Impending unavailability of new windshields?

[shadetree]

i know this does not help all you guys. but i can get new glass green tint for sixty five and green tint with blue viser for seventy nine. its through gardian glass at work.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I was thinking I could always use 1/4" or 3/8" plexiglass. That's what little airplanes use, fastened with #8 or so machine screws about every 2" around the perimeter. You just have to be very careful to not let it get scratched.

BTW, Lindbergh didn't have a windshield at all when he flew across the Little Pond. He had some sort of periscope deal on the side window.

[Tommychu]

Yeah, but it really gives you that "demo derby car" feel!

Fixed.

[Pu241]

I was thinking I could always use 1/4" or 3/8" plexiglass.

I'm pretty sure Plexi isn't DOT approved for forward windshield applications.
Nicely done, I suspect few inspectors would notice till they scraped off the inspection tag. Then the jig would be up!

[IdealSociety]

what is this "inspection" you speak of?

[walth]

I'm pretty sure Plexi isn't DOT approved for forward windshield applications.
Nicely done, I suspect few inspectors would notice till they scraped off the inspection tag. Then the jig would be up!

no what you do is cut out that section of your cracked windshield with the inspection sticker still on it, glue it into place in your new DOT approved (ebay bought DOT sticker) windshield. Then it won't get any scratches when they scrape off the old inspection sticker. hahaha

[Pu241]

what is this "inspection" you speak of?

I don't have one either, but I have lived in area that do.
Also, if your pulled over and the plexi is discovered, they can cite you for that no matter that their is not an inspection required.

[MTec007]

it is funny because you can go without a windsheild but god forbid you have a crack or use something besides what they think is safe.

[Pu241]

it is funny because you can go without a windsheild but god forbid you have a crack or use something besides what they think is safe.

I understand the sediment, and in many cases you are correct!

But, you ever see plexi shatter?
Long sharp shards!!
Easily kill you or a passenger.
I used to make material for air bag covers, and I thought who cares if the material get stiff and brittle at lower temps, your in an accident the air bag will save you. Till I saw a demo on an air bag deployment with an unsuitable material. The test dummy would likely have been blinded by the shrapnel generated when the air bag blew through the stiff and brittle cover.
Same here, the plexi is strong stuff, but when it fails it does so in a manner likely to cause life threatening injury.

[MTec007]

good point. one thing about airbags, i hated them till i was in my first crash with a stationary trailer and wasnt wearing a seat belt.. if it wasnt for the airbags...

[batstiva]

what is this "inspection" you speak of?

I don't have one either, but I have lived in area that do.
Also, if your pulled over and the plexi is discovered, they can cite you for that no matter that their is not an inspection required.

We have them here in WV. Tho, in my case, because I dated the girl who does the inspections, and it ended on good terms, I can pretty much just call them and tell her I'm coming in for an inspection, give her the mileage over the phone, and the sticker is ready when I get there. If anyone happens to be standing around, she'll have me do the lights, and maybe the horn, but that's about it.

[drddan]

I wouldn't use plexiglas. Instead use Polycarbonate. Same stuff they use to make safety glasses that cover your eyes. I can be bought in sheet, just like plexi. Polycarbonate just won't break! The first pair of poly safety glasses I had, I hit them with a Ballpeen hammer as hard as I could, with the lens flat on a bench. It put a small scratch on the lens is all. Tuff stuff!

[MTec007]

polycarb is some good stuff, at my last job they used it in injection molding. BTW polycarb is OSHA approved.. if that says anything

[festyxfi]

I've pulled two good festy windscreens from yards for $50 bucks a pop (if remembering correctly) then store them someplace safe. Unless you drive the Alcan highway all the time, a couple would get you anotehrm 20 years.

FX

[Pu241]

polycarb is some good stuff, at my last job they used it in injection molding. BTW polycarb is OSHA approved.. if that says anything

It is, in the appropriate application.
Take the Polycarbonate(PC) and wrap it in flexible vinyl and apply a small stress on it, just a small deflection in an otherwise flat part. Let it stay that way for a few weeks.
In short order you'll see stress fractures at the contact point of the vinyl and PC. Not long after that the PC will fail.

Ever mold PEEK, PAES or Radel?

But OSHA approved for what, I've done a little bit of work with plastic and one agency's OK means little or nothing to another.