I am planning to change my 1/4 inch thik Lexan windows because some of them leak and I can't see through very well. The corner ones are rounded. I find that Lexan scratches easily too. Would tinted plexiglass a better alternative? Can it be molded easily?
Lexan or Plexiglass
- Thread starter Bert18049
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Check the archives -
Am I the only one who wishes people would do some research first before they come on and ask a question??? Man - we just went through this topic a short while ago - about 6 months ago - about 9 months ago - about 11 months ago - and on and on. BTW - sailors call them portlights. Damn - the weather has been terrible with tornadoes etc up here so I am in a grumpy mood!!! Cheers,
Am I the only one who wishes people would do some research first before they come on and ask a question??? Man - we just went through this topic a short while ago - about 6 months ago - about 9 months ago - about 11 months ago - and on and on. BTW - sailors call them portlights. Damn - the weather has been terrible with tornadoes etc up here so I am in a grumpy mood!!! Cheers,
Ouch!
Could have simply directed him to the archives in a kinder manner. I'll pray for lots of sunshine and thus a better mood.
Could have simply directed him to the archives in a kinder manner. I'll pray for lots of sunshine and thus a better mood.
Shhhhh! Don't tell Jim, I am going to share
this with you before the next storm hits. I cut lexan with a fine blade in both a table saw and jigsaw. Tape the line area with a wide piece of tape and cut away. No problems. Jeff
this with you before the next storm hits. I cut lexan with a fine blade in both a table saw and jigsaw. Tape the line area with a wide piece of tape and cut away. No problems. Jeff
Lighten up!!
Gee, Jim...some "response". Maybe he's new and doesn't know about the archived items. Sure it's the weather or just "that time of the month"?
Gee, Jim...some "response". Maybe he's new and doesn't know about the archived items. Sure it's the weather or just "that time of the month"?
Perhaps you can summarize
The archives are simple a log of words and content. Information is not grouped well and because the forums are simply assynchronous conversations, the topics tend to meander. Currently a simple search on "lexan" for 2004 alone brings up 100 matches. This can be wittled down by adding more parameters but you may lose what you are looking for. Who knows? A repeated question is an opportunity to summarize or get to the heart of a questions or issue. But if that's not your bag, go after those questions that get no response or only one or two. Those are the hard ones that need a little thinking outside of the holding tank box. Markdb
The archives are simple a log of words and content. Information is not grouped well and because the forums are simply assynchronous conversations, the topics tend to meander. Currently a simple search on "lexan" for 2004 alone brings up 100 matches. This can be wittled down by adding more parameters but you may lose what you are looking for. Who knows? A repeated question is an opportunity to summarize or get to the heart of a questions or issue. But if that's not your bag, go after those questions that get no response or only one or two. Those are the hard ones that need a little thinking outside of the holding tank box. Markdb
Lexan vs. Plexiglass
Bert, you are right. Lexan is softer than plexiglass. Also, Lexan will craze if placed in a strain, ie bent. Scratches can be polished out of Plexiglass, but are very dificult to polish out of Lexan. Plexiglass can be shattered, but Lexan normally wont crack. When I was restoring an airplane, I used some Lexan for the windows next to the hat shelf. Wish I hadn't done that as they are starting to show fine scratches from cleaning the airplane.
Bert, you are right. Lexan is softer than plexiglass. Also, Lexan will craze if placed in a strain, ie bent. Scratches can be polished out of Plexiglass, but are very dificult to polish out of Lexan. Plexiglass can be shattered, but Lexan normally wont crack. When I was restoring an airplane, I used some Lexan for the windows next to the hat shelf. Wish I hadn't done that as they are starting to show fine scratches from cleaning the airplane.
Summarized for Mark
Hi Mark, Enter the searchword "portlights" into the box, call up all messages or titles. In other words, leave as much room for details to come back from the archive. Amazing eh? There will be all the answers our friend will ever need about polycarbonate or plexiglass. These archives are a treasure trove of information. Still grumpy - another storm forecast for tonight (Tuesday Race Night). Damn.
Hi Mark, Enter the searchword "portlights" into the box, call up all messages or titles. In other words, leave as much room for details to come back from the archive. Amazing eh? There will be all the answers our friend will ever need about polycarbonate or plexiglass. These archives are a treasure trove of information. Still grumpy - another storm forecast for tonight (Tuesday Race Night). Damn.
