StV......... Could you please explain the soft plastic?

[sculpey]

Should I have the veal or the roast beef?

[Genetic Disposition]

From what I remember, both the hard & soft plastic are an identical 2 part plastic, possibly PVC. What makes them hard or soft depends on how much of part A mixes with part B.

As to why they use it for each application, *shrugs*

<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ February 14, 2005 11:46 AM: Message edited by: Figment? ]</font>

[Peter Peeker]

Originally posted by sculpey:
Should I have the veal or the roast beef?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">always go with the veal.

[levere]

I always thought it was more of a breakage issue. Softer plastic = less breakage.

[toymank]

I dunno... I thinkl I could still put my eye out with either of 'em...

[Spore]

More than likely it has something to do with safety standards. Can't have kids pokin' out their eyes out or choking on tiny little objects.

[Michael Crawford]

More than likely, it's a combination of things.

Yes, it probably is cheaper. Not necessarily because the cost of the plastic itself is cheaper, but because of the process. Softer small pieces are less likely to break, including when they are being removed from molds. If I use plastic A and get 20% breakage, but if I use plastic B and get 1% breakage, guess which one is cheaper overall?

There are also safety standards to deal with, since it's pretty easy to put an eye out with a hard, pointy object. It depends on what market they plan on selling into I'm sure, so you're more likely to see sturdy weapons in a line that is only sold through specialty retailers than mass market.

All that doesn't make it less annoying - just understandable.

Michael
MWC