Repairing acrylic windows

[MrCramp]

I have just bought an old Lynton caravan which I am going to move to my boatyard so I can sleep in it whilst I renovate my boat. I need to repiar the front caravan window which has a horizontal and a verticle crack in it.

What can I use to stick the window together with? Don't think areldite works, is there a special glue? Second idea is to stick another piece of acrylic to the window to stop leaks and to strengthen it. Again what can I use to bond the two sheets together?

Caravan in otherwise A1 condition cost £114 on Ebay. A new window would cost £150+ and I only want to patch up the window so I can sleep in the van.

Any bright ideas???

 

[VicS]

Acrylic can be stuck with just chloroform but I doubt you'd be able to do it without getting any on the surface and that'll make a real messy looking job off it. A solution of acrylic in chloroform can be used as a cement and will make a better job of it anyway.
For best results look for the two part "Tensol" cement. IIRC there is one part Tensol cement which is probably acrylic in chloroform. there are one part cements anyway.
All that will require the widow to be removed any way so you might just as well get a bit of new perspex and fit it or is that what will cost £150

A film stuck on may be ok if you just want to bodge things up. Some of that patterned stuff if you don't want to see though it.

Might find somethinf on DIY Plastics site

A word of warning though a caravan on a boatyard site will be breaching planning rules etc if the yard do not have permission for it already. Caravans or motor caravans are not allowed at the yard where I am based.

 

[MrCramp]

Thanks VicS. Now I know what I can use I just need to find where I can buy it locally. I will ring round lin the morning.

A new window is at least £150 and I can just fit a 2ft x 2 ft patch for little money.

I am in a private boatyard, off the beaten track with a remote security gate and I suspect I could leave the caravan there for ever without any problem. My mate has a camper van and he has parked it in most of the marinas on the East Coast over the past 7 years. I suspect we can get away with lots of things that would not be allowed on the South Coast.

 

[VicS]

I did not bother to look at the DIY pastics site . I have now . The weather proof tape is what you want See here

Would have saved a lot of typing if i'd looked in the first place.

 

[davidbains]

That's an interesting site Vic, I have used sellotape before now!

 

[vyv_cox]

Vic's tape looks like the best option. However, if all you are looking for is a quick bodge, silicone sealant will seal acrylic windows quite well. Not the finest job in the world, of course, but might be OK for your purposes.

 

[geoffatstanpit]

The old 2-part Tenson No 7 is now called Anglosol 700 and I get it from Amari Plastics. Comes in 500 ml bottle which would do quite a lot of windows!

 

[doug748]

Yes silicone sealant is the stuff for a cheap fix. I quickly stuck my broken hatch with it 14 years ago and it is still going strong.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Why dont you try running a hot solder iron along the crack on the outside and see if it will weld the crack?

 

[MrCramp]

I did wonder about that, I would like to make a mechanical joint if possible.

Thanks to all for the help.

 

[maxi77]

I have used clear repair tape on greenhouse glass before and at around a fiver a roll may be the best solution bearing in mind the cost of the van in the first place. It goes milky over time but I suspect this may not be that much concern in this case.

Also there are places who sell second hand windows etc for vans and keeping an eye on that market may get you a window in time for selling the van.

 

[MrCramp]

Thanks for the info.

I have found the exact window on eBay for reserve of £80, and but-it-now of £100. Don't think I will spend that sort of money as I can take my caravan down the boatyard and use and not worry about the cost of it. Putting another £80 into it is against my natural instinct as I'd rather put the money into the boat!