Thread: How to differentiate between celluloid and plastic handles.

how to find out handle is celluloid or plastic? i was thinking they both same thing?

Hey Sham, plastic is a very very broad term. It covers any number of synthetic materials that are moldable under certain conditions. Celluloid is just one type of plastic, one of the first in fact.

So, celluloid IS plastic, but plastic is not always celluloid.

I've heard, and I've experienced, that celluloid gives off a strong "camphor" odor when you sand it. I can't explain what camphor smells like, but when you smell it, you'll know. It's...not good.

If you rub the scales with your thumb to get it warm celluloid will give off that smell. It's the heating that makes the gas from the celluloid evaporate, then you can smell it.

I don't mind the smell of celluloid,it's almost pleasant compared to the smell of bakelite when sanded.That stuff smells HORRIBLE.Like something died.

I'm not sure I would characterize celluloid as plastic unless your taking a really broad definition of plastic. I thought bakelite was the first of the modern plastics.

Probably rubbing with your hand is the best way to tell the difference.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I'm not sure I would characterize celluloid as plastic unless your taking a really broad definition of plastic. I thought bakelite was the first of the modern plastics.

Probably rubbing with your hand is the best way to tell the difference.

Plastic does have a really broad definition. In the common use, plastic refers to any synthetic or semisynthetic polymer that can be easily shaped or molded under the right circumstances. Celluloid was the first man-made plastic, bakelite came later.

From the wikipedia definition of celluloid:

Celluloid is the name of a class of compounds created from nitrocellulose and camphor, plus dyes and other agents. Generally regarded to be the first thermoplastic, it was first created as Parkesine in 1856 and as Xylonite in 1869 before being registered as Celluloid in 1870.

Celluloid is a plastic.