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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Re: Using plexi as eyelet / turret board material?

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2/28/2000 11:45 PM

Re: Using plexi as eyelet / turret board material?

Look up plastics in the phone book, call the biggest supplier you see listed(or look on the web) and ask if lexan makes a good insulator. The people at Professional Plastics were good enough to fax me a copy of the spec sheets for their version of FR-4 or G-10 epoxy board. These specs included electrical stuff. I may even stil have those being the packrat that I am(much to the chagrin of the wife)

Bye

2/29/2000 2:07 AM
Brian	I believe lexan is a trade name for plexiglass. Acrylic?? i think is actually the name of the polymer. Been a while.... BT

2/29/2000 3:14 AM
R.G.	"Plexiglas" is a trade name for a variety of acrylic sheet. "Lexan" is a trade name for a variety of polycarbonate sheet. Different plastic. Lexan is tougher, more crack and heat resistant, and more expensive. Plexiglas is clearer and more desirable for optical applications. Lexan is better for protective applications. Many bulletproof windows are Lexan.

2/29/2000 8:30 AM
Richie	I think fender had an all clear amp in a picture once... I bet it was beer bottle proof..!!! I like the boards keystone sells and they will build to you specs..Richie{~}==:::

2/29/2000 9:53 PM
Brian	I think the amp you are referring to is a Selmer. I remember seeing a picture of one in the Pittman Book. Pretty cool idea though. It probably sounded pretty crappy, due to the dead plastic sound. BT

2/29/2000 1:25 PM
Stephen Conner	Lexan Lexan is the trade name for polycarbonate. It can stop bullets and makes a great insulator too (that's why you get polycarbonate film caps) Unfortunately it also melts below 200 oC AFAIK. Really your choices for tag boards are FRP, SRPB, ceramic, or one of the thermosetting plastics like Bakelite. Steve C.

2/29/2000 2:07 PM

I don't see why anyone would consider using a
material for a circuit board where you would have
to wonder whether you were going to melt the material
while soldering. Polycarbonate would look pretty
cool, but it melts at too low a temp to be very
attractive for this application. Everytime you
touch the board with your iron, it would leave
an unsightly melted spot. I'm not so coordinated,
so this is a real issue!

An economical alternative to G10 that I've used
with some success is phenolic sheet. It's tough
as hell, easy to cut and you can heat it up all
day long without worrying about melting it. I bought
a 4' x 4' sheet for about $50, and that was at the
most expensive place I know, a local plastics supplier.
Mail order, it's bound to be much cheaper.

Regards, SF

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