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I hadn't remembered this but this is a real danger with this material. I still thinkPolycarbonate is the best choice. It's very strong, will not shatter under any circumstances and is reasonably priced. In addition, it's quite attractive

Another good choice is Nylon. However, I'd avoid using Delryn as it can break.

Also, avoid Acrylic; it will shatter quite easily.

John Bowditch



> ----------
> From:         Steve Fentress
> Reply To:     Informal Science Education Network
> Sent:         Wednesday, August 4, 2004 12:39 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Fiberglass rods danger?
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> There's been discussion about using fiberglass rods instead of wooden
> dowels to support spinning plates. Just a note of possibly applicable
> warning from my personal experience. I bought a couple of fiberglass rods
> (I think that's what they were made of) that were sold for the purpose of
> marking the corners of my driveway for guidance when parking. One day I
> accidentally hit one of these with the lawn mower. In the vicinity of the
> cut, the rod shattered into many small needle-like fragments. Each looked
> like a long thin wood sliver but still had the strength of fiberglass. I
> spent 10 minutes picking them up out of the grass so my cat wouldn't get
> into them. If one of the little fibers gets into your skin and breaks off
> it's pretty annoying.
> 
> Maybe the rods being suggested for the plates are different, but I feel
> obliged to point this out as a possibility.
> 
> Steve Fentress, Director
> Strasenburgh Planetarium
> Rochester Museum & Science Center
> 657 East Avenue
> Rochester, NY 14607 USA
> phone (585)  697-1946
> fax (585) 271-7146
> e-mail [log in to unmask]
> www.rmsc.org
> 
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