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Re: Other: Polyethylene
By:Bill Hamm
Date: 4/6/2011, 3:39 pm
In Response To: Other: Polyethylene (Brad)

: Hello All,

: I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction
: here? I have a few designs for different types of kayaks I would
: like to get made out of polyethylene. Who do I need to talk to?
: How much will it be to make 2 to 3 of my designs? Any
: information would be great. Thanks.

You might look at having them done in ABS, the molds are much much less expensive.

Polyethelene from the little I know takes matched machined aluminum molds that are quite expensive, though I have heard of people using sprayed on metal on fiberglass molds for short runs. Still I'd be very surprised if a reasonable mold could be built for under $10k. The aluminum molds from what I'd heard are around $50k. Takes a bunch of boats to be sold just to pay for the molds.

Prototypes for poly boats are normally built of either wood strip or fiberglass, can be done much more reasonably in price. No one, not even the big companies, build a mold for an untested boat.

Bill H.

Messages In This Thread

Other: Polyethylene
Brad -- 4/6/2011, 11:14 am
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Reg Lake -- 4/6/2011, 12:39 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Robert Livingston -- 4/7/2011, 2:39 am
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Bill Hamm -- 4/6/2011, 3:39 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Charlie -- 4/7/2011, 11:35 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Brad -- 4/7/2011, 11:41 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Bill Hamm -- 4/8/2011, 7:53 am
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Charlie -- 4/8/2011, 5:45 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
Brad -- 4/8/2011, 7:56 pm
Re: Other: Polyethylene
dave g -- 4/8/2011, 9:45 pm