Plexiglas repair?

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JimF
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Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:49 am

Plexiglas repair?

Postby JimF » Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:42 am

Does anyone know of a shop or person that can do exceptional work in plexiglas repair/restoration?

I have a fairing of clear plexiglas with a crack that I would like to get fixed and I might like to get some holes filled in if that's even possible.

This fairing can't be replaced with new plexiglas. It has to stay original.

DucRedux
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed May 15, 2013 7:57 pm
Location: Delaware County, NY and NC

Re: Plexiglas repair?

Postby DucRedux » Wed May 15, 2013 10:52 pm

A shop that manufactures or prepares acrylic display cases should be able repair the plexiglas. In a metro area one can probably find a specialists listing in a phone directory or on the web in the "Plastics" section.
Plexiglas is the Rhom and Haas trade name for polymethylmethacryalte (PMMA). Plexiglas is soluble in methylene chloride (aka dichloromethane). In my laboratory days, I undertook repairs of plexiglas by applying methylene chloride to joints and cracks with a glass syringe and metal hypodermic needle of a fine gauge. The solvent penetrates the crack or joints and fuses the pieces almost instantly and clearly. In cases of holes or cavities one might make a "putty" of PMMA dissolved in solvent to the consistency needed by a trial and error technique. Or one can overdrill the hole and plug it with new piece to glue and fit. It's best to practice first. I doubt most of us can easily get the solvent and syringes for this type of restoration, so a specialist it is. (By the way the feasibility of the plastic repair can be checked by applying a very, very small amount of non-flammable paint stripper to an inconspicuous section. Most strippers still have methylene chloride as the main ingredient and the plastic should soften and become tacky as soon as the dab is applied.)


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