Drilling lexan

[fredvance]

Need some tips on drilling my new lexan windshield.

[Tzoom]

Might be something here you can use: http://www.visionsinplastics.co.uk/POLYCARBONATE%20CUTTING%20&%20DRILLING.pdf

[Gwillard]

Go to http://www.eaa.org/homebuilders/ and click on "Video Tutorials", located in the menu on the left side of the page. There is one about drilling plexiglass and another fitting and installing a canopy.

[4-barrel Mike]

Lots of info: http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,5899.0.html

Mike

[RichFox]

I never had any trouble drilling Lexan like you do drilling Plexyglass, but just to be safe I alwayd use center drills which do not catch and spin through. They will drill a clean hole in Plexy also.

[Rcktscientist]

Aircraft Spruce carries Lexan/Plexiglass drills, I've had good success with these. After a hand deburr I dip a Q-Tip in MEK and coat the hole well. Have had no cracking issues. I also use MEK around the entire perimeter.

[Stan Back]

MEK?

[desotoman]

MEK?

methyl ethyl ketone.

Tom G

[Stan Back]

Thanx,

I remember her from junior high.

Stan

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Yeah, I think I knew her, too.  Wasn't she the original "good time that was had by all"?

[CruZer]

MEK?

methyl ethyl ketone.

Tom G

Methylene Chloride (a known carcinogen) is a good bonding agent for assembling Lexan(R) if you can get it, but for drilling and assembling Lexan any sharp metal drill will work fine. Make the hole slightly oversize and use a flat washer on each side to keep it from cracking due to vibration or chemical attack whether you use a rivet or screws and nuts in assembly.

[Speed Limit 1000]

A sharp unibit works well. Baby oil is a good lube for drilling and taping Lexan. Plastic washers help also. Lexan is polycarbonate not acrylic. Acrylic will crack, you can bend polycarbonate like aluminum. Brake clean and other petroleum products will kill it.

[Glen]

Like Rich says, use a small center drill, they work great and don't be in a hurry.

[fredvance]

Thanks everybody I appreciate your input. 

  Fred

[robfrey]

You just need to grind some reverse rake on your drill bit so that it is more of a scraping action and won't grab and crack the plastic.