windshield woes - Teryx Forums.net - Kawasaki Teryx Discussion for Kawasaki Teryx Enthusiasts!

dave_dj1 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 05:27 PM

ok, so i went down to my local hardware store and bought a 14 1/2" x 48" piece of 1/4" plexiglass. brought it to my shop and figured out how i wanted to make the bend, about 1 1/2" from the top, bent at a 45 deg or so angle. all went well with the bend, then i scribed it to fit the hood and cut it with a jigsaw, that went well. i made some clamps to wrap around the roll cage out of 1/16" x 3/4" x 8" aluminum i had laying around. after drilling the holes in the windshield i started to bolt it up using some 1/4" x 1" stove bolts that i had fitted with some rubber washers. i got all 4 in and proceeded to tighten them a little and BAM!! the darn thing cracked about 3/4 of the way down from the one top clamp. it was kind of scarey actualy, this stuff cracked sharp like real glass. makes me wonder if in the event of an accident what tragedy could have happend if ones limbs happen to brake it!
i will post up a couple of pics later.
lesson learned.....don't use plexiglass for a windshield or anywhere else that could get damaged by a human body part!

Blurryvision · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 06:45 PM

I think you have to use Lexan for making a windshield. I will not crack or spider on you.

FUELATV · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 01:37 PM

Lexan is the way to go for sure. Quite a bit more expensive but well worth it.

sandchez1 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 02:14 PM

blurryvision & fuelatv are right lexan is the only way to go. you can bend it in half & beat it with a hammer at the bend & it still won't crack. i've done it to see if i could break it & i did not. the stuff is awsome.

xchamp · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 08:49 AM

I used 3/8" Lexan, 2x4' piece, used four rubber clamps and works awesome, I got less than $60 in it. Im just a little dissapointed how easily its has scratched but I run in it the woods here on the east coast.

WUWU20 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Y'all guys just bend it? no heat or anything used with the lexan?

Blurryvision · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2008, 08:33 PM

You need to heat it to bend it. I also need to make a windshield for winter. I did some searching and found this cool strip heater element for $65. You could make some really cool stuff by bending plastic.
Plastic Bending Strip Heater Element: TAP Plastics

T-RadX · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 05:03 AM

I agree that Lexan is a good choice because I used it but it does scratch and mar easily, polycarbonate is actually the best and is what the big windshield makers are using and it is much more scratch resistant.
It is even more expensive than the Lexan.

Blurryvision · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2008, 09:42 AM

Yea I think you are right it is the Lexan-polycarbonate with MR10 coating.

stroker0836 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurryvision

Yea I think you are right it is the Lexan-polycarbonate with MR10 coating.

yep, thats the stuff, and will bend without heat.

dave_dj1 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-11-2008, 04:03 PM

i have been searching for the poly with the coating and it is hard to find an adequate size at an affordable price!

dave_dj1 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-12-2008, 04:41 PM

i had a friend with a ranger wanting a windshield so i got to thinking, i know a guy who owns a plastics shop....hmmmm, what the hey, decide to go visit him and tell him what we were up to. he says sure, i have lexan in thicknesses up to 4" thick! SCORE!!
ended up buying a 4 x8 sheet of 1/8" (his recomendation) for 60 bucks! i cut it to size, heated and bent it and then scribed it to fit the hood, drilled some holes and zip tied it to the roll cage. it turned out pretty good and he is thrilled with it.
this stuff is rugged! i bent a strip into a circle and twisted the daylights out of it and it wouldn't brake! i even hit it with a 22 oz hammer on the concrete floor and it only dented it. The guy i bought it from said to shoot at it at 50 yrds witha 22 and see if it would go through! LOL haven't tried that yet.

LEXAN all the way!!!

T-RadX · #13 (**permalink**) 11-12-2008, 08:50 PM

I works great and I know that 1/4 " will not be penetrated by the .22, but does the lexan have the margard or abrasion resistant coating, if it doesnt it wont last long becuz of the scratches from wiping if off. Just from experience. I learned the hard way.