making windshields

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
13
Does anybody have experience making a plexiglass windshield? I have a 59 Seaswirl that I would like to stick with the lines of the original frame. Any suggestions?<br />Thanks!
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: making windshields

Most major cities wil have a number of plexiglass custom fafricators who can take your windshield frame and make one. Check the yellow pages.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
13
Re: making windshields

I suppose they would but I am kind of a stickler for doing things myself. Have you ever noticed that the "professionals" usually only have a little more knowledge than you can gain and hardly ever the committment you have! Has anybody made one themselves?
 

Franki

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 16, 2002
Messages
1,059
Re: making windshields

I have made one with polycarb, very strong, looked great and can be cold folded (no heat)<br /><br />problem is that the surface of that stuff is really really soft... and it scratches from anything.. I kept a sheet over mine to protect it and the sheet scratched it..<br /><br />with plexiglass (which I assume is yank speak for acrylic or perspex) requires heat to be bent...<br /><br />meaning you need some method of heating it uniformly.<br /><br />Also you need to have some sort of form in order to fold it properly.. sharp edged folds look alot better then crooked rounded edges..<br /><br />If you don't have the equipment to do this yourself, then you can still get the perspex, cut it out to shape, and then take that to a pro to have them fold it..<br /><br />one point.. leave the protective backing paper on until the finished product gets to about 1 foot from your boat. :)<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki
 

kapmustang1976

Recruit
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
2
Re: making windshields

I am in the same boat as you (no pun intended). I have to replace my windshield and I have called alot of plastics specialists and heres what I came up with. You can do it yourself if you buy the plexiglass. The easiest way to bent it is if you have the old windshield as a template clamp them together and put them in an oven. The new one will form the shape of the old one. But there are 2 problems one is preventing them from melting together, put tinfoil between them. The other problem is finding an oven big enough. He told me a pizza oven would work perfecly but I dont have one in my kitchen and I'm pretty sure you dont either.
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: making windshields

don't let nuthin' stop you ,, if'n you want it bad enuff... <br /><br />make an oven...<br /><br />go to a scrap yard.. get an old 55 gallon drum.. build a fire under it..<br /><br />or an old kitchen sink,, or bath tub ,or old metal cabinet,locker ,, anythin'... <br /><br />it can be done.. just take your time,, wait for a good bed-o-coals an a high temp therometer.. a good dry run,first..
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: making windshields

I think there was a post on www.Fiberglassics.com not too long ago about this. Someone wrote about doing one as a home project and it worked well.<br /><br />I talked to a local poly-pro plastic welder about doing a new windshield for a 1965 Cobia that I'm restoring. This boat has the one piece wrap around windshield like Taylor made for years. He said to use Lexan because it doesn't scratch and is more durable than Plexiglass. He uses a heat gun and the old windshield as a mold. It isn't beyond doing as a home project. I saw Lexan panels at HomeDepot last weekend for approx $75.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
13
Re: making windshields

Talked to a manufacturer of lexan bug shields for RV's today. They use heat lamps to bend theirs, of course they have some big lamps but I suppose the idea would work on a smaller scale. I've got a test piece of polycarb and I am going to attempt it. I will keep you posted!
 
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