Ignition panel cover

[cjepearson]

Good day,
I would like to make a perspex cover for my cockpit mounted ignition panel. Yanmar don't make them, and I can't find one off the shelf, hence the query. How do you bend perspex? Or is it better to cut and glue at right angles. Perhaps someone knows where I might get one made(based in NE Essex) Thanks

 

[pvb]

Heat gun...

You can bend perspex quite successfully by heating it with a hot-air heat gun (as used for paint stripping). The problem is that you only want to heat the area of the bend. I've found that it's possible to clamp the main section of the perspex between 2 pieces of ply in a workmate bench, and then clamp another couple of pieces of ply with screw clamps to the rest of the perspex, leaving about a 1cm strip of perspex exposed along the line of the bend. Warm the exposed perspex carefully, both sides, and you'll find that it will soon be pliable enough to bend neatly.

 

[cindersailor]

I have done exactly what you are suggesting. As mentioned above a heatgun is fine for bending and 90 degree bends are no problem. With 6mm perspex I made a little visor to fit over my igintion panel. Carefull drilling of 3mm holes in the back edge and then tapping with a 4mm thread means it can be mounted with 4mm set screws from behind. I had to have several goes at this before I got it right, but fortunatey I had plenty of scrap perspex from a window refit to play with.

 

[wiggy]

Any heat source will do-even the oven at home (but take the roast out first). If using a hot air gun heat both sides and heat untill plastic is completely floppy with no resistance to bend. If you bend when it is still rubbery it may well tear when bent. To avoid bubbles in the heated area raise temperature slowly and as said do both sides. with a bit of practice and time you can fold it right over on itself. We use it loads at school and 11 year olds can do it so Im sure you'll be fine.

 

[cjepearson]

Many thanks for the suggestions....but I am very wary about doing anything that 11 year olds find easy!

 

[Plum]

I used a clear acrylic leaflet rack from a stationery store it is A4 size and designed to be fixed to a wall with 4 screws so the leaflets stick out of the top for people to take. Mounted upside down it makes a good shelter for the instrument panel.