molded plastic handgun grips

[Buckwheat Jack]

It may be that I am not remembering right, but I think I read an article many eons ago about using a solvent of some kind to reuse household plastic items by casting them by melting in the solvent to make handgun grips or other useful items. Anyone remember this? Or maybe ever do this and know the solvent to use?

[Curtis]

I know that MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) will melt PVC, Lexan and other polymers and then evaporate to leave the substrate solid again.  I don't know the specifics of the application you refer to though.  I know not much help but that is all I can offer from experience.  I have used MEK to smooth the edge cuts in Lexan when making motorcycle windshields.
 
Curtis

[Buckwheat Jack]

Thanks. At least I know now where to start looking.

[gcrank1]

Laquer thinner in a styrofoam cup will melt through, so you use a cardboard cup with it and add bits of styro until you have the consistency you want and you have a fine patching 'epoxy'. I dont know if you can use this idea to do what you want, but it might get you in the right direction of what you are trying to recall.