----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----

Thanks for the clarification, Larry.  I was referring to the hard-coated
Lexan for scratch resistance.  Does the coating also provide the UV
resistance to keep it from yellowing?

>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Larry Wilkins [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 3:46 PM
>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>Subject: Re: FW: [COUPERS] window installation
>>
>>
>>It is a good idea to use Lexan in place of the Plexiglas.  It 
>>is however, not harder than Plexiglas.
>>Lexan is quite soft.  It can be made harder by coating it 
>>with a super hard surface.  That's what they
>>do with safety glasses.  You get the incredible toughness of 
>>the Lexan, with the scratch resistance of
>>the hard coating.  Most Lexan that you can buy will not have 
>>the hard coat.  Thus it will scratch easier
>>than the Plexiglas.  In addition, most lexan that you can buy 
>>is not UV resistant.  It will turn yellow
>>over time with exposure to the sun.  Plexiglas is naturally 
>>UV resistant, much the same as glass is.  As
>>you can see, it's a crap shoot.  Both materials have good 
>>properties.  Both have bad.  In general, Lexan
>>will be much easier to work with, and you'll have much less 
>>chance of breaking it.  Plexiglas is hard to
>>work with, but if you do finally get it installed, it will 
>>look good longer, barring any breakage.  I
>>believe you have it backwards on the bending problem.  Do not 
>>attempt to bend the Plexiglas.  It will
>>snap with little pressure.  The only way to bend it is to 
>>have it bent using a heated bending bar.
>>Lexan will bend, and I doubt you can break it by bending it.  
>>It most likely will not hold the bend that
>>you want without using the same heat-bending process as the Plexi.
>>
>>Larry
>>
>>Larry
>>
>>"Thompson, Doug" wrote:
>>
>>> ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before 
>>following any advice in this forum.]----
>>>
>>> Subject: RE: [COUPERS] window installation
>>>
>>> Another suggestion, you may want to use Lexan in place of 
>>the plexiglass.
>>> It has a harder surface (more scratch resistant) and does 
>>not crack near as
>>> easily as Plexiglass.  When cutting, use a saber saw with 
>>orbital action or
>>> the "cut" will try to weld itself back together due to the 
>>heat generated by
>>> the friction of the saw blade.  A nice way to finish the 
>>edges and to help
>>> reduce the chance of cracks in the future is to "touch" the 
>>edges with the a
>>> propane torch flame.  Just keep it moving and you'll see 
>>the filed edge
>>> (finished as David describes below) go from white to clear.
>>>
>>> Bending Lexan is a little more of a challenge than 
>>Plexiglass because it is
>>> MUCH tougher.  You have to use heat.  The upside is that 
>>you probably will
>>> not crack the Lexan when drilling or inserting rivets/screws though.
>>>
>>> >>-----Original Message-----
>>> >>From: david abrams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >>Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 7:21 AM
>>> >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> >>Subject: RE: [COUPERS] window installation
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before
>>> >>following any advice in this forum.]----
>>> >>
>>> >>tom woodward wrote:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> A new piece of plastic.......... about $42
>>> >>> A sunshade with frames........about  $90+
>>> >>> The ability to do something right the first 
>>time.......PRICELESS!!!
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Any ideas?
>>> >>> 2152H
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>Tom,
>>> >>
>>> >>I replaced my side windows in Sep 1998.  As owner, not 
>>only are you
>>> >>allowed to replace the windows yourself, but you can 
>>manufacture your
>>> >>own parts.  I signed this all off in my airplane logs 
>>using my pilot
>>> >>certificate number and the relevant FAR's referenced.
>>> >>
>>> >>I had window blanks cut to size by my local plastic dealer.
>>> >>I used the
>>> >>dimensions on the ercoupe microfilm drawing fro Bowling Green
>>> >>University.  The invoice from "Plastics Etc, Inc" shows:
>>> >>
>>> >>5 pcs (I am a bit paranoid<g>) Acrylic Sheet 0.060 x 19.75 x 31.75
>>> >>
>>> >>I paid $9.40 each blank.  I used an orbital hand sander 
>>with 200 grit
>>> >>paper to round the edges of the plastic blank as shown on 
>>the drawing
>>> >>
>>> >>I reused the window hardware that was in acceptable shape,
>>> >>ordered new
>>> >>hardware for the top frames that had worn to a razor edge,
>>> >>and made new
>>> >>handles from "L" stock because the ones I ordered from 
>>Skyport were
>>> >>poorly made.  I ordered a set of plexiglas drill bits from LP
>>> >>Plastics.
>>> >>I followed the Ercoupe microfilm drawings to drill the holes
>>> >>and rivet
>>> >>the frame hardware.  Warning!  The rivets on the sides may
>>> >>appear to be
>>> >>way far in to the middle of the window but this is to clear
>>> >>the welts.
>>> >>I used a hand compression rivet tool.
>>> >>
>>> >>It really is not too hard a job.  I also replaced my rear
>>> >>windows using
>>> >>rectangular blanks of 0.060 x 18.00 x 21.00  I used a bench
>>> >>band saw and
>>> >>a fine blade to cut them to shape using the old windows as a
>>> >>pattern.  I
>>> >>ordered new hardware and used Mortite as the sealing
>>> >>material.  (It is a
>>> >>modeling clay type gray material used to seal windows in 
>>the winter
>>> >>around here).  Be careful not to overtighten, I cracked one
>>> >>window and
>>> >>had to replace it after almost being done.  I used a 
>>wallpaper seam
>>> >>sealer roller to roll down the mortite before installing 
>>the window.
>>> >>
>>> >>The flat windshield can also be made from flat stock (.100
>>> >>from memory
>>> >>but I could be wrong) for less than $10 but you need an A&P
>>> >>to supervise
>>> >>and sign off to be legal.  Note that the $10 blank cut to 
>>shape using
>>> >>the old windshield will be a much better fit than the 
>>$120 blank from
>>> >>Univair as each windshield appears to be trimmed to fit and the
>>> >>purchased blank is cut to a universal pattern.
>>> >>
>>> >>David Abrams
>>> >>http://ercoupe.com
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>>
>>

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