Plastic windows ........ practical?
Discussion
I notice that some kits use plastic windows in their design (presumeably if there is nothing suitable in donor form.) The GTM Libra has a plastic rear screen, others I have seen use plastic side windows.
Now, thinking back to my biking days I was always trying to polish out scratches from my fairing screens and helmet visors without much success, so how practical is a plastic rear or side window for daily road use?
One other thing - is it feasible to get revised glass replacements made on a 'one off' basis? The reason I ask is that a couple of designs are let down by the use of donor glass which doesn't quite fit the lines and a small modification would make a hell of a difference - take a look at the Shelsley T2 side glass and you will see what I mean.
Now, thinking back to my biking days I was always trying to polish out scratches from my fairing screens and helmet visors without much success, so how practical is a plastic rear or side window for daily road use?
One other thing - is it feasible to get revised glass replacements made on a 'one off' basis? The reason I ask is that a couple of designs are let down by the use of donor glass which doesn't quite fit the lines and a small modification would make a hell of a difference - take a look at the Shelsley T2 side glass and you will see what I mean.
SVA tend not to like acrylics (like "Perspex") because it is brittle and leaves sharp edges when broken. They prefer polycarbonates like "plexiglass" which are what riot shields are made of but these aren't as hard as acrylics so they scratch easier and go milky after a few years exposed to the elements. I believe there are now "impact modified" acrylics on the market which give the best of both worlds (like the stuff modern car headlight lenses are made of). One tradename I've recently worked with is "Resist 65" but I can't remember who makes it.
grahambell said:
Depends how rich you are!
There are companies that will do it, but realistically, while it's OK for the big manufacturers to do it for concepts it's far too expensive for the rest of us.
I was thinking more like modifying an existing piece of glass to reshape it a little. Can you grind it without breaking it maybe?
Avocet - Resist 65 is a Plexyglass product
www.as-trade.com/plexiglasresistgen.pdf
Might be the best way to go for custom glass
>> Edited by RazMan on Sunday 29th August 10:15
Avocet said:
SVA tend not to like acrylics (like "Perspex") because it is brittle and leaves sharp edges when broken. They prefer polycarbonates like "plexiglass" which are what riot shields are made of but these aren't as hard as acrylics so they scratch easier and go milky after a few years exposed to the elements.
I thought 'Plexiglass' was simply the Rohm & Haas trade name for what ICI call 'Perspex' i.e. Acrylic Sheet.
Our company 6R4 has a polycarbonate mid-screen which is moulded in a conventional fibreglass mould for cost reasons. The original tooling for the 'Perspex' screen was sadly lost/destroyed. However due to the complex shape (it has two humps over the harness bolts) the lower 4" are moulded in gelcoat fibreglass and bonded/bolted on.
I have just gone through all this with the rear screen for the LeMans style hard top that I am producing for the Dax Cobra.
I am having glass rear screens made. The cost is around £4000 for tooling and 25 screens (Min order).
Even then I still have to provide a pattern for the glass which I have had made from GRP with lots of smoothing and polishing ............................................Are you sure you want to go down this road???
At least with a glass screen that is bespoke you can spec. in a black outer band (For bonding)with fade out and heat element with contacts wherever you want them
I am having glass rear screens made. The cost is around £4000 for tooling and 25 screens (Min order).
Even then I still have to provide a pattern for the glass which I have had made from GRP with lots of smoothing and polishing ............................................Are you sure you want to go down this road???
At least with a glass screen that is bespoke you can spec. in a black outer band (For bonding)with fade out and heat element with contacts wherever you want them
RazMan said:
Depends how rich you are!
There are companies that will do it, but realistically, while it's OK for the big manufacturers to do it for concepts it's far too expensive for the rest of us.
I was thinking more like modifying an existing piece of glass to reshape it a little. Can you grind it without breaking it maybe?
Avocet - Resist 65 is a Plexyglass product
www.as-trade.com/plexiglasresistgen.pdf
Might be the best way to go for custom glass
>> Edited by RazMan on Sunday 29th August 10:15
During the 70's/80's it used to be popular in custom car circles to get screen glass (flat and curved) cut down by specialists for roof chops etc. Old toughened glass would often shatter during the process - I remember reading about a guy who lost three ultra-rare FA Victor screens for one project
Not sure if anyone cuts modern laminated glass though...I'd enquire at a custom/rod/street machine forum.
RazMan said:
I was thinking more like modifying an existing piece of glass to reshape it a little. Can you grind it without breaking it maybe?
Like cinqster says, customisers have had screens cut down to suit roof chops, but you can only do this with laminated screens.
Try and do anything with toughened glass as used on side and rear windows and I'm pretty sure it'll just shatter.
Dave Brookes said:
I have just gone through all this with the rear screen for the LeMans style hard top that I am producing for the Dax Cobra.
I am having glass rear screens made. The cost is around £4000 for tooling and 25 screens (Min order).
Even then I still have to provide a pattern for the glass which I have had made from GRP with lots of smoothing and polishing ............................................Are you sure you want to go down this road???
At least with a glass screen that is bespoke you can spec. in a black outer band (For bonding)with fade out and heat element with contacts wherever you want them
Wha-hey!!! It's Dave the Rave! Welcome Mate.
Mark
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