Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

[19bluemitsu84]

I was curious to know if anyone here has ever made their own windshield? is that possible? can Plexiglas be made at home (similar to fiberglass process)? and if so have you come across any tutorials on here or elsewhere that has shown the process? If you have any information on this PLEASE let me know, Thanks!

 

[lowkee]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

You can buy large sheets of plexiglass at Lowes or HD. The question with that is how do you bend and shape it? Plexiglass is seriously easy to scratch, which is why most people use Lexan instead.

I have never heard of anyone making plexiglass at home. I would assume some serious clean room would be needed, as a speck of dust would make a pit (or a feather) in whatever liquid plexiglass starts out as.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Plus usually when you bend it unless you have the perfect oven, temps, equipment it wants to get a bit frosty on the bends. Or it checks internally and weakens it to the point where the beating of the waves would destroy it in no time. If it is all old style you could do it pretty easy but as mentioned it scratches way easy. To make the stuff from scratch no way at home. What kind of windshield are you looking for? full, walk through, curved corners, center console only, may have other options if we better knew.

 

[cheesegrits]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Buddy of mine posted this on another forum. It looks so simple I 'm thinking about doing it myself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkjsPrWT0Ic&feature=related

 

[boat123boat]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

As a sort of polymer (plastics) chemist in an earlier life my view is that making plexiglass at home is sort of like do-it-yourself brain surgery - not practical.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Making plexyglass replacement windshields is not too hard. There are a few articals on the net about doing it if you search. Basically it involves cutting the plexy to the right shape ( a saber saw with wood cutting scroll blade works good for this). Then a form for the curve is made, usually out of thin plywood covered with cloth. Then the plexy is heated until it sags over the form and let cool. If heated too much, it will pick up the pattern in the cloth, not enough and it won't bend. I have read here about people doing it with hand held heat guns.

I did a replacement runabout windshield using polycarbonate in 1/8" thickness because it could be cold bent without breaking. Did that in 2003, and it's now 2009 and the windshield shows some crazing in the bends, but still clear and no yellowing.

This is right after completion:

Here is a link to the complete write up:

http://shareaproject.com/pages/imageDetail,p,68,i,609,00.html

 

[oops!]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

awwwww comon mark.....yer pullin our legs........you bought that wind sheild....

lol.....

 

[19bluemitsu84]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Lots of good advice thanks. It would be a full windshield that curves. I think I'll try something different than plexiglass. What about this, is it possible to make a good fiberglass mold of a winshield, more for looks than to see through (so a normal sized window would not work, it would be a lot shorter so you could see above it)? or would this get destroyed easily as well?

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Blue Lexan is alooooot easier to work with . Simply make a buck( mold ) out of plywood in the basic shape you want the windshield then cut the lexan to size ( a little larger than needed ) then lay it over your buck and heat it with a heat gun and it will form to the buck .


Rick

 

[singinout]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

Yeah this is what I'm planning on doing for my boat. Gonna get a piece of Lexan and bend my own. I did a trial on a piece of plexiglass that I had and I got it bent in the correct radius. Was a piece of cake. Beats paying $80-$100 for some custom windshield. Mine is just gonna be a single console windshield about 22" wide. Keep an eye on my project thread to see how it turns out. Hopefully I'll get there before too long.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Anyone know how to MAKE a plexiglass WINDSHIELD???

your local glass co would make you one.