Method of manufacturing plastic shells for drums

A method of manufacturing plastic shells for drums from a plastic material which is relatively non-deformable at room temperature and is readily deformable when heated to a temperature substantially above room temperature, said method comprising steps of:

• placing a large sheet of said plastic material on a substantially flat supporting surface when the material is at room temperature,
• forming plastic panels from said plastic material by cutting it into individual panels,
• forming a substantially V-shaped recess on one side of the sheet at said cut, which extends only partially through the panel,
• forming a straight cut adjacent each V-shaped recess,
• positioning the cut panels in abutting relation to each other so that the V-shaped recesses face generally upwardly and the straight cuts of said adjacent panels abut with each other,
• placing an adhesive having a higher deforming temperature than the temperature at which said plastic material becomes readily deformable to secure a desired plurality of said panels in an assembly,
• removing excess adhesive from the assembly,
• subjecting said assembly to a temperature at which said plastic material becomes readily deformable, but the adhesive material does not,
• deforming the assembly into a generally cylindrical form while still heated,
• thereafter placing the edges of the assembly in abutting relation with the straight cuts touching each other,
• permitting the resultant assembly to return to room temperature by exposing it to room temperature for a sufficient period of time, and
• placing adhesive in the V-shaped groove which has been formed by abutting the ends of the assembly together so that said shell is permanently retained in cylindrical form after hardening of the adhesive in the last mentioned V-shaped groove.