Summarized for Jim
It doesn't matter if your right with respect to the archives Jim, it's your attitude that's wrong. Treating folks that ask a question with a condescending attitude does a disservice to this forum, and the sailing community at large. What if the person asking the question is new to the forum, that welcome will not make them want to return. I'm sure the owners of this forum; who are also trying to run a business here, don't appreciate it. If you get tired of answering the same old questions, don't; someone else will gladly step in. Yes the archives are a great source of information, sometimes folks forget to look, or think their question is unique. Either way, if you follow the logic of doing the research before you ask the question; one could research all available sources and come up with an answer and never need to ask the question here. That would make this forum very quiet and leave no room for further discussion, like: " I used Lexan and had this to say about it ....." So get out of your grumpy mood and help a fellow sailor out.
It doesn't matter if your right with respect to the archives Jim, it's your attitude that's wrong. Treating folks that ask a question with a condescending attitude does a disservice to this forum, and the sailing community at large. What if the person asking the question is new to the forum, that welcome will not make them want to return. I'm sure the owners of this forum; who are also trying to run a business here, don't appreciate it. If you get tired of answering the same old questions, don't; someone else will gladly step in. Yes the archives are a great source of information, sometimes folks forget to look, or think their question is unique. Either way, if you follow the logic of doing the research before you ask the question; one could research all available sources and come up with an answer and never need to ask the question here. That would make this forum very quiet and leave no room for further discussion, like: " I used Lexan and had this to say about it ....." So get out of your grumpy mood and help a fellow sailor out.
Bent Lexan
Thank you for sharing this experience Jim. There is a local plastic shop who is willing to make bended plexiglass 'port lights' by making a mold out of my existing ones... This is custom work and consequently, expensive. I will look through the archives, as desperately suggested by a forum member, to see if anybody has hands-on experience at bending plexiglass. Regards Bert
Thank you for sharing this experience Jim. There is a local plastic shop who is willing to make bended plexiglass 'port lights' by making a mold out of my existing ones... This is custom work and consequently, expensive. I will look through the archives, as desperately suggested by a forum member, to see if anybody has hands-on experience at bending plexiglass. Regards Bert
Come on Jim......
I don't understand this. If a topic doesn't interest you, or if you just read about a topic, why not simply move on? Is it really necessary to berate someone because you don't like the question someone asked? And is it your job to direct people to the archives? We had one other poster on this board that appointed himself the "monitor", but it seems that enough people complained to him about his attitude that he finally calmed down. Have a stiff drink. You need it.
I don't understand this. If a topic doesn't interest you, or if you just read about a topic, why not simply move on? Is it really necessary to berate someone because you don't like the question someone asked? And is it your job to direct people to the archives? We had one other poster on this board that appointed himself the "monitor", but it seems that enough people complained to him about his attitude that he finally calmed down. Have a stiff drink. You need it.
At least Bert can take good advice -
He plans on researching the archives on portlights and he will find much accurate information, unlike some of the poor advice posted. Jim - the chap who has used polycarbonate on airplanes - knows his stuff, and is right on. The same sort of valuable info is in the archives. Pretty sensitive if you thought my comment berated Bert. He understands (and just lives down the road I might add). Cheers,
He plans on researching the archives on portlights and he will find much accurate information, unlike some of the poor advice posted. Jim - the chap who has used polycarbonate on airplanes - knows his stuff, and is right on. The same sort of valuable info is in the archives. Pretty sensitive if you thought my comment berated Bert. He understands (and just lives down the road I might add). Cheers,
move along!
