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Drilling Plexiglass

The bit in that piece about how polycarbonate can’t be polished is wrong. Polycarbonate can be easily polished using a process called “vapor polishing”.
 
I am looking forward to see how this comes out. I am in a similar situation in that I was considering lexan hatch covers vs the original fiberglass on my boat.
 
blrmaker said:
I am looking forward to see how this comes out. I am in a similar situation in that I was considering lexan hatch covers vs the original fiberglass on my boat.
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I'll post pics....hopefully not of carnage.
I'm still not sure which way I'm gonna go.
I'm kinda frozen....and @Buelistic humbled me by pointing out I don't even understand what fucken material I'm even working with. :laughing
 
If you ordered it from TAP, your receipt should show what you bought? If you dont have a preference, they might just give you Acrylic instead of Polycarbonate. Not sure it makes much difference at this point for enlarging the holes. (I would want polycarbonate for a window/hatch cover I think)

Just clamp the plastic where you want to drill the holes with two pieces of wood (or other material easy to work with), top and bottom. You can drill the smaller hole (7/16, 3/8 I lost track) in each pc of wood. loosely clamp on sheet and line up the 3 holes with a 3/8" bolt (whatever) then tighten clamp on the three piece sandwich. You are using the hole in the wood as a drill guide...just work your way around the sheet doing each hole. Supporting the material to be drilled top and bottom is best way to not cause cracking from errant drill use. I might also try a step drill first as that will have the best chance of success for free-hand drilling. IMHO
 
Can you go back and get a cutoff piece from your project and use for practice drilling?
I made this windshield out of a flat piece of polycarbonate for my 1956 Thompson Bros. Boat. drills easy if you go slow.
If it was plexiglass the bit would have been in reverse to melt through it! Then trim with blade..poly is way better preventing cracks!
A pre drilled hole will want to pull in your bit in too fast causing cracks!...a drill press has feed control. A hand drill doesn't.
 

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buellistic said:
Can you go back and get a cutoff piece from your project and use for practice drilling?
I made this windshield out of a flat piece of polycarbonate for my 1956 Thompson Bros. Boat. drills easy if you go slow.
If it was plexiglass the bit would have been in reverse to melt through it! Then trim with blade..poly is way better preventing cracks!
A pre drilled hole will want to pull in your bit in too fast causing cracks!...a drill press has feed control. A hand drill doesn't.
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I have the old piece but I doubt it has any "practice value" as it has a myriad of spider-web cracks throughout. I think it would go off like a bomb the moment a bit hit it.
The good news is I have two nice, chubby 3/8 pilot holes. The other good news is I have a nice drill press.
 
gixxerjeff said:
I have the old piece but I doubt it has any "practice value" as it has a myriad of spider-web cracks throughout. I think it would go off like a bomb the moment a bit hit it.
The good news is I have two nice, chubby 3/8 pilot holes. The other good news is I have a nice drill press.
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You need to practice on a cutoff from tap plastic..or you can go cheap and put a not to sharp metal bit in a pair of vice grips and turn by hand. Slowly. Not reccomend for a first timer!
 
I misunderstood your post.
Yes, Tap Plastic owes me that much....access to a few practice pieces.
Frankly, I'm kinda in this situation because of them.
Good call. Thanks.
 
gixxerjeff said:
I misunderstood your post.
Yes, Tap Plastic owes me that much....access to a few practice pieces.
Frankly, I'm kinda in this situation because of them.
Good call. Thanks.
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Did they leave the protective film on? Only one side is protected from the sun!. Here is a pic of my scrap.
You dont want cracking and fading in a year.
 

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could you thread the holes, seeing as you're going to put bolts through them
 
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