Question About Pirate Raft

[bonniebeth]

I have a raft, this one, http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-65-9630, which I would like to dismantle, but I'm not sure if it's possible. It comes all as one piece, but there is a seam all the way around the middle so it looks as if it could be split in half. Does anyone know if it can be split without ruining it? If not, I may just have to take a saw to it, but I'd prefer not to destroy it if I don't have to.

[Tiermann]

No practical experience splitting one, but I would guess it's been sonically molded together like they do with most boats and 123 items. So I wouldn't expect prying to be able to pop it apart. The saw sounds like a better method if you are looking to have 2 useable parts at the end.

[bonniebeth]

Yeah, that's what I was kind of figuring.  Now I just have to decide if I want to sacrifice it or not.

[Rhalius]

May I ask what you plan to do with it? Maybe some experienced customisers might have other suggestions if need be for what you are trying to do.

[bonniebeth]

It's going to be an enrichment item for one of the animals in my zoo that likes to swim, maybe the tigers. It's still going to be a raft, but since it will be set on top of fake water, it would look more realistic if it looks half submerged. Especially since it is the underside without mast holes that I want showing... All the bumps on the other side keep it from lying flat.

[cachalote]

hello,
  yes, the seam in not an "open" one.
if you want to try, you could perhaps use a very sharp knife.
the cut will always be e little rugged.
but, if you fix (dual-sided tape) a sheet of fine grain sand paper on the top of a table and then move the half-raft over it, you will end up with a very perfect and leveled finish.
the trick is to move the raft in slow and circular movements - with the sand-paper standing still
  i hope this could help.

[tonguello]

great idea bb!!