Bending Azek?

luxbuildsmall

Anyone have any tips how to bend Azek to trim an oval window? My building rep said a heat gun would work. He also said they make a heating blanket.

jmic

Lux,
You can get heating blankets that would work for what you want to do from an electrical supply house, same as we use for bending conduit.

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

Tom R

Hmm, - - can't see bending it for what you're doing, - - do you mean you're laying it 'on-the-flat'??, - - if you do mean 'curved-casing' style, - - I would 'think' you'd need to start out with a 1 X 12, - - and cut and end-glue curved 'segments'.

Are you using 'traditional' or 'frontier' Azek??

__________________
http://www.tr-built.com

clampman

I'm with Tom. I'd cut the flat of the casing out of MDF, use the window jamb as a template for a router with a rabbeting bit to get the reveal, and rout the inside detail. Unless it's an exterior you're doing.

If you want a bead for the inside detail, rout it on a board of duraflex then rip it to width. Same with the backband.

Otherwise, get a mill shop that specializes in curved molding to do it for you.

That last suggestion has always been my own first choice, by the way.

I see you're from Danvbury,CT. The best radius crown and casing man in the country is not far from you - Jerry Terranova- over 60 years experience doing nothing but radius work. Down near White Plains. The second best is even closer - Carmel area- Jerry Terranova, Jr.

regards,

jimc

dsnAK

there are other ways... I do not know if the Azek can do a circle but I am trying the sono tube oven method in a few weeks for an upcoming job. I do it so infrequently that the blankets are not worth the money....

wildwood

According to their website, Azek comes in 4' x 8' sheets. If so, make sure you make a template out of cardboard first. Measure twice and cut once. ak

dsnAK

Man that would be an expenive piece of trim. A 16' stick of 5/4 x 4" runs me almost $45.00. I can not imagine what a 4x8 sheet runs - might as well buy the heat blankets...

wildwood

Have you seen the size of the Greenlee heat blankets? They are designed for bending conduit. I wonder how many bends it would take to achieve your radius and I wonder what the finished product would look like. Good Luck. ak

dsnAK

This is a better 'heat blanket' to bend Azek. I have never tried either and am going to just use the sono-tube oven method in a few weeks. Heat the whole piece, pull it out and wrap it around my template. I am only looking for a moderate radius and not trying for a circle. I'll post some photos of how it goes when I do it.

kris jusnes

IMHO, forget about heating or curving flexible moulding like azek.

Order up some pre-made radius trim, such as the ones from sunwindows.com

thats only one option, there, for there are lots of different mill companies that manufacture radius trim, using wood, mdf, or pvc materials.

dsnAK

I agree - but ordering that type of stuff up here is usually more trouble than worth and expensive. I am actually looking forward to messing around with bending this stuff.

kris jusnes

i respect your attitude and passion! i look forward to hearing how it all works out!

luxbuildsmall

The AZEK rep came to my site with his heating blanket and put on a show for me and my framers. Using the blanket the process was very easy. I just can't see spending $800 for the tool. Thanks for everyone's input.