Hi All

In the morning, i'm off to pick up the new acrylic for my rear screen.

I've ordered double the amount after last time's disaster.

So, assuming I get it right this time, I should have an offcut of 1220x350mm - more than enough for a another Coupe rear screen. It's 5mm thick in quite a dark bronze tint.

Does anyone want it at cost? - £14.50. I'll be at Avon Park.

Again, assuming I don't snap it in two like last time!

Cheers

I'll take it off your hands Phil. Avon Park sounds great.

Cheers Tim, i'll see you there with it.

I need a new rear screen for my Coupe.

Which is better Acrylic or PolyCarbonate ? How do you go about making one, can you bend it after applying some heat ?

I've got my original as a Template

Acrylic melts at about 130 C, polycarbonate at about 150 C. I would go for acrylic every time.

I made a former from thin sheet steel.





I used this, with a hot air gun, to carefully bend the acrylic to shape. Don't get too close or it will bubble. Take your time and you should be OK.

*CAN OF WORMS*!!!!!!

Acrylic/Perspex is ok. Polycarb is thermosetting - you will not get it to bend before you burn it - a total no-go.

I used 3 or 4mm (I forget which) tinted perspex and it was still a nightmare. You have to be extremely patient with the hot air gun and make sure it is properly warmed through - then use gravity to make the bend - let it flop - do not try and force it - it will snap. ( I have 3 failed attempts still in my garage as testament to this)

Mine looks ok until you look closely - on one side there's an imprint of my hand

Interesting security feature, beats etching the number plate on the glass

I don't think it is.

"Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in the modern chemical industry."

Ok, I got my terminology wrong . Every time i've tried to bend the stuff it has gone brown, bubbled, and not budged - much the same way as thermosets do. I doubt with a hot air gun you'd be able to get enough heat in over a large enough area to get it to bend without discolouring.

Many years ago I made a former similar to gtmdriver's.
If I can find it and there's enough interest I could
get some rear screens made by the company who
have just moulded the headlamp covers for the K3
and Rossa2.
I've got no idea of the cost yet.

Thanks everyone for your help

I'll wait and see how much Alan's contact can produce them for, before I go down the DIY route