Can You Recycle GW Sprues?

Games Workshop (GW) sprues are plastic frames that make miniature models for tabletop games such as Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar.

These sprues are made of polystyrene, a common plastic used in many consumer products.

As the world becomes more conscious of environmental sustainability, questions arise about the disposal of plastic products like GW sprues.

While polystyrene is technically recyclable, recycling this material can be difficult and expensive.

Polystyrene products often have to be separated from other recyclables because they have a different chemical composition.

Additionally, the recycling process can be energy-intensive, and there may be limited demand for recycled polystyrene products.

Creative Ways To Recycle GW Sprues

Create A Putty

Polystyrene is a type of plastic commonly used in modeling kits due to its low cost, flexibility, and relatively low glass transition temperature.

One significant characteristic of polystyrene is its ability to dissolve easily in certain volatile solvents, such as toluene (also known as methyl benzene), commonly found in plastic cement and modeling glues.

By leveraging this solvent-dissolving property, you can repurpose old polystyrene sprues by creating personalized putty or “sprue goo” using solvents.

Repurposing Plastic Sprues For Terrain And Bases

Empty plastic sprues from model kits and Warhammer are versatile and can be reused in various ways.

One popular use is to create custom terrain and miniature bases. One method is to cut the sprues into strips to make ruined bricks, building girders, or stonework.

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To assemble these bits, use plastic cement or super glue for a secure hold. A thicker, more viscous glue is preferred for better control over the glue’s application.

Another unique way to use plastic sprues is to grind them up using a coffee grinder to create miniature flocking material.

Ensure the grinder isn’t overloaded with sprues and doesn’t overwork the motor. The small bits can create texture on terrain or build up sand or mortar-like effects.

Ground-up plastic sprue can also be mixed with a solvent to create a putty or “sprue goo” for sculpting and texturizing building sidings, facades, or ground lay on bases or around other structures.

Convert Miniatures

Old plastic sprues are a great resource for miniature conversion, allowing you to use your imagination with a smaller-scale model in mind.

For Warhammer 40k players, sprues can be used to build armor plates on vehicles, flyers, and other war machines.

Sculpt sprues with a hobby knife to sharpen the tips and add spikes, similar to the Mad Max style.

Use pencil sharpener to quickly sharpen long sprue pieces, but opt for a manual one to ensure durability.

The malleability of sprue plastic allows for shaping with a bit of heat and curving into shapes. Build up layers of sprues to form entirely new miniatures or augment existing ones with new subassemblies and parts.

Create forms and structures to bring your vision to life. The possibilities for miniature conversion with plastic sprues are endless.

Repair Household Objects

Empty plastic sprues can be a convenient solution when dealing with broken objects that require filling cracks or holes.

To replace the lost material, you will need a filler material that can serve as a substitute.

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Using a two-part epoxy resin or another sturdy adhesive binder, you can combine plastic sprue pieces to form a filler material.

There are two ways to use sprues to repair various household objects. Mix up a custom putty or sprue goo to seal gaps or cracks.

Second, cut sprues to fit the gap or broken crack size and use super glue to hold the sprue pieces in place while applying a slower-drying epoxy to fill and seal the gap.

Old sprues can fix cracked plastic shells on appliances, outdoor furniture, and toys. Due to the softness of the model kit, sprues can be easily cut, shaped, and sculpted to fit any part that needs repair.

There are countless uses for sprues for repairing things around your home.

Kitbash

Kitbashing or model bashing is a popular practice of using parts from different kits to create a new model or miniature.

Empty plastic sprues from old model kits are excellent for sculpting new objects from scratch. You can use them to build a scale model building, cut them down into miniature “bricks,” or layer them together to create the base form of another miniature.

The malleable nature of sprues allows you to shape them with heat or solvents and create almost any form, from mechanized types to organic creatures like golems.

With empty plastic sprues, the possibilities are endless.

What Materials Are Used To Make Warhammer Sprues?

Warhammer sprues are crafted from high-impact polystyrene, a thermoplastic polymer with excellent strength and impact resistance.

This material is ideal for miniature production as it can be easily molded and mass-produced, allowing for the creation of intricate and detailed models.

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While creating sprues can be costly upfront, the cost is offset by the ability to produce thousands of pieces from a single set of molds.

Before the bits are turned into sprues, they are laid out in a CAD (computer-aided design) program.

This allows for precise placement of the pieces and ensures they fit together seamlessly when assembled.

Overall, using high-quality materials and precise design methods is crucial to creating high-quality Warhammer miniatures.

What Type Of Plastic Is Used To Produce Games Workshop (GW) Models?

GW models are made of polystyrene plastic, a common material used in traditional scale model kits. Polystyrene plastic is also widely used to manufacture GW model kits.

Plastic glue, also known as plastic Cement, is used to bond polystyrene plastic, which creates a strong and long-lasting bond.

This type of glue works by slightly melting the plastic, allowing the pieces to fuse when they dry. Overall, the use of polystyrene plastic and Plastic Glue enables the creation of high-quality and durable GW models that are popular among hobbyists and collectors.

What Is GW Plastic Glue?

Citadel Plastic Glue is an adhesive designed specifically to assemble plastic GW miniatures.

The glue comes in a bottle with an applicator nozzle, making it easy to apply the adhesive precisely where needed.

The glue works by slightly melting the plastic, allowing the pieces to fuse when they dry, creating a strong and durable bond.

Citadel Plastic Glue is an essential tool for hobbyists and collectors who want to assemble their GW miniatures with precision and accuracy.

It ensures a secure and long-lasting bond that can withstand the rigors of gaming and display.

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