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 Subject : Re:Re:Re:Re:Outdoor Plastic Bar Stock--Need Recommendation.. 10/15/2022 07:49:15 PM 
JILL KENIK
Posts: 40
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Thanks for all of the suggestions!
Ended up switching out to oak over concerns about carrying the weight and that it was readily available locally.

Good idea Alika--thanks.
 Subject : Re:Re:Re:Outdoor Plastic Bar Stock--Need Recommendation.. 10/14/2022 03:14:06 PM 
Alika Brooks
Posts: 16
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Wood may also be a good choice. Species we use outdoors are Cedar, Cypress, Sapele, Ipe, White Oak, and treated pine. Those are all rot resistant but all wood weathers outdoors, like cracking, splitting, warping, etc. Wood finishes help but need to be reapplied regularly. Coating in epoxy is a great way to protect the wood long term but you have to protect raw epoxy from UV as well. You can use a UV stable epoxy hardener like West 207 or add a filler like aluminum powder to block the UV from degrading the epoxy.

You may also look into an architectural composite material like Richlite but I don't have any first hand experience with it.
 Subject : Re:Re:Outdoor Plastic Bar Stock--Need Recommendation.. 10/14/2022 02:59:39 PM 
EZRA HOMISON
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I haven't used this product yet, but I noted it several years ago while looking for something else. I can't speak to its ability to support weight, but TAP's sales associates should be able to tell you more:

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/cut_to_size_plastic/king_starboard/526
Last Edited On: 10/14/2022 03:00:46 PM By EZRA HOMISON
 Subject : Re:Outdoor Plastic Bar Stock--Need Recommendation.. 10/14/2022 02:46:52 PM 
Alika Brooks
Posts: 16
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Hi Jill, best plastics I have experience with for outdoor use are Acrylic (PMMA) and HDPE/LDPE. We manufacture boat parts (access doors, rod holders, floor drains) for a local boat builder from King StarBoard which is HDPE. It can certainly take the outdoor weather, is easy to machine, readily available, and comes in white. It may be too flexible for you at those dimensions so best to do a test. It is also very slippery.
 Subject : Outdoor Plastic Bar Stock--Need Recommendation.. 10/14/2022 02:27:46 PM 
JILL KENIK
Posts: 40
Location: 
I have a project that requires 1-1/2" x 1-1/4" x 36" lengths of a plastic that can survive outdoor installation. The bar stock also needs to be able to support about 100 to 150 pounds across the 36" length. White preferred but not critical.

Various plastic bars I've reviewed all say not for outdoor use, (McMaster Carr has 5 types of correctly sized bar) so I expect that means they will break down under UV, or are not appropriate in the temperature range.

Need to be able to mill various channels into the bar on 3 sides.

Considering wood, but I am concerned about rot with the channels that need to be milled into the stock.

Any suggestions of specific type of plastic are appreciated.
 
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