Source for sheet Lexan?

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-07-2007, 11:36 AM

Anybody know a good source for coated (scratch-resistant) Lexan sheets, or maybe has some in the shop they'd sell me? I need just enough to do the rear quarter windows, which are coming out anyway to re-do the headliner, so I figured I might as well Lexan 'em. I already have the curved Lexan for the windshield and rear window, but stock 3/16" Lexan will be just fine for the flat quarter windows.

dd74 · 01-07-2007, 12:00 PM

Maybe ask Chris Streit. I believe he sells Lexan pieces, though I don't know about whole sheets.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-07-2007, 12:15 PM

Only asked about "sheets" because that's the way it usually comes--typically two-by-four-foot pieces.

Quicksilver · 01-07-2007, 12:57 PM

Home Depot sells the stuff but I'm not sure how it is coated. If you are making windows you will want a good hard scratch resistant coating on it.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-07-2007, 01:06 PM

Yes, that's what I have on the windshield and rear window. they demonstrate it by actually sanding it, and it won't scratch.

Jeff Jagusch · 01-07-2007, 01:15 PM

We have a local plastics company (Midland Plastics) that sells all kinds of plastics.
I know they have 4 by 8 sheets of Lexan, I'm sure they even have the scratch resistant type.
I bet if you look locally, you will find a buisness that sells it?

You would be amazed that the stuff they have!

Good luck

Jeff

jaydubya · 01-07-2007, 02:47 PM

Lexan is a brand of polycarbonate sheet. I think you want abrasion resistant polycarbonate sheet. Mcmaster Carr has it.

island911 · 01-07-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
Yes, that's what I have on the windshield and rear window. they demonstrate it by actually sanding it, and it won't scratch.

That, I would like to see.

Unless they're 'sanding it' with wet news paper, I don't buy it.

please prove me wrong, but I believe that crystaline aluminum oxide (syth-sapphire) would be the only (clear) material to stand a chance against common sand paper. . . and you wouldn't find that on a thin pice of lexan.

gsmith4965 · 01-07-2007, 03:48 PM

Try Hoerr Racing Products. www.hrpworld.com

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-07-2007, 04:40 PM

island 911, go to Speedglass Racing Windshields. Steve Weiner believes it, and so do I.

dd74 · 01-07-2007, 05:03 PM

Stephan - please post whatever you find. If there's true scratch-resistant Lexan out there, I'd like to see it. Not knowing of a scratch resistant brand is the only reason I haven't put Lexan in my car yet.

As well, I'm going to check the links the other posters provided.

jaydubya · 01-07-2007, 05:08 PM

dd74 - check McMaster-Carr, type in "polycarbonate" into their search field, click on "plastics" on the right, then look down the list.

They also have "bullet resistant polycarbonate"

island911 · 01-07-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
island 911, go to Speedglass Racing Windshields. Steve Weiner believes it, and so do I.

Thanks for the link.

A very good friend of mine works for Honda R&D and was telling me about some lightweight window options. From the descrptions I think that the speedglass people are selling the same. . . essentially laminated glass with a very tick PC core, clad by relatively thin glass.

I could be wrong, but considering I design plastic lenses and such for consumer and medical products and often have the GE plastic rep in the office, discussing available plastics, I'm thinking I'm fairly current on plastic hard coats. --and we're not likely to find a 'sandpaper resistant' plastic sheet at HomeDepot.

Glass can certainly "resist steelwool" (as they claim) . .. but even glass is not going to survive sandpaper.

dd74 · 01-07-2007, 07:15 PM

...well, given anyone would actually sandpaper their windshield...for whatever reason.

afterburn 549 · 01-07-2007, 08:09 PM

Laird plastics in Seattle...1/2 or whole sheet

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-08-2007, 04:42 AM

island 911 is right. They demonstrate that Lexan by "sanding" it with steel wool, not, as I wrongly implied, sandpaper.

Wavey · 01-08-2007, 05:05 AM

We use some Lexan for sign faces in my shop, and believe me, it will scratch. Try a screwdriver or utility knife on it. But to answer your original question Stephen, try any local plastics company, or sign supply wholesaler, or even try a local sign shop - they should be able to get it, might even have some scrap around. If you can't get it anywhere locally let me know and I'll get some to you.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-08-2007, 05:11 AM

By the way, island911, if you're interested I'll be happy to mail you a piece of the Lexan I'm using--a scrap from what I trimmed off the windshield--so you can maybe figure out what it is. If you wish, PM me your address.

island911 · 01-08-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
By the way, island911, if you're interested ...

That would be great.

Seeing that they sell over-sized windshields, I was curious as to how you got it to cut down. I imagine that it cuts fairly easily. (?) --that would exclude the surfaces from being glass. --hmmm.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 01-08-2007, 09:09 AM

Yeah, I just cut it with a 20-tpi Plexiglas blade in a saber saw and was able to sand it relatively easily with a belt sander, to true the small deviations in my initial cut. You'll see from my PM to you that I don't think it has any glass in it either.