straightening plastic economy badges

[RMR]

Hi Chaps these plastic economy badges sometimes curve,has any one tried to straighten a British plastic economy badge if so how?and was it successful? Regards Roger

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Roger, never tried this and to be honest it is not something I would advise even trying.

Cheers, Ade.

[DJT]

I agree with Ade. Leave 'as is' or you will probably damage it beyond repair.

[Jim Maclean]

Plastics are either thermosetting or thermoplastic. Thermosetting plastics cannot be re used or adjusted at all. Thermoplastics can be re shaped with heat, ie polythene. Economy badges are often referred to as bakelite, a thermosetting plastic but I don't think they are, I grew up in that era and bakelite was hard and could be smashed. It was extremely brittle.

If I was really brave, I'd get a really common or beyond saving example and try heating it in boiling water to re shape.

The alternative is to follow everyone else's good advice.

[lnijherald]

In theory you could reshape it after warming it up in warm water, that was how it worked when they were issued.
However, after all these years I would leave it as it is personally.

Luc

[zipper]

the badges were made with phenol acetate resin with the addition of aluminium or bronze colouring powder. I have a Polish Exile Forces cap badge which was bent like Robin Hood's bow. with judicious use of a hair drier and applied force with a pencil it is now virtually straight. far better than its original condition. as Quasimodo said " what 'ump "

[RMR]

Thanks for the advice,now all I need is a common badge to practice on I'll keep you upto speed with the result as and when it happens.Bit puzzled as to what to do with the pencilRegards Roger

[Dmv]

I have a Polish Exile Forces cap badge which was bent like Robin Hood's bow. with judicious use of a hair drier and applied force with a pencil it is now virtually straight. far better than its original condition. as Quasimodo said " what 'ump "

Hmmm I haven't seen your badge, but hope it was not intensionally bent in ww2! Let me explain:

I have a same Polish badge, that was bent by the soldier in ww2 to fit their barret more nicely! It was bent like "robin hoods" bow as you call it, but 100% intentionally done.
So guys: let the badges be as they are! For a better look or fit could sometimes be the purpose of it being bent...

[zipper]

not if it was bent forwards

[NickG]

Great topic. I was thinking about this topic yesterday as I just received a plastic RAOC cap badge that same day,
which is also bent (warped...)

This was not too apparent in the auction picture (see below), but it was disclosed in the description...
I'm still happy with it (based on the price; $5.85 USD only)...

So I was also thinking about this issue as well. Maybe I might try the hot water trick or otherwisw I'll just leave it alone!

[lnijherald]

Ask Uri Geller, he can bend about anything without applying any significant force. And it doesn't require the use of nasty pencils.

http://site.uri-geller.com/

Luc