Heating Lexan
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Nixa
Heating Lexan
My landlady has a sign made of 1/8" Lexan with vynol coating and lettering on it. It apparently got ran over and the hot weather kinda formed a curve into it.
She wants me to mount the sign on her office building, but with the curve in it, I asume it will crack or break if I screwed it to the building.
I figured I could put it in the oven for a while and it will flatten out.
What I don't know is on what temp and how long it should be in the oven, so anyone have an idea or hopefully experience doing this?
She wants me to mount the sign on her office building, but with the curve in it, I asume it will crack or break if I screwed it to the building.
I figured I could put it in the oven for a while and it will flatten out.
What I don't know is on what temp and how long it should be in the oven, so anyone have an idea or hopefully experience doing this?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I'd contact a local plastics forming outfit---have to be a few somewhere nearby?
Then again if being outside in the sun caused its current deformation then temps near 100* applied over a few hours might allow the piece to relax back to its former flat shape.
If its truly Lexan (aka polycarbonate) and not Plexi-Glas (aka acrylic) 1/8" thickness would probably resist breaking if simply flattened out with pressure on the edges.
HTH
Then again if being outside in the sun caused its current deformation then temps near 100* applied over a few hours might allow the piece to relax back to its former flat shape.
If its truly Lexan (aka polycarbonate) and not Plexi-Glas (aka acrylic) 1/8" thickness would probably resist breaking if simply flattened out with pressure on the edges.
HTH
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
How much of a curve, and how big of a sign? It may be doable cold, or it may need to be warmed. You can improvise heating it by putting it on pavement or on a contractor bag in the sun, then quickly install it. The oven sounds like it may be overkill, and if you heat the stuff too much it gets very brittle.
I made a new windshield for my bike out of Lexan and it mounted to the curved fairing just fine without any heat added.
I made a new windshield for my bike out of Lexan and it mounted to the curved fairing just fine without any heat added.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Nixa
I'm only assuming it's lexan, it could be plexiglass as far as i know, I don't know how to tell the difference between the two.
It's 13"x 24" It's almost flat at one end of the 24" then it starts curving to the other end where's it almost curved up like a ski tip, but not as drastic, if that makes sense.
We've had a couple warm days here lately, so i put the sign on my dash with the curve kind pinched between the windsheild and dash to see if gravity and heat would straighten it out, but it hasn't..
I also tried setting it on the concrete with a bit of weight on it. That didn't work either.
It's 13"x 24" It's almost flat at one end of the 24" then it starts curving to the other end where's it almost curved up like a ski tip, but not as drastic, if that makes sense.
We've had a couple warm days here lately, so i put the sign on my dash with the curve kind pinched between the windsheild and dash to see if gravity and heat would straighten it out, but it hasn't..
I also tried setting it on the concrete with a bit of weight on it. That didn't work either.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,464
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From: Staten Island, NY
If it's Lexan a heat gun should work. If it's Plexiglas the heat gun might work or a propane torch moved QUICKLY. My first choice would be the heat gun. I've made a number of machine guards this way.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Nixa
I have a heat gun too. I didn't even think about using it.
I have to go get my transmission out of storage on monday. I'll be sure to grab my heat gun aswell.
Right now, I have the sign sitting on the garage floor with a spare tire and rim laying on it. see if that will flatten it out. if not the heat gun will be used.
Thanks guys.
I have to go get my transmission out of storage on monday. I'll be sure to grab my heat gun aswell.
Right now, I have the sign sitting on the garage floor with a spare tire and rim laying on it. see if that will flatten it out. if not the heat gun will be used.
Thanks guys.
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