The only reason to buy Lexan , instead of some other manufacturer's polycarbonate is when you cannot tolerate any optical distortion. When it comes to optical clarity, Lexan is your best choice. All polycarbonates can be affected by certain hydrocarbons, particularly by paint and lacquer thinners, so when cleaning, soap and water is the safest bet.. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Murphy" < seagray @ embarqmail .com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" < montgomery_boats @mailman. xmission .com> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 3:01:40 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: M_Boats : Plexiglass / Lexan Tom, Thanks so much for the offer. I'd be glad to reimburse you for the mailing costs. 570 Coral Dr Apt P-4 Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 Looks like just about anything short of a chain saw would work... Joe M17 Seafrog ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Jenkins To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:28 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats : Plexiglass / Lexan Joe, I used about eight 4'x8' sheets of 1/4" polycarbonate to make a greenhouse, and did many cuts with a portable circular saw with a fine-tooth blade, and a fine-toothed hand saw. I also drilled many holes. I never experienced cracking or chipping. As far as I know, the polycarbonate I used ( Cyrolon ) is no different from that sold under the Lexan brand name. I used the stuff because it is hammered by 4' thick chunks of ice and snow sliding off our roof, and it doesn't flinch. Fifteen years of UV from vertical sunlight at 7400' elevation has caused some clouding, but in your application it would be forever. If you like, send me your address, and I will mail you a chunk of the PC to play with. By the way, nice looking boat. Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla On Mar 23, 2010, at 10:14 AM, Joe Murphy wrote: > Has anyone ever worked with either Lexan or Plexiglass ? I'm > thinking of making companionway doors but I keep hearing about how > difficult it is to cut the material without it chipping and cracking. > Joe > M17 Seafrog #651 > _______________________________________________ > http ://mailman. xmission .com/cgi-bin/mailman/ listinfo / montgomery_boats > > Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! _______________________________________________ http ://mailman. xmission .com/cgi-bin/mailman/ listinfo / montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! _______________________________________________ http ://mailman. xmission .com/cgi-bin/mailman/ listinfo / montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!