Lexan or Acrylic

[Ron Dague]

I have numerous ports in which the "plastic" has clouded or crazed. I've previously followed the discussion on what to do with acrylic and Lexan. Here's my question: Does anyone know an easy way to tell if a "plastic" window is lexan or acrylic?I believe that "Plexiglass", is a trade name for one manufacturer's acrylic. I've read that I might be able to buff out some of the surface cloudiness and crazing in acrylic window. Lexan will need to be heated, probably by someone that knows what they are doing. And neither technique will make the windows look quite like new!Finally, knowing that Lexan, in thicker versions, is bulletproof, I thought about taking a smaller caliber handgun and ... But, as a testing procedure, it might go through the window (and the hull!) if the window is acrylic, so please, no testing procedures involving pyrotechnics!And although I've cruised the archives, any foolproof advice on making my windows look like new, will be welcome!Thanks in advance,RonS/V Finesse, h34www.ExploreScuba.com

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Flitz

It may not look like "new" but Flitz or 3M Marine Metal Polish will take that cloudiness off Lexan & Plex. I tried this on my parents boat as their plex ports were so hazy you seriously couldn't see out of them. They were merely letting light in. They Lexan hatches weren't much better. I took my trusty tube of 3M & set to work - they came out almost like new. There's still a slight haziness but absolutely nothing like before. LaDonna

 

[Jim Willis]

How to tell lexan from acrylic and then what

If the window has little starbursts of crazing, especially around metal fittings but it otherwise clear- its acrylic. It can be easily broken even when new even easier with crazing.Never use anything solvent based - even a mild cleaner (that always hase some type of ether or tupene present) may help set it off. Just use soap and water. You may be able to take of surface crazing with compound or polish. but probably not. When new acrylic is far more transparent even that glass.WHen I had storm windows of lexan to bo over the acrylic windows of my Gulf 32 pilothouse, the pieces left over- even when sown to quarter of an inche could not be broken even by bending back and forth several times- lts almost like toffee.Lexan loses its transparencey by forming a hellow haziness (oxidation) on the surface. You can remove as La Donna said with metal polish. However I prefer to first dissolve off the oxidation with IG Clear and paper towel. I just did this about 2 weeks ago and finished off with some old Maguirs plastic polish that had some fine grit (to polish out imperfections and some silicone to make water bead. You could also use metal polish and then CELAR HORIZONs.THe windows came back very clear but I need to take them off to clean sme minor stuff from the inside and from the outside of the old acrylic windows.Actually I would prefer lexan for everying (would it be great to have a whole boat made of it?). because it is so tough. It is more bendy than acrylic though and needs to be well supported.I used hlaf inch lexan for my windows and they would almost certainly stop a 22 bullett!ThanksJim W

 

[Robert Gist]

Novus Polish #2

Lexan is a trade name for Polycaronate and Plexiglass is a trade name for acrylic. Most injection molded ports will be polycaronate and most large, tinted, flat, window will be acrylic. Novus brand polishes are made just for restoring the shine and protecting plastic like this. I've used it on my ports and even my gel coat, It's great on the windows in your dodge too. It is availble thru most plastics retailers and I've seen it locally at some auto parts store,(Jeep windows).

 

[Capt. Pat]

clouded port lights

Hey RonI was just visiting the hunter site and saw your thread about clouded port lights. I found on the morgan owners site a suggestion to remove the clouding on my portlights. Brasso. I tried it and it works great, it seems it has a mild abrasive, enough to get the clouding off. I did it about 3 months ago and they still look good. The instructions on the can said it can be used on plastics. Cheaper than replacing the port lights, which i was considering.As for crazing of lexan etc... my hatches are pretty bad from our texas summers and i think replacement is inevitable. I talked to sally morgan, wife of charlie morgan who designed and built my boat, she said that replacement of just the lexan was possible and i have located a few lexan specialist in my area that can do it if i take the hatches off and take them down to them. If you hear of any suggestions on how to repair or refinish crazed lexan, i would be glad to hear about it before i begin a replacement project.CheersCapt Patmorgan 43 CC