Lexan is the coolest stuff...

[GrumpyTom]

A while ago I made a roll "plate" out of 1/4" Lexan (polycarbonate) for my MP - it goes across the entire length of the truck (fits down over the body posts), and wraps around the front and back. This has held up VERY well in all my crashes, except that it kept shearing off first the body pins, and then the posts themselves. Since I didn't like the body pins anyways (they kept bending, making them difficult to get out), I went with a different approach.

I figured I'd just make new plates to go where the body posts used to be, and have them stick up just enough to protect the internals.

But why stop there? So I proceeded to make ALL the plates (shock towers, braces, etc.) out of the stuff, and although they don't look pretty, they seem to be holding up very well (although I'm sure that the Ti plates from SaBR are MUCH stronger). I also made bumpers. Obviously, you can see that I didn't pay much attention to making them look pretty, just wanted them functional.

Front Shock Tower/Brace/Bumper (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/FSwB.jpg)
Front Shock Tower/Brace (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/FS.jpg)
Top Steering Brace (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/FB.jpg)
Steering Plate (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/SP.jpg)
Midpoint Brace (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/Mid.jpg)
Rear Shock Tower/Brace (http://www.grumpytom.com/Pictures/MonsterPirate/Lexan/RS.jpg)

Lexan is very easy to work with, as long as you have the right tools (which I'm slowly starting to get). If anyone's interested, let me know - I might be willing to make some additional sets so that some of you can help me test them out. Please, if anyone has any feedback, let me have it.

[StrangeDesires]

ya baby thats the way! I like lexan a lot. I use it at school all the time, very nice stuff. My goal is to make parts for my vehicals out of it on the CNC router. but that might not happen for awhile

I like the dirt too, thats what a truck is supposed to look like!

[Immortal]

i hate lexan, it breaks all the time, i like titanium though, i take plates and make stff out of it, weld it together and polish it at school..pretty ffun!!


~~~Formely known as Nitroboy2001, (never liked the name)~~~~

[GrumpyTom]

I don't know what thickness of Lexan (polycarbonate) you're using, but in my experience, it is very strong and (almost) unbreakable. Maybe you're thinking of Plexiglass?

[StrangeDesires]

I had a peice of lexan and I put it like this: / against a wall and I had to jump on it to get it to break, it wasnt even 1/4 thick! I was um... testing it when I was supposed to be working


~SD~

[Immortal]

Ignore my previosu post, i was being as crazy as i can be, thick lexan does seem awesome, thin crap sucks (as thin as used in HPI bodies!!!

[GrumpyTom]

So there's no one out there that would be willing to try these things out for me? It would really help me to get some more testing, just to see if they hold up. Even if it's just the bumpers...

[bullfrog]

hey man those are some pretty clever uses for lexan! i like how easy it is to work with and its easy to drill holes in ( with the right bit of course)

[nascarfreak88]

hey where ya get get that junk?

How much$$$$$$$

can it be cut with a Dremal?

[GrumpyTom]

I got my stuff at Tap Plastics, but they sell it at Home Depot also (although they're usually out of the 1/4" stuff when I'm there).

A 12" x 12" sheet goes for about $10, and is enough to make all of the parts (providing you don't mess up).

Yes, a dremel works good on it, and normal drill bits, and hacksaws. Very easy to work with. And you can heat it with a heat gun and bend it (like I did on the bumpers).

[nascarfreak88]

can you melt 2 pieces together? like welding two medal parts to gether?

[GrumpyTom]

I'm sure you could, but I don't know how you'd do it, or how strong the bond would be.

[StrangeDesires]

you can "weld" two peices. you need a special "glue". Unfortunatly I cant remember what its called. its pretty strong once it has cured.

melting peices together doesnt work all that well

[Quietfly]

Originally posted by GrumpyTom
So there's no one out there that would be willing to try these things out for me? It would really help me to get some more testing, just to see if they hold up. Even if it's just the bumpers...

I'm game to trying out the full body treatment, just email me @ quietfly@aol.com with details.

I'm always happy to try something new :D


-Chris

[tbass2]

Thanks for the idea, I think im gonna have to go buy some and make some parts. How heavy is a 12x12 in chunk of that stuff that is 1/4 in thick? It would be cool to make a chassis out of don't ya think?:D

[GrumpyTom]

Quietfly, you have mail (or will shortly).

tbass2, I don't know how much it weighs, but it's lighter than a sheet of glass of the same size. I think it might flex too much for the chassis, but who knows? And you could always use 1/2" stuff! (I think they make it up to 1" thick).

[jives]

Originally posted by StrangeDesires
you can "weld" two peices. you need a special "glue". Unfortunatly I cant remember what its called. its pretty strong once it has cured.

melting pieces together doesn’t work all that well

We use something call "Weld-On #4" from IPS corp. to bond plastics. www.ipscorp.com
Methylene Chloride (75-09-2), Trichloroethylene (79-01-6), Methyl Methacrylate Monomer (80-62-6)

Also seen it done with Acetone, the Weld On stuff makes some really strong bonds.

[Quietfly]

Just recieved the lexan parts, must say i've very impressed i will give opinions on durability as soon as i bash next. so far as for fit and looks they are great

-Chris

[GrumpyTom]

Thanks. Hope they hold up well for you. Keep us informed.

[draggerman11]

GrumpyTom, I will have a T-Maxx soon, and if you want to make a few parts for the T, I'll gladly test them for you.

[GrumpyTom]

A buddy of mine has a Maxx, and I've been wanting to get a good look at it to see about making stuff. The main problem I have with the T-Maxx is that all the stuff I could make (skid plates, etc) are cheap already, and look better than what I could do.

The cheapest bumper for the MP right now is $30 each, and I can sell both for $10 (including shipping!). The story is not the same on the T.

If you'd just like to have something different, let me know. I enjoy building this stuff, so I'm not looking at making bug bucks off it. Is there something specific you were thinking of?

BTW, I still have one set of bumpers for the MP ready to go - if anyone wants 'em, shoot me an email at tom@grumpytom.com.

[draggerman11]

Tom, I just want something diffrent. Bumpers would be VERY nice, and if its stiff enough, shock towers(or anything else you can think of...). Thanks!:)