Perspex for football dugout

[bsynge]

Hello,

 

I've been asked to create a football dugout/subs bench for a show we're doing. It needs to be light enough to carry and move without wheels. I was planning to create a bench covered with a curved frame clad with 3mm perspex. A bit like this but only 3m in length:

 

http://www.polybuild.com/images/FullSize/Leisure_Football1.jpg

 

We don't have the facilities to do any welding here so the frame was going to be a mixture of plywood formers and timber braces.

 

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about using such thin perspex. Is it so wobbly that it needs very closely spaced braces, or can it span a 2ft/3ft/4ft gap without buckling? At what thickness will the perspex lose it's flexibility and at what thickness would it become prohibitively heavy? Is there a risk of it cracking where it is screwed to the frame?

I should probably ask a perspex manufacturer but I thought I'd check here first, as you are all much wiser and honest!

 

Thanks,

 

Brendan

[Brian]

Perspex doesn't bend like that without heating it up. You want one of the clear flexible glazing sheets you can get.

[timsabre]

Perspex doesn't bend like that without heating it up. You want one of the clear flexible glazing sheets you can get.

 

I would beg to differ, I have a sheet of 3mm perspex (acrylic) here and a sheet of the size illustrated would bend no problem.

However Brian is correct that the clear polycarbonate sheet as available from Wickes, B&Q etc would be better as it's much less fragile.

[paulears]

Perspex needs careful handling when you drill and secure it. Sharp bits, and a slightly oversize hole. If the hole is even slightly too small, the screw thread tip scores into the hole edge and drives in, but then when you give it the final twist, when it cannot move - it cracks. You will find this, as I did twice, very, very annoying.

[WiLL]

Also use cup washers where possible and if you are using a power screwdriver have it set to the lowest torque setting that works.

Second for the glazing sheets as they tend to be far less brittle than perspex.

 

EDIT: Oh, and paint the frame before you attach the glazing sheet. Will save you hours of heartache.

[ramdram]

Has the structure GOT to be clad? It would be OK on stage...it's what happens when the piece is taken off stage and stored somewhere that it might get damaged or simply just scratched. And, it would be a lot lighter to move around if only a frame.

[alistermorton]

Perspex doesn't bend like that without heating it up. You want one of the clear flexible glazing sheets you can get.

 

I would beg to differ, I have a sheet of 3mm perspex (acrylic) here and a sheet of the size illustrated would bend no problem.

However Brian is correct that the clear polycarbonate sheet as available from Wickes, B&Q etc would be better as it's much less fragile.

 

Interestingly, I've seen specialist glazing sites where they say that clear acrylic is a plastic similar to perspex, and other site where they refer to acrylic (perspex).

 

I know that perspex is a trade name for polymethyl methacrylate, but I'm not sure what the proper name for "acrylic" is if it's not the same. Whichever, Perspex can be quite brittle, I'd have though a polycarbonate would be tougher and more resistant to shattering, or clear semi rigid PVC might be easier to work.

[Brian]

Perspex = Acrylic

[steveo]

We Made a similar one for an event a few years ago (sadly was dismantled straight after the event). They are easy to do with a little artistic license. Speak to AMARI Plastics, they will deliver nationwide. We get all of our acrylic from there.

 

It soons becomes quite heavy with the acrylic so try and keep it to 3mm acrylic

 

Steve

[musht]

Perspex and Plexiglas are trade names for acrylic, Makrolon and like are polycarbonate.

 

Acrylic is glass clear, plastic lenses are acrylic,fairly hard and brittle.

 

Polycarbonate isn`t quite as clear,softer, scratches more easily than acrylic but has 100 times impact strenght of glass, its used for machine guards and riot shields.

 

PVC is pretty clear transparent but with visible `swirling` in it, not very rigid and softens in a warm room or under hot lights...

 

Polystyrene in clear rigid sheet is around as horticultural glazing, its very brittle and for stage use has all the fire resistance of a petrol soaked rag.

[bsynge]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm a little better informed about plastics now.

 

We're going ahead with some polycarbonate sheeting as many of you suggested. Now I just need to figure out how to make plywood look like powder-coated steel!

[steveo]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm a little better informed about plastics now.

 

We're going ahead with some polycarbonate sheeting as many of you suggested. Now I just need to figure out how to make plywood look like powder-coated steel!

 

Can you use FR MDF and Spray paint it??????? We do this all the time and it looks pretty good

 

Steve