Windshield glass change questions

[drewmitch44]

I recently took a job at Lowes in my area. Im now finding all kinds of stuff that i can use to make my boat nicer. Well my windshield is pretty jacked up as far as its scratched in a lot of places and the green tint inside of it has messed up parts inside of it. Well i saw that they sell all kinds of acrilic plastic in all kinds of sizes and thicknesses. I am thinking about using this stuff to replace the messed up glass thats there now. I would get glass but on the sides its curved. I remember when i was in school and in shop class we did a project where we slightly heated the clear plastic and made like napkin dispencers and stuff like that. What im wondering is, can i use this kinda stuff and will it bend to fit to replace the glass that I have in there now? I dont need it to be tinted. Especially hate that green tint thats there now. I dont want to heat it but just bend it into place and put the frame back together around it. Has anyone ever done this?? It looks like it will work. The previous owner had done this on the center pannel where its just strait and that would be easy. The pannel he replaced is all scrached up like someone tried to clean it with steel wool. So im thinking about replacing that one too. I realize that im going to have to be careful with what i clean it with but it would be great to replace that glass without spending hundreds of dollers on custom molded glass. Any help you guys can give me would be great! Here is a pic of the windshield now. Its poor quality cause its from my cell phone. Keep in mind these pics are from before i ripped up the floor and replaced stringers floor and everything is back in now, but these are the best pics i have that show the shape of the windshield. Thanks!!

 

[1730V]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Read this. See link below.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=224015

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Ok i see that it can be done and it looks like the clear plastic can be bent. Im wondering what thickness acrilic i should use? Thanks for the links! I wonder why the 1 guy used all those strips to make the template? Couldent you just use cardboard or posterboard to make the template to cut the plastic??

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Also what is lexan? Im reserching all the plastics that i think that i might use now. Thanks.

 

[wire2]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Lexan is GE's wonder glass. It's virtually unbrakable, you can fold a strip 180? in a vise and it still won't snap.

It's used in jet fighter canopies. It doesn't yellow from UV like styrene. It's pricier than other products but it's worth the extra.

It does take shaping readily with heat.

Sign companies use Lexan to make the lighted signs for GM, Shell, Dairy Queen and many others.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

you are lucky you have the glass to compare to. i had a broken windshield glass, i use 1/8 lexan use to work at Home Depot. made a template out of brown paper, use a very fine jig saw blade, and cut the lexan. remove the rod that hold the door GREEN, the remove the rivets or screws in the 3 RED places, remove glass, and insert lexan, the run a bead of sealer around the lexan, i did it alone, but really wished i had some help. clik on pic to enlarge.

 

[lncovert]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Drewmitch, keep us updated with your progress and post some pics along the way or when you are finished. I need to do the same thing to my windshield since it is scratched up and has old tint on it. I can't wait to see how yours turns out. Good luck.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Well i worked tonite and i priced the lexan at Blows (lowes). Its quite a bit more than the acrilic. But the guy that works in that department said that if salt water gets on the acrilic then you wipe it with anything it will scratch it all up like you used sandpaper on it. He said that lexan will not do that. So thats what i will use. Thanks for the replies guys! Ill keep you up to date. I dont plan on taking on this til im dont boating for the season but im going to be done after this weekend i think. Im going to take my boat to my parents gerauge for the winter. They are letting my put it in there for the winter since i dont have a gerauge. I can work on it there during the winter instead of looking at it under the cover.

 

[mangohater]

Re: Windshield glass change questions

Most center console acrylic windscreens are 1/4" thick. If you are using polycarbonate (Lexan) for the curved corners, you can get away with 1/8". It will be a little easier to cold bend. Don't try using the heat method on the poly as it will absorb moisture and distort.