# Looking for a type of plastic for crafting **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177 "2020-01-09T16:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/1 "2020-01-09T16:35:44Z")
I believe this exists. Thicker colored transparent plastic, rigid but cutable with scissors. The idea is that you heat it and it becomes malleable so you use a heat gun, shape it and hold it until it cools then it holds its shape. Does any of this make sense? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/2 "2020-01-09T18:16:51Z")
I’ve seen something close, look for **Sculptable Plastic** Thibra Fine Sculptable Plastic is one brand. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/3 "2020-01-09T18:17:20Z")
Thermoplastics? Used a lot in cosplay. What are you planning to make with it? It comes in different sizes depending on your intention. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/4 "2020-01-09T18:41:47Z")
By far the most well-known brand of cosplay thermoplastics is [Worbla](https://www.worbla.com/?page_id=6687). Not saying it’s the best, but it is the market leader. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/5 "2020-01-11T04:12:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Thermoplastics? Used a lot in cosplay. What are you planning to make with it? It comes in different sizes depending on your intention. Art project simulating glass sculpture. Think Chihuly. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/6 "2020-01-11T04:34:27Z")
Seek out **Rocketeer**. He is the Man! I thought about MonoKote, but probably not what you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/7 "2020-01-11T09:52:43Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Art project simulating glass sculpture. Think Chihuly. [Worbla TranpArt](https://www.worbla.com/?page_id=4013) is probably what you want, then - It can be dyed or coloured pretty much like Chihuly’s stuff - check out that phoenix headpiece. That’s assuming you don’t just want to try acrylic (plexiglass, Perspex)? Not cuttable with scissors, but you can score with a knife and snap. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/8 "2020-01-12T01:57:22Z")
Here are the people to ask. They know pretty much everything about every kind of art-. craft-, and design-related plastic. IIRC, they can work with you, even if you’re not in NYC: [https://www.canalplastic.com/](https://www.canalplastic.com/) And before anyone asks–no, I’m not being paid to write this post, and I don’t have a stake in the company. I just know that lots and lots of makers of various kinds consider this store the go-to for plastics. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/9 "2020-01-12T03:39:04Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > Here are the people to ask. They know pretty much everything about every kind of art-. craft-, and design-related plastic. IIRC, they can work with you, even if you’re not in NYC: [https://www.canalplastic.com/](https://www.canalplastic.com/) > > And before anyone asks–no, I’m not being paid to write this post, and I don’t have a stake in the company. I just know that lots and lots of makers of various kinds consider this store the go-to for plastics. Hmmm…I don’t know… You could have been quietly waiting for months or years to for someone to ask the very question in the topic to get your 2% commission on $50 of materials! 🆒 Woot! $1 in commissions! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/10 "2020-01-12T06:34:12Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Seek out **Rocketeer**. He is the Man! > > I thought about MonoKote, but probably not what you are looking for. Sorry, **Rocketeer** saw the OP a little while ago and is drawing a blank. ☹ The hot ticket for heat-forming model airplane canopies seems to be PETG (Vivak). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-type-of-plastic-for-crafting/846177/11 "2020-01-12T18:07:57Z")
Note that “thermoplastic” is actually an incredibly broad category, which includes most of the various plastics you’re familiar with.