polyethylene = kydex?

Hi. I was looking for some kydex which seems expensive no? Anyway, I went to the plastics store and found this dirt cheap sheet of polyethylene 10 mil black plastic. soft enough to curl and cut with scissors, yet stiff enough to make a cylinder. pebbly on one side, smooth on the other.

It costs like $4 for a 4 foot by 2 foot sheet. He told me glue doesn't stick to it and its nearly the same material used in milk jugs, chosen for its ability to be formed and for it's non-stick nature. He said it's melting point is 300 degrees.

So, can you see any reason NOT to use this...to me it sounds looks and feels EXACTLY like kydex but a fraction of the brand name's cost.

Thoughts?
Tom.

What application(s) are you pondering? If you're thinking dewshield, then yes -- polyethylene sheet will work fine. Just keep it out of the sun. Over time, UV will degrade its flexibility and make it brittle. Of course, that's *significant* time.

If you don't need chemical resistance and/or flame retardance, then flexible Kydex is expensive overkill.

Best wishes.
-Dan

Tom,, sounds like a great deal to me. I would use it. I just had to get some Kydex and fortunately a club member had a couple of sheets and it cost me $0! ;^)
What plastics store did you find it at and what was it called, brand name, type?
Floyd