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This is aggravating.

I'm trying to find a source for shallow bowls (or domes) about 3 to 5 feet wide. They must be lightweight plastic, but not terribly flimsy. I've been trying Froogle, but no real luck. Anyone got any ideas on proper key words?

J.

Comments (6)

rawb:

This is the kinda stuff the internet is missing, but it will come one day. Proper keywords. Ways to find exactly what you're looking for. It will come. One day.

I get semi-annoyed with google for the way it lists results. Granted I usually love its results, but it'd be a lot cooler if it could categorize the results. For example search for something like "hairless pussy" and have the results be something like:

Porn(73476586 results)
Cat [Sphynx Cat] (372 results)
Cat [other] (18 results)
Bulletin Board Posts (734857 results)

Similar to wikipedia disambiguation. I really think molding the two together would rock.

Anyway, no i have no suggestions for you ;) As always, I'm just bloviating uselessly

Does it have to be a perfect dome? If you can tolerate a bit of irregularity, you might try the covers on some of those plasic turtle or ladybug sandboxes that We-Be-Toys sells. I'd say scout out thrift stores and garage sales,as new they cost $40-$50, and you'd be throwing most of it away.

You might end up having to make up a curved framework, then fasten thin ply to it to make a form to mold it out of fibreglass cloth and resin or soak some thin marine grade plywood with water, then use cargo straps to force it to the shape of the mold. After it dries, it should hold the curve shape. When I was a SCAdian, I made Heater shields just by using the straps to pull a single curve in 5/8 to 3/4" ply and letting sit for a week to dry out.

JLawson:

James:

I'm starting to think a shallow mold might be the way to go with this. A 5' square made out of 2x12s, some stuff to block in the corners, and a few bags of plaster. It'd be heavy, and messy to make, but then it'd be possible to turn out some standardized saucers. Probably 10, altogether.

Hey, if you're going to have a flying saucer invasion, you need flying saucers!

And Hoverdiscs just don't cut it....

J.

JLawson:

Rawb:

Not a problem, man. We've come so far in the last 20 years I'm grateful for what we've got. Just have to keep things in perspective, sometimes...

J.

BTW, IKEA has scads of those "glow cable" lights for sale. There's a variety of colours and they come with a DC power pack. $14, IIRC

JLawson:

Yep, I saw those (yesterday, in fact - had the chance to go down there) but I think I'll wait until after Christmas.

J.

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