Thread: Plexiglass windows?

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I agree that Glazed Lexan is what you want. But you have to weigh the costs between that and glass. Personally, I would want glass just to be legal if it ever became an issue.

Any links for said "cat wiskers"? I've searched but am only getting cute pictures of kittens playing with yarn....

I might just have to stick with glass anyways becasue I've having a REALLY hard time finding anybody deals in the laxan and will cut me windows.

An automotive glass shop should be able to help you out. If you do not have one in your immediate area, you can also post this on the Upholstery/Interior forum.

Gee, dont make it harder than it is....Polycarbonate (Lexan is a brand of polycarbonate) cuts just fine with a fine tooth jig saw OR a laminate blade on a circular saw. After cutting, the edge can be sanded smooth with increasing finer grits of sandpaper....of course dont sand on the flat surface (duh). Polycarbonate is difficult to fire polish with a hydrogen torch like the acrylic (Plexiglas is a brand of acrylic) guys do. Never fire polish with a gas that contains carbon (duh again) since the soot leaves a permanent black mark.

Acrylic (Plexiglas) makes a terrible window material....almost impossible to clean without scratching because it is so soft. Acrylic splinters when broken.

Polycarbonate is harder to break and is a harder material but it also scratches when trying to get the road film off of it. Even the hard coat polycarb doesnt work. The NASCAR guys use hard coat polycarb but they toss the windows after each race. I had hard coat polycarb in my jeep windshield....it sucked in the sunlight. I switched to real glass....the cost was about half for the real glass vs the hard coat polycarb.

You can buy regular polycarbonate at any Cadillac Plastics location, at McMaster Carr and at many Home Depot Stores....HD may not have the appropriate thickness material. Look up plastics supply in your jello pages.....polycarbonate is everywhere. Usually, a sheet of 6mm (1/4" nominal) will run $130 for a 4' x 8' sheet. It also is available in many tints. Note that both acrylic and polycarbonate hold a static charge....they attract dust like crazy. You can buy antistatic polycarbonate....we just bought 6 sheets for $700 a sheets.

mike in tucson

Polycarbonate cuts great on the CNC with a 2 flute straight cut or spiral down bit.