PROCESSING INSTRUCTIONS
Working with hanit
Our environmentally friendly hanit material consists of 100% recycled plastic and is characterized by its wide range of uses. Products made from hanit can be easily installed without a great deal of technical knowledge, are easy to transport, and protect our climate by reducing the amount of new material used. In addition to being environmentally friendly, it is the outstanding product performance which makes the material unique, since hanit combines the positive characteristics of wood, stone, plastic, and concrete. It also has a very good price/performance ratio and quickly pays for itself.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF RECYCLED PLASTIC
hanit is just as easy to process as wood and can be machined using standard tools and machinery from the wood and metal processing industries. Our products made from recycled plastic can be adapted to almost any project. Because of the material characteristics, there are a few things which should be taken into consideration before starting your project:
Recycled products have a closed surface. The core structure that becomes visible during machining. This material-related characteristic does not affect the processing or stability of the material.
hanit is much lighter than concrete or stone but it is very dense, which gives the material its strength and makes it a popular alternative with many professionals.
The processing of recycled plastic normally results in additional tool wear. We recommend the using carbide tipped equipment for processing hanit.
Several hanit products are reinforced with steel, which gives the product additional stability. Do not cut the steel reinforcement.
Swarf should be collected using appropriate extraction systems or devices so that they can be recycled or disposed of afterwards.
SAWING
Optimum cutting can be achieved with recycled plastic using fast band saws and circular saws with slightly straight-set teeth made from carbide. To avoid clogging, we recommend quick swarf removal.
SCREW FASTENING
When hanit recycled products are being screwed in place, the profile that is being secured should be pre-drilled. The drill hole should be bigger than the screw. We also recommend elongated holes to allow for expansion and contraction of the material.
MILLING
When milling hanit products, a swarf cross-section that is as big as possible should be selected in order to minimize the amount of heat generated by the swarf removal. The maximum cutting depth and feed rate should be used, whereas the cutting speed should be slow. To increase the service life of the tools, we recommend using milling cutters made from carbide.
NAILING
Hammer and nails or nail guns can be used on hanit recycled plastic. Because of the density of plastic, nailing into hanit products is more difficult than wood and not recommended.
DRILLING
A standard drill with a twist angle of 20 to 30° and a tip angle of 110 to 120° can be used in the majority of cases when drilling recycled plastic. Relaxed strokes should occasionally be used to avoid high frictional heat, particularly at greater drilling depths.
SPAN DISTANCES
Recycled plastic is less rigid and more flexible than wood or metal products. This material characteristic should be taken into consideration, particularly in boardwalk, fence, and deck construction.
PLANING
An electric planer can be used to machine hanit. The surface depends on the feed rate, cutting speed, clearance, rake angle, and the condition of the blades to a considerable extent. Please note, the inside of hanit is not the same texture as the outside.
POST POUNDING
If recycled profiles are being pounded, we recommend using a pile driver or edge protector to avoid damaging the product.
DEBURRING
Angle grinders are not suitable for cutting hanit because of the high rotational speed, however, it can be used on plastic parts which have burrs or edges after machining.
EXPANSION DISTANCE
Boards, beams, and square profiles made from hanit recycled plastic must not be press fitted. Profiles will experience thermal expansion of +/- 1.5%. An expansion gap must be left to accommodate thermal expansion.
DOWNLOAD AREA
Documents and product information
More information about the installation, assembly, and processing of hanit recycled products can be found in the downloads tab. These documents will provide step-by-step support for correct usage. And we are always pleased to be available to you in person for any other questions.