Jim Q. It seems that this will go on for ever. This is not the forum for mood therapy. There is rarely bad advice on this forum and this time is no different except that you are getting more than I do. Let's move along towards the topic here because I would like to resolve my issue before the weather breaks. I could not find any archives on bending (molding) lexan or plexiglass. So, if anyone out there has experience with this process, it will be appreciated. Thanks all Bert
Jim Q. It seems that this will go on for ever. This is not the forum for mood therapy. There is rarely bad advice on this forum and this time is no different except that you are getting more than I do. Let's move along towards the topic here because I would like to resolve my issue before the weather breaks. I could not find any archives on bending (molding) lexan or plexiglass. So, if anyone out there has experience with this process, it will be appreciated. Thanks all Bert
OK... from dusty memory
It has been several decades ago, but I did bend plexiglass. Made a mold out of 1/2" plywood and luan (you can use copper tubing to approximate the arc and fine tune it to the sides after you cut out the arc on the 1/2" plywood sides). I heated mine in my oven. I 'think' that the temperature was set around 450 degrees on the broiler. What I do remember is that I experimented with scraps until I was satisfied. I seem to recall that I had to 'help' it a little by bending it some. But, that may have been a different project. I don't recall trying with lexan.
It has been several decades ago, but I did bend plexiglass. Made a mold out of 1/2" plywood and luan (you can use copper tubing to approximate the arc and fine tune it to the sides after you cut out the arc on the 1/2" plywood sides). I heated mine in my oven. I 'think' that the temperature was set around 450 degrees on the broiler. What I do remember is that I experimented with scraps until I was satisfied. I seem to recall that I had to 'help' it a little by bending it some. But, that may have been a different project. I don't recall trying with lexan.
Plastic portlight molding
Hey Bert, Did you check with the manufacturer of your boat? Wouldn't they have an inventory of these still available as an aftermarket part? When the builder had these curved portlights made up he probably had to buy a good quantity of them. You know they are going to be expensive - just look at the price of those fancy "Euro" style tail-lights for autos. Cheers,
Hey Bert, Did you check with the manufacturer of your boat? Wouldn't they have an inventory of these still available as an aftermarket part? When the builder had these curved portlights made up he probably had to buy a good quantity of them. You know they are going to be expensive - just look at the price of those fancy "Euro" style tail-lights for autos. Cheers,
Forming plastic
I agree with Chris. Early in my carrer I sold lexan & plexiglass (both trade names)to industrial users and used to make stuff for my house. Plexiglass is easily formed in your home oven. Another poster discussed how to cut it. That is also good advice. If you use a fine tooth blade, and tape you cut line, you'll be very happy with the result. You should sand the cut edges like you would wood. Also, rounding the corners better distributes the stresses and is a good idea. I don't remember the proper temps either, but you could call any plastic distributor (GE is the largest)in the yellow pages and they will be able to tell you. You'll find plexiglass very easy to work with. Not a lot different than wood, except it's really easy to form. One more idea. Plexiglass is manufactured by Rohm & Haas. They may have a web site detailing the info you'll need.
I agree with Chris. Early in my carrer I sold lexan & plexiglass (both trade names)to industrial users and used to make stuff for my house. Plexiglass is easily formed in your home oven. Another poster discussed how to cut it. That is also good advice. If you use a fine tooth blade, and tape you cut line, you'll be very happy with the result. You should sand the cut edges like you would wood. Also, rounding the corners better distributes the stresses and is a good idea. I don't remember the proper temps either, but you could call any plastic distributor (GE is the largest)in the yellow pages and they will be able to tell you. You'll find plexiglass very easy to work with. Not a lot different than wood, except it's really easy to form. One more idea. Plexiglass is manufactured by Rohm & Haas. They may have a web site detailing the info you'll need.
One more note on cutting.
You can use a table saw to cut the sheets into rough size and a band saw to cut to final shape. If you use fine toothed blades and mount them with the teeth back-wards, it minimizes chipping. A rotozip works very well. If you use a jigsaw, use a scrap of luan as backing...otherwise the blade will lift the sheet and often cause it to break, You don't need to tape...just don't remove the protective paper wrap, makes it easy to draw your pattern too. Final note...don't force the cut, the heat generated will melt the plastic and clog the blades.
You can use a table saw to cut the sheets into rough size and a band saw to cut to final shape. If you use fine toothed blades and mount them with the teeth back-wards, it minimizes chipping. A rotozip works very well. If you use a jigsaw, use a scrap of luan as backing...otherwise the blade will lift the sheet and often cause it to break, You don't need to tape...just don't remove the protective paper wrap, makes it easy to draw your pattern too. Final note...don't force the cut, the heat generated will melt the plastic and clog the blades.
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