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Is Lexan source important?

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John Bickham

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 170
Location: St. Francisville, LA

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:40 am Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

Hello List,



Fixing to put all the parts back together.  Weather is interfering with priming/painting.  It looks like KY got blasted last night.  Hope everyone is OK and safe at the Homecoming.



On the list is new windscreen and door coverings.  I need to purchase some more Lexan (polycarbonate sheet).  Searched the archives for tips and tricks.  Noticed some older threads about quality of Lexan going down and cracking being a problem.



From another source,  read about the box stores (Home "deposit" and not so Lowes) get the cheaper, non-prime Lexan.  Any success or horror stories on Lexan from big box stores?



Looking for a plastic supplier in area that sells retail. May mail order from a place like www.usplastics.com

_________________
Thanks too much,

John Bickham
Mark III-C w/ 912UL
St. Francisville, LA

I know many pilots and a few true aviators. There is a distinct difference that I have the greatest respect for.

Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Is Lexan source important?

John, I need to get some also .060 thick, lightly smoked if posible, for my overhead gap seal. I guess it could be up to 1/8" thick as the Kolb leading edge is aluminum and wouldn't require any bending.



My instructor suggested Mc Master Carr. I haven't looked, but I do know that the stuff is getting more expensive.



Let me know what you find.



Ohio Ralph

biglar

Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 457

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

I'm not sure about the big stores, but my inclination would be to look at 

the brand of lexan.  I kinda think GE or whatever lexan would be the same 

stuff regardless of where you buy it.



The thing I'd watch for is picking it up yourself if possible.  I had A/C 

Spruce ship me a sheet a couple of years ago, and it cost over $50.00 for 

freight - it's too big for UPS - and that was cut in 1/2, and A/C Spruce' 

Corona store is only 50 miles away.  Dollar a mile.  Pretty steep.  The 

package was just 4'x4' and a few inches thick.                Lar. 

Do not Archive.



Larry Bourne

Palm Springs, CA

Building Kolb Mk III

Vamoose

www.gogittum.com

---

_________________
Larry Bourne
Palm Springs, CA
Building Kolb Mk IIIC
"Vamoose"

planecrazydld(at)yahoo.co
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:48 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

Lexan® is the GE trademark for polycarbonate resin. Tuffak® and Cyrolon® are others. I would suggest doing a little research on the different grades available within each brand. Some are quite a bit better than others.



  Other things that can be done to minimize crazing and cracking include "flame polishing" the cut edges and heated bending.

  

Larry Bourne <biglar(at)gogittum.com> wrote:

  [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" 



I'm not sure about the big stores, but my inclination would be to look at 

the brand of lexan. I kinda think GE or whatever lexan would be the same 

stuff regardless of where you buy it.



The thing I'd watch for is picking it up yourself if possible. I had A/C 

Spruce ship me a sheet a couple of years ago, and it cost over $50.00 for  

freight - it's too big for UPS - and that was cut in 1/2, and A/C Spruce' 

Corona store is only 50 miles away. Dollar a mile. Pretty steep. The 

package was just 4'x4' and a few inches thick. Lar. 

Do not Archive.



Larry Bourne

Palm Springs, CA

Building Kolb Mk III

Vamoose

www.gogittum.com

---

Jim Baker

Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 181
Location: Sayre, PA

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

 	  Quote: 	
		   Let me know what you find.

 

 Ohio Ralph


	


http://www.usplastic.com



Try using



www.thomasnet.com



 to search for materials.....quite handy.



Jim Baker

580.788.2779

Elmore City, OK

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

Ralph Hoover wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



John, I need to get some also .060 thick, lightly smoked if posible, for my overhead gap seal. I guess it could be up to 1/8" thick as the Kolb leading edge is aluminum and wouldn't require any bending.



My instructor suggested Mc Master Carr. I haven't looked, but I do know that the stuff is getting more expensive.



Let me know what you find.



Ohio Ralph




	


Try the Yellow Pages. I recently bought a piece from  a local company 

that does all manner of plastic fab work in acrylic, polycarbonate & (I 

suppose) other forms of plastic. I just walked in with the old piece 

(landing light cover for an RV-4) & told them the overall dimensions 

needed. They went in back, found a scrap that was close & I was out much 

less than $10. This was in Jackson MS, a comparative backwater of 

civilization.



Even the local Home Depots around here carry both types of plastic in 

various thicknesses. I'd have gone there, but the walk from the car was 

shorter at the specialty store & the service was much faster & more 

knowledgeable.



Smoked probably isn't available at the big box stores, but clear 

shouldn't be any problem. Besides, all you need to do is spill a little 

fuel on it & lexan will be 'smoked' in a hurry. 



Charlie

herbgh

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 145

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

Ralph



  There is a Plastics supply house in every nook and cranny.. Gotta be

several in your neighborhood??  They have all kinds of material.. Lexan

sheets being one of them.. Local place in Gallatin Tenn,Bruce Plastics,

sells .0625 for 65 dollars for a 4x8 sheet.. Clear.. Not sure about

smoked??  



  Herb 

On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 13:50:34 -0700 "Ralph Hoover"

<flht99reh(at)columbus.rr.com> writes:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <flht99reh(at)Columbus.rr.com>

 

 John, I need to get some also .060 thick, lightly smoked if posible, 

 for my overhead gap seal. I guess it could be up to 1/8" thick as 

 the Kolb leading edge is aluminum and wouldn't require any bending.

 

 My instructor suggested Mc Master Carr. I haven't looked, but I do 

 know that the stuff is getting more expensive.

 

 Let me know what you find.

 

 Ohio Ralph

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=63625#63625

John Bickham

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 170
Location: St. Francisville, LA

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Is Lexan source important?

This is what I found out so far.



Big Lar pretty much has this one nailed.  It is not how much is the material, but how much is the shipping. You can find various suppliers like Aircraft Spruce, US plastics, McMaster-Carr, etc that will ship stuff in 4 ft x 4 ft and bigger sheets.  That is the size I need.  The prices are all within a few dollars of each other. 



For instance:

.125" x 4 ft x 4 ft.      ASC $62.08 + $35 - $40 shipping



I can get the same Lexan piece from a local supplier (Regal Plastics) for $75.60 and don't have to worry about it getting damaged by some college freshman working the sorter in Memphis.



The Big Box stores don't carry 1/8" stuff around here.  From what I can tell, as suggested, look locally for Lexan (polycarbonate) to avoid high shipping cost.

George Myers

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 76
Location: San Marcos, Texas

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

George Myers

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 76
Location: San Marcos, Texas

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

----

Ralph Hoover

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio

Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:29 am Post subject: Re: Is Lexan source important?

I guess that the duel "George Myers grin" is conformation that Big Lar is the winner!



Actually, if one orders the 060 material, even if its 8 foot x 4 foot, the container would be no larger that the 4 foot as they could roll it upon itself. The larger thickness however doesn't roll into as small a container and does sometimes have to be shipped flat. Very expensive as Lar stated.



My full wind screen is 1/16" thick and was dificult enough to form, hold down in place while I drilled and pop rivited it to the supports.



Ohio Ralph

George Myers

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 76
Location: San Marcos, Texas

Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:44 am Post subject: Is Lexan source important?

 	  Quote: 	
		  I guess that the duel "George Myers grin" is conformation that Big Lar is

the winner!
	


 

I resemble that remark!



do not archive

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