Glue for Polycarbonate Sheet (Lexan etc)

[aesmith]

Hi,
Just wondering if any of the normal glues, like "superglue" or epoxy, are suitable for gluing polycarbonate sheet. I seem to recall we used Chloroform to glue Perspex.

I've been given a table saw with loads of bits missing, and I think the easiest way to make the crown guard is going to be a sandwich of the layers. I'm going to rough it out in plywood to get the size and shape sorted. This was a free machine, I'm trying to fix it with minimum spending. I'd be prepared to splash out £3.99 for polycarbonate, but not if it need £25 special glue that I'll never need again.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Acetone comes to mind as a welding solvent.

 

[aesmith]

Thanks. I have Acetone.

 

[RichardM]

have a look here:

Which Glues Work for Polycarbonate Plastic - Acme Plastics

Regular solvents won't adhere to polycarbonate. See the different methods for gluing, or fusing polycarbonate.

www.acmeplastics.com

 

[addjunkie]

Lexan is quite brittle, it can shatter with impact.

 

[graffian]

Lexan is quite brittle, it can shatter with impact.

What?
methylene chloride.

 

[aesmith]

Lexan is quite brittle, it can shatter with impact.

I'm certainly open to alternatives.

 

[iNf]

I was under the impression that lexan is pretty tough stuff? certainly the pieces I have here are. Don't they make bullet proof 'glass' out of it?
Edit...https://www.polymershapesfab.com/lexan-vs-plexiglass-which-is-stronger/

 

[RichardM]

I was under the impression that lexan is pretty tough stuff? certainly the pieces I have here are. Don't they make bullet proof 'glass' out of it?
Edit...https://www.polymershapesfab.com/lexan-vs-plexiglass-which-is-stronger/

Proper Lexan is very resilient, some other poly carbonate sheets can shatter when flexed.

 

[Agroshield]

Lexan is quite brittle, it can shatter with impact.

What are the riot shields used by the police made from? That would be good for a table saw guard. How to obtain one is more difficult.

 

[addjunkie]

Not sure of the exact product, but I bought a sheet of see through plastic (was told it was lexan) to make a spray shield for the table of my mill.

One miss hap later and it was cracked, maybe too thin, but didn't drill well either where I fitted the hinges.

 

[6ply]

We have acrylic and polycarbonate sheet sheet at work. The former laser cuts cleanly, but the latter burns and browns releasing horrible fumes. You may be able to identify which you have with a lighter?

The acrylic shatters easily and should not be used for guards. Polycarbonate is more robust.

 

[selectedgrub]

What?
methylene chloride.

Pretty sure this was for acrylic only

 

[aesmith]

We had some sort of clear (ish) PVC sheet at one place years ago. Not as clear as Perspex but less brittle and could be glued with PVC cement. I can't remember what it was called.

 

[Seadog]

Pretty sure this was for acrylic only

I've used it to repair cracks in a record player lid. I'm pretty sure that that's polycarbonate.

 

[selectedgrub]

could be never seen polycarbonate crack tho.

 

[Morris]

could be never seen polycarbonate crack tho.

Polycarbonate stress cracks, the way it is fixed and mounted matters. Bolt it rigidly to a frame and it will crack with temperature changes over time.
I did a lot of guards etc when I worked in the food industry and that was a lesson quickly learnt.
Manufacturers usually have details about this.

 

[aesmith]

Mock up in plywood. One issue is different blade diameters, the only decent blade that I have to hand is 235mm, but the saw can use up to 260mm.

This was three layers of 4mm, I now think it would be better with four layers, and easier to made as well.