that out. I remember you starting to say something as my dog was running away. Didn't get to finish hearing you out. It took us ~15 minutes to get the dog.

It doesn't seem like it would work all that well, but I've been fooled before.

[RIXXX93GT]

Look up www.mcmaster.com they will list all the friction numbers for each material and can have a piece to you next day. They also make teflon sheets, sticky on one side you can cut with scissors and apply to a cheaper substrate. I would look into.
UHMW
Delron
PTFE impregnated delron
Garolite-grey

[Kevin Doe]

Never thought of taking a think piece and sticking it to a metal plate or something. Hmmm

[Mista Bone]

KDoe, what about food grade 1/2" thick cutting boards. Some new ones are slicker than ice until grooved up by knife blade.

Google found these

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=385&PHPSESSID=200902251105182062335921

3/4" 12x12 for $13 each
1/2" 12x12 for $9 each
1/2" 9x9 for $5 each

I know the material your talking about, used it under plastic conveyor belts when I worked at John Morrell.

[Black Horse]

I do my set-ups on a decently smooth/level garage floor with several sheets of newspaper between the tires and the ground. Never a problem and a whole lot cheaper than turn plates. The rub is if you want to have the car a foot or more in the air resting on big blocks so it is easier to climb under it. The blocks like to scoot when you turn the wheels back and forth.

[RIXXX93GT]

Plastics
This product matches all of your selections.

Part Number: 8711K72 $11.54 Each
Material
Fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymer Material
Virgin Electrical Grade Teflon® PTFE

Backing
Plain Back

Shape
Film

Film Style
Bondable

Thickness
.015"

Thickness Tolerance
±.002"

Length
12"

Length Tolerance
+.25"

Width
12"

Width Tolerance
+.25"

Opaque
White

Operating Temperature Range
-350° to +500° F

Performance Characteristic
Electrical Insulator, Very Low Friction, Wash-Down Applications

Tensile Strength
4500 psi

Impact Strength
2.9 ft.-lbs./in.

Tolerance
Standard

Hardness
Rockwell R: 55-58

Specifications Met
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliant, Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

UL Rating
UL 94V0

[1992MustangDW]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Accessories_Automotive-Tools__Rand-Wheel-Alignment-Turntables-Plates-Turn-Tables-Pads_W0QQitemZ390032790400QQddnZPartsQ20Q26Q20Acce ssoriesQQadiZ2871QQddiZ2811QQadnZAutomotiveQ20Tool sQQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=i tem390032790400&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A543%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Dont know if it helps but I found those

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Damn man, if you were about a year earlier, i used to work at Ampac Plastics and could get you just about any resin you wanted. :(

[1992MustangDW]

come to think of it pm sn95n/a he might be able to get you some used hunter alignment ones.

[Bill]

Curbell Plastics and Sabic Polymershapes are a couple places in Cincinnati that sell what you need. As stated earlier McMaster Carr is a good place as well.

An alternative would be to use two aluminum plates with a nice coating of grease between them. The grease will allow the upper plate to slide around on top of the bottom plate. That is what we use under the front tires when setting up the race car.

--Bill

[Kevin Doe]

Dave,

Here are the boxes I've made to get the car up off the ground. They're 12" tall, and should provide a TON of working space under the car. I still need to screw on some sort of incorporated wheel chalks to keep the car from rolling off or whatnot. Made of 2x12s, and a sheet of 3/4" plywood. They're so heavy duty, I think I might try to do an alignment on a semi truck.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l55/Kevin_Doe/RX-7/Carstandsprogress2.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l55/Kevin_Doe/RX-7/Carstandsprogress.jpg

[Rick93coupe]

Wow! Looks, stout. I'm sure those will work great.

[Black Horse]

A couple of wedges for the rear wheels and you should be in good shape! Looks good! I think just a couple of sheets of newspaper between the tires and the front boxes will be fine to let you set the caster/camber. Let me know, I can bring over the toe plates and caster/camber gage. You can take care of the bounce steer by setting the tie rod parallel to the lower a-arm. I use a dial level for that, works great.

[Mista Bone]

Wow! Looks, stout. I'm sure those will work great.

K. Doe is an overachiever :)

I mean that in a GOOD way!