Bending UHMW plastic for a runner

[Swingpure]

I have been ice fishing for years, but I am finally going to build an ice shanty. I am going to put some 8” wide, 3/8” thick UHMW plastic as my runner. Any suggestions on how to bend the plastic to match the curve at the front of the wooden runner?

[ran7ger]

it'll just bend as you work your way with the screws.  a heat gun helps too.

[Gunflint]

it'll just bend as you work your way with the screws.  a heat gun helps too.

X2. Works great

[hardwater diehard]

Bucket of hot water.

[3300]

start on the front at the highest point on the curve of the ski and allow that first screw to hold it in place as you work towards the rear. don't skip any locations to line it up.

stainless hardware is best to use. countersink the hardware screw holes first.

i've never needed heat or hot water to attach them and i have done a few shelters.

[DR.SPECKLER]

I had to use a heat gun to bend clam x series runners that were 2” wide by 1/2 thick to get them to form at the  tight bend up front.they were beast to bend.always start up front.

[Swingpure]

Thanks for all of the tips!

[Akhardwater]

I wouldn’t run anything thinner than half inch, 5/8 would be preferable.  The half inch stuff gives you more room to countersink your screws and it’s more rigid.  However it will be harder to bend, you will defiantly need a heat gun to help with the bend and as others have said bend it real slow and gradual so not to break the plastic or strip out screws.  I used 5/8 on my shack and felt like anything thinner than that just wouldn’t be enough.  Don’t forget your skeg.  I used a 24”x2”x3/8 piece of UHMW about 3 foot from the end of my ski. This thing is critical if you want your shack to track right when your going down the trail.

[vanhln]

I heated my runners with a hair dryer, but a heat gun would be more preferable.

[Drifter_016]

Heat gun or propane torch works mint.

[filetandrelease]

 Heat gun works great on UHMW skies and runner kits
 

[Swingpure]

Thanks for the additional tips. I would not have thought about the skeg and I also wondered if 3/8” was thick enough. I likely will go with the 1/2” as J will not be doing a lot of running and when I do, for the most part it will be relatively short distances. I have a heat gun and a propane torch, but will start with the heat gun first, when it comes time to do it.

[Iceassin]

I have attached 3" × 1/2" UHMW, to 90*  "rounded bent" conduit without heat in the past. Just drill and bolt as you go.