Clear Wash Boards

[stretch33]

Whats the best stuff to use for clear wash boards, acrylic or perspex sheet. (or any other recommendations) will probably need to stick two together to get thickness required Cheers Phil

 

[Kleverken]

Got some perspex from local sign makers. quite cheap as they were offcuts

 

[capt_courageous]

Acylic is too brittle - perspex is fine.

 

[stretch33]

Thx Perspex it is then

 

[Guest]

If you sandwich 2 sheets of perspex .......... you can save by buying clear and then having coloured film between to reduce glare / view in .... even to sandwiching boat name / logo etc.

BUT make sure a) sandwich on a VERY dry day and make sure all sealed well - with possibly small vent hole at bottom ... very dry winters day best .... as cold air has less moisture in it ....

 

[VicS]

Perspex is a trade name for acrylic (ICI i think) Plexiglass is another.

Your choice is between acrylic and polycarbonate. The latter is virtualy unbeakable but a bit more easily scratched and more expensive.

You should be able to buy the thickness you want. A sandwich is not likely to produce a satifactory result. There are often local firms who will sell small offcuts also try firms who refurbish boat windows.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Best stuff available is a riot shield. It's immensley strong, flexable if you bang into it, resists scratches and doesn't shatter. Get it from a mate at a prison, police or army with a damaged shield or maybe approach a manufacturer. Got a hatch cover made of it.

 

[macd]

I believe riot shields are polycarbonate, possibly under trade name 'Lexan'. Poly is seriously tough stuff: you can attack it repeatedly with a hammer and it just bounces off. Little wonder many motorcycle crash helmets are made of the stuff.

 

[Talbot]

The trouble with Polycarbonate is that it bends and is also more susceptible to scratches than perspex. Unless the polycarbonate was thick enough, it could bend sufficiently to come out of the retaining lugs holding the washboards in place.

 

[Kleverken]

How about "makrolon"
http://www.sdplastics.com/makrolonar.html
once bought some in uk, I think they used to use it for tellar screens in banks

 

[roger]

Perspex is a form of acrylic as far as I remember.

 

[roger]

I used polycarbonate (Makrolon) in two large windows at home when I had trouble with a vandal many years ago. The windows resisted the vandals but, over a period of ten years or so wnet rather yellow.

 

[cameronke]

Perspex IS a trade name for acrylic

Polycarbonate may be tougher but it does scratch easily and is susceptable to UV (bleaching)

Acrylic would be your best bet, in fact my washboards are acrylic!

Regards
Cameron

 

[Guest]

Perspex/acrylic/plexiglas are all the same. Brittle.

If you want clear. use polycarbonate (Makrolon is a trade name)

I use either polypropylene/polyethylene in white 12mm sheet, lets light in but not peepin toms. i.e. light in cabin but privacy. neither brittle but polypropylene floats.

Either cost about £25 for a washboard