Outrivals wood, steel, stainless steel, new plastic & concrete
Our recycled plastic products can be processed with conventional tools and machinery used in wood and metal processing. However, due to the properties of the material, we recommend the use of carbide-tipped tools to avoid tool wear.
High-speed band saws and circular saws with slightly crossed teeth, preferably carbide-tipped, produce the best finish. Quickly remove any shavings to avoid smearing the plastics. Lengths can also be shortened using a chainsaw (although this may be less accurate).
The span cross-section should be as large as possible to keep the machining heat relatively low. Depth of cut and feed rate should be high, and the cutting speed low. To increase the tool life, we recommend using routers with indexable carbide inserts.
Spiral bits with a helix angle from 20° to 30° peak angle from 110° to 120° can almost always be used. Relaxation strokes should occasionally be used, especially with larger drilling depths, to avoid high frictional heat.
Standard planes can be used to process plastics. The surface is largely dependent on the feed rate, cutting speed, clearance and cutting angle, and the condition of the machining blade.
Angle grinders are not suitable for cutting due to their high speed. Plastic parts, which exhibit burrs or edges following machining, can be processed with an angle grinder.
Note: Recycled products have a closed surface. The core may have a honeycomb structure, which becomes visible during machining. This is due to the material properties.
When bolting recycled profiles together, the profile to be fastened must be pre-drilled. (e.g. boards, footpath, square profiles). The hole must be larger than the bolt. We recommend elongated slots, to account for the temperature-related expansion of the material.
Recycled profiles are only partially paintable due to their properties. Good results have been obtained using permanently elastic plastic paints (all-weather paints) together with a roughened surface and priming. Permanent paint adhesion cannot be guaranteed
Our products can be nailed both conventionally and with nail guns. Due to the compact surface, it is, however, more difficult to penetrate the profiles than it would be with wood. Please take this into consideration when installing.
Compared to wood or metal products, plastic has lower stiffness and greater flexibility. These special material properties must be taken into consideration when planning distance between supports in dock, fence, and deck construction.
If using a hammer, we recommend using a mallet or a corner protector to prevent damage to the product.
Boards, beams, and square profiles must not be press-fitted. The profiles may exhibit length variations of +/- 1.5% due to temperature fluctuations. An expansion gap must therefore be maintained during installation.
Sunlight affects the profile alignment and can cause fence posts to tilt. To prevent profile distortion caused by sunlight, the profiles should not be stored loosely
Structural verification tests, installation recommendations, and assembly instructions are available for many products and applications.