Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:57:28 GMT, Dave
wrote:
We old fashioned but not when it comes to skill. We have a 60 x 96 CNC
controller router that's always hungry. When you get down this way,
stop in and say hello. The popcorn's on me. (I may even throw in a
free soda) 
--
Dave Modisette
Plastics America, Inc.
www.plasticsamerica.com
=================================
Dave,
Maybe you can help me out with your plastics expertise. I'm looking
for some 4 x 8 polycarbonate (Lexan) sheets that I can use for storm
shutters over some windows on my house. Is there any particular type
that you would recommend (or not), and what would be a good source?
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Since I'm in what seems to be the hurricane capital of the world, I see
a lot of people doing what you are interested in doing. There are
factors that I feel you must consider before you make this decision.
The polycarb I sell has satisfied the major building code requirements
for certain ratings (CC-1) in Dade county. That's the one that everyone
tries to match down here.
This polycarbonate sheet is virtually unbreakable and has 250 times the
impact strength of glass and 30 times more than acrylic. They measure
this by means of a 1" dia steel dart. IOW, it's tuff stuff.
I've literaly given a 1/4 piece of this sheet to my stongest guy in the
shop, handed him a claw hammer and asked him to break it. He could dent
it but it would not break. Even lying on a flat concrete surface. I
also have a piece here where an inmate in a youth detention center tried
to beat his way out of a room with a metal drawer but couldn't do it.
Good news? Yeah, but...
If you can break it, then you can't break into or out off your house.
Not good if you are like a lot of people here who either attach the
sheet with drywall screws or tap cons. If a fire occurs in your home
and you have to get out through that window it's not going to happen
unless the fasterners fail. However, I've got a solution to that
problem but that will have to go private since it's past the scope of
your newsgroup question.
1/4" thick sheet is what I recommend for most normal sized windows. ie.
30 x 36, 36 x 60. That kind of size. Polycarb doesn't have the
rigidity that a plywood has so for large windows you are going to get a
bit of flex. You have to consider this flex and make sure that upon
impact as the sheet flexes with the force exerted, it won't come in
contact with the window. Most inset windows would be ok. Flush mounts
are another story and I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending it.
I warn home owners and handy men that if they think that they can put
polycarb sheet up and sit inside and defy CAT 4 and 5 hurricanes they
will be sadly mistaken. That kind of force can literally push the whole
window through the frame. So, even though this material can take a 2x4
shot out of a cannon (which is nothing more than a sales gimmic IMHO) it
is really more suited for saving you from agravating repairs from flying
trashcans and debris from CAT 1 & 2 winds (which you are more likely to
experience anyway.)
There are different grades. Mar resistant, XL (Extended life - UV
resistant) and regular. I recommend regular since it's going up for
storms and then coming down and being stored. It's the cheapest variety.
You can buy polycarb sheet from major suppliers all over the USA. Most
of the big guys only want to sell full sheets. In my case I sell by the
sheet or by the piece. I ask my customers to make a list of the sizes
they need and I determine the best size sheet (from stock sizes 4x8,
5x8, 6x8 and up) to get a good yield. I cut the pieces for them. I then
charge them for what they get based on what I can still use in my
fabrication shop.
Sorry for the long winded post but when safety is involved I want to
make sure everything is out there to be considered. When I leave the
planet, I want to make sure Dave did no harm.
--
Dave Modisette
www.plasticsamerica.com
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rec.boats.marketplace is a moderated newsgroup. See rules and legal
disclaimer at
http://www.algebra.com/rbm