Plexi-windshield

[thehermit]

Fellowship,
Sweet
Was it 1/4" or 3/8" ?
Not only does the local glass shop not bend it they dont stock it...into the big city I go! Now I just got to find my heat gun

[Capt Chuck]

I am a “PRO” and got my NEW Gun I’m looking around to see what else I can bend

Don't take it in the shower with ya

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Hermit

The stock I was using was 3/16” this was a small job 12” L x 5” W with two 90 degree bends to protect my switches and fuses from salt water spray. I will look for ¼” lexan to do my window shield. If you use Plexiglas 3/8” would be the smallest diameter I would use. The original Plexiglas window shield on my 23 CC was ½” thick and I know I could not work with something that thick with not messing it up.


FellowShip
__________________________________________________ ________
Just for the Grins

[JW-Tex]

On the thicker plexi I was told to use a router to thin the plexi where you want the bend (inside bend) and the thicker pexi can then be bent much easier.

JW

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Well since the wind was blowing 30 MPR of Saturday. I decided that it would be a good day to work on the boat. SOOOO I bought me some polycarbonate ¼” thick supposedly 250 times more shock resistant that glass. Then took my new fangled heat gun and presto changeo I bent me up a new CC window shield Just like a Pro. Boy what a difference from my first attempts a few weeks ago with out the heat guy. I even cut two new sliding doors for my instrument box with new tracks. Thanks guys for some of your comments on this thread that make me re think how to work with this stuff.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[thehermit]

OK Finally finished my console work and had the $70.00 piece of 1/4" acrylic delivered (5’x18”). After a week of letting it sit in the kitchen I bent it up and turned it into a SeaCraft windshield . It came out great! Used the heat gun and the-two board clamp method (one with ¼ roundover). Also used a little bit of emery cloth to clean up the cut edges. Anyone have an edge treatment for the plexi?

[red20]

way back in middle school shop class i worked with plexi. made many thigs for my dad's boat. you can get a great finish on the cut edges by: 1) file the edges to knock down the real rough stuff 2) wet sand with 3 different grits of wetsand paper<been along time forgot the grits but corse - then a finer - then real fine> 3) get out the drill with a white buffing pad, apply some wax and buff. I am not sure what the correct name for the buffing wheel is but i am sure you have seen one. they are usually on the other side of a bench mount grinding wheel. I say use a drill because it is eaiser to move the drill around then hold the windshield up to a bench buffer. Again not sure on the wax but it is a hard stick you apply to the buffing pad while it is turnig. If you get the edges very smooth with the file and wetsanding it will look cherry.

[BigLew]

When I have used Plexi before, I would trim it with a router round-over bit and then take a propane torch w/ flame spreader and put the least amount of heat to it. (A heat gun might be better, but I have never used one.) It would smooth out the cut marks left by the router bit. Don't heat it too much or bubbles and distortion start.

I suggest some practice on some scrap first to get the 'feel' of it!