Plexiglass or Lexan

[Pearson]

Which is more resistant to fuel, Plexiglass or Lexan?

[ajfriz]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

In my experience plexiglass is more resistant. You'd want to use plexiglass anyway just because it's more scratch resistant than lexan. I like lexan, but if you look at it wrong it scratches...

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Lexan is not resistant to gasoline. It is useable on the side windows, but yes indeed it scratches easily!

[perryv1]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Non ethonol fuel has somthing in it that makes Lexan crack and split.I know, I have a Kitfox that I have to replace all the panels in.
PV

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

The one advantage of Lexan is it is MUCH stronger and impact resistant, but like everyone else has said, scratches very easily. One line boy with a dirty rag and you will be blind flying into the sun. Paper towels will tear it up even when clean.
Hank

Even for use on Plexi, get a worn out pure cotton diaper (you CAN still get them). You want the ones that have been washed so many times they are no good for babies any more. Keep them in 1 gal. zip lock bags and if one touches the ground, wash it again. FLOOD the plexi with water before you wipe it to get any grit off.
There are some really good plexi cleaners for convertible rear windows that work great. NEVER let them put fuel in your plane for you! Line boys just can't seem to resist wiping that bug off of your windshield with a rag they last used to clean off road tires.

[M Towsley]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Microfiber towels, in my opinoin, are the way to go. They don't catch the dirt at the surface like some towels, which just end up scratching the surface. I use warm water or Plexus for everyday clean-up. That is where the microfiber towels really work well. Sam's Club has a big bag of them that will last forever.

I'm a little more, ahem, particular when it comes to towels hitting the ground. They will never see a plane windshield or paint again. They become my wife's inside-the-house towels. And yes, she has more than a few....

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Microfiber towels, in my opinoin, are the way to go. They don't catch the dirt at the surface like some towels, which just end up scratching the surface. I use warm water or Plexus for everyday clean-up. That is where the microfiber towels really work well. Sam's Club has a big bag of them that will last forever.

I'm a little more, ahem, particular when it comes to towels hitting the ground. They will never see a plane windshield or paint again. They become my wife's inside-the-house towels. And yes, she has more than a few....

Marty, I LIKE your approach. Never save a 5 cent towel when cleaning a $300 wind screen.

There are indeed some great plexiglass cleaners out there. Dollar for dollar I prefer Pledge. I have used it exclusively on my windscreen for 25 years and the plastic still looks good. I have had a Pledge spray can in my plane at minus 20 degrees F and plus 120F and it did not freeze or blow up.

Also for those that may not be aware of this!!!! I only wipe with straight up and down strokes. NEVER rub in a circular motion. This wiping technique prevents "halos".

[cvavon]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Mark

We use pledge on the whole airplane it works very well on bugs and dirt and dust Chuck

[rammon3]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

And your plane smells lemon fresh!!

[jim cooper]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

I use clear water and ViVa paper towels (ONLY VIVA!) Also use Mcguires plastic polish (NAPA) Airports around here have used this for years. The paper towels are more expensive than others but soft like "used diapers." Works great for me. Used ALOT of pledge on the leading edges of the Stearman and it worked very well. Bugs just FELL OFF! with a little water. I have no scratches. JC

[crispy critter]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Pledge works great. I don't know about Viva but I always use Bounty papertowels and only the non-colored ones,do not ever use a papertowel with dye or colored designes on them because the dye/color can be(not always) abresive. We buy the 6 roll packs of the plain white Bounty at an Dollar Store or Family Dollar Store for $5. I also try to keep some micro cloths around to use on the leading edges,wheel pants,struts,cowling,etc. I always use the Bounty on the glass simply because I always know I'm using a clean towel all the time and don't have to worry so much about scratch's in the glass.

[mike lutz]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

Thought I read somewhere that poly carbonate (lexan) was not legal for use in production built aircraft.I know that in a event that you would have to break a window to get out of the aircraft during a mishap,you would be in trouble.

[d.grimm]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

I just installed a STC'd skylight in my P**** and the STC holder gave the choice of Lexan or Plexiglas.
Dave

[runon]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

They both are solvent weld which means both will probably react to fuel. Lexan is "softer" so it would probably be at a disadvantage here. Also, I've been told that Lexan will Yellow or cloud if left out in the sun too much (I don't know how much is too much), but plexiglass doesn't seem to as badly. From everything I know (which isn't much) you'd be better with plexiglass (acrylic) for a skylight, but for ultimate protection from birdstrikes or bricks falling out of the sky = Lexan (polycarbonate).
Plexiglass is way more likely to crack around drill holes or if tightened down to much. Lexan you can pretty much fold in half or shoot a hole in it without it cracking.

A good way to finish out your cut edges on either is to "brush" it with a little pen torch.

If all else fails with your ultra scratched plexiglass or lexan surfaces (I'm talking cloudy white it's so terribly scratched), give it a LIGHT brushing with a torch (do this as an absolute last resort, as it is VERY easy to warp or burn).

[Pearson]

Re: Plexiglass or Lexan

I originally asked this question back in 2010 to purchase material for a skylight. I have since acquired a piece of Plexiglas that will fill the bill. My concern was overfilling a wing tank and spilling fuel on the skylight.

Since I asked the question I have also Micro Meshed my windshield and polished it back to near new condition. Like Mark Julicher, I also only wipe in vertical strokes when cleaning. I use the Micro Fiber towel and Plexus to clean my windshield. It had been scratched by a previous owner. It wasn't too bad. Just enough to be a bother, especially when flying into an evening sun. The Micro Mesh process is a lot of work, but the results are worth it. It would not have been so much work if I had not been afraid to use the coarse grit sandpapers. Especially now that it is in like new condition, I use only the Micro Fiber towels and Plexus. They work great.