How to make a vacuum forming machine from thrift-store parts

Whether you are trying to make an exact replica of a famous movie prop or creating a small run of products for your business, vacuum forming is a precise and inexpensive way to create exact duplicates of an item in a short amount of time. If you are unfamiliar with the process, vacuum forming is a manufacturing method by which a sheet of plastic is heated and pressed over a form to create a part. Although the process may seem difficult and expensive, all you really need to build your own vacuum forming machine is a toaster oven and a shop vacuum. Bill Doran from the YouTube channel Punished Props Academy demonstrates the DIY process in a recent video.