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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject: Template for Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sliding Window Covers |
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A few months ago I stumbled onto a French site (maybe via The Samba?) that had templates and pictures for how to make plexiglass (acrylic) sliding window covers for a Vanagon Westy. The covers were to keep rain out while parked or camping while still allowing air to flow.
The site, is gone, but you can still access a Google cache of the original site, but alas, no images or pictures.
Did anyone out there happen to save the templates for this?
If you translate the cached site to English it gives the following details:
"This "window" is actually a piece of "Plexiglas" thin (14 "X 17") which the 4 corners are cut according to the following measures against it. Insert it into the top rail of the window ... it is gently curved to insert then into the bottom rail. Just turn the piece so that the cutout is the largest facing the front of the vehicle and the small, backward. Obviously, once the Plexiglas in place, we can close the window."
I liked the way that they had cut particular-sized curves out of the corners for a perfect fit. Someone definitely put some thought into it. I could start chopping up a 14X17 piece of plexiglass, but that stuff ain't cheap. I'd rather do it perfectly the first time with a template.
Anyone else see this or do this mod? _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com
Last edited by indytriple on Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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foodeater Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2007 Posts: 1318 Location: Newburgh, NY
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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You could just use a piece of cardboard to make you template, then transfer that to your acrylic sheet. _________________ 89 Bluestar-2.5 Subaru Powered-RIP
'84 Westy Tiico-daily driver-sold
'82 Caddy diesel-sold
'87 Vanagon Syncro-RIP
'81 diesel rabbit-sold
'82 Vanagon auto-RIP |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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foodeater wrote: |
You could just use a piece of cardboard to make you template, then transfer that to your acrylic sheet. |
Good idea. That's what I plan on doing with some flexy card stock paper, but I figured I might as well at least ask before I reinvent the wheel.
I'll post the dimensions and shape here if I recreate it myself. Looked like a really useful mod for when you want the windows open but it's raining. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com |
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dubbified Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 1406 Location: Redmond, WA
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Template for Plexiglass (Acrylic) Sliding Window Covers |
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This sounds interesting.. curious if someone has a picture.
Last edited by dubbified on Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Keeping my fingers crossed for some pics. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com
Last edited by indytriple on Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1888 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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is this the kind of thing you are looking for? Made from a scrap bit of Lexan, 1/8" X 7 1/2" X 17 1/2". Corners on the forward edge cut out to approx. 1" radius. The dimensions were pretty well dictated by the size of the scrap bit I had on hand.
hope this helps
alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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ragnarhairybreeks wrote: |
is this the kind of thing you are looking for? Made from a scrap bit of Lexan, 1/8" X 7 1/2" X 17 1/2". Corners on the forward edge cut out to approx. 1" radius. The dimensions were pretty well dictated by the size of the scrap bit I had on hand.
hope this helps
alistair |
Yep, that's what I'm looking for. Thanks a bunch. The French one was larger 14X17 (probably to work with the window all of the way open), and I'm pretty sure that all four corners were cut out in a small radius to make the plexiglass overlap the window and window seal a bit to really keep water off as it rains or sheets down.
I went to Home Depot the other day, and I perused their plexiglass/acrylic supply. I may go back tomorrow and take a shot at this. As mentioned earlier, I'll post final measurements/pics/templates once I'm done. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com
Last edited by indytriple on Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1888 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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I'll cut out the other corners too, seems apparent once I looked again at the pics. A larger one would have been nice, but I only had a small bit of Lexan. BTW, Lexan is nice for this application, takes a heck of a lot of bending to break that stuff.
alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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Perales Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2007 Posts: 2046 Location: Nova Scotia
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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ragnarhairybreeks wrote: |
BTW, Lexan is nice for this application, takes a heck of a lot of bending to break that stuff.
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And it's bullet proof _________________ -- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino) |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I did this project, and I'm very happy with the result. We just ran a gravel road bicycle race in the Hoosier National forest, and it rained for two days straight. They worked like a charm. Never leaked even one drop despite heavy rain and high winds. I had them in when I was cooking on the stove and when we were running the Mr. Heater propane heater.
Here's my supply list:
-(2) Plaskolite Optix 18"x24" Acrylic Sheets (.093" Thickness)
-Acrylic Cutting Tool
-Dremel Tool w/Sanding Attachment
-A Yardstick and 2 C-Clamps
-A Table or Workbench
Total cost for the acrylic and the cutting tool (Home Depot) - $32.54
Yes, it's a little expensive, but it's worth every penny when you're camping in the rain and you need 'em.
I first cut the sheets down to 14"x17". I then measured 2 1/4" in from each corner and cut the corners off. I rounded off the corners and any rough edges with the Dremel tool. There are lots of good videos on cutting acrylic on the interwebs if you've never worked with the stuff before.
I'm storing them in between the bed cushions up top. It's out of the way, and they can't get scratched there. I leave then near the edge so that I can reach in between the cushions and get them with or without the top up.
_________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com
Last edited by indytriple on Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7893 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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Dangit! I need to stop clicking on these types of threads... thanks to all these neat ideas, my project list keeps growing instead of shrinking!
indytriple wrote: |
I first cut the sheets down to 14"x17". I then measured 2 1/4" in from each corner and cut the corners off. There are lots of good videos on cutting acrylic on the interwebs if you've never worked with the stuff before. |
I don't know about HD, but Lowe's will cut acrylic sheets for you (maybe not the corners in this project, but they'll cut a larger piece into the square dimensions you need). _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3082 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:48 am Post subject: |
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indytriple wrote: |
Total cost for the acrylic and the cutting tool (Home Depot) - $32.54 |
Lexan (and non-lexan to a point) cuts extremely easily with a table saw - push slow enough so it does not chip/push fast enough so you are cutting rather than melting. Jig saw/sawsall works OK too if you keep it from vibrating. The score/snap technique is sometimes difficult with Lexan. a torch cleans up / smooths the edges very well.
HD/Lowes do carry lexan if you want no hassle but it is relatively expensive.
To save several $ find a "plastic supply" in the yellow pages and check their scrap pile. Mine sells scraps at $2-$3/LB so a couple sheets like this are about $5 _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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berkeleyjack Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2012 Posts: 175 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 8:14 am Post subject: |
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For folks out on the West Coast, you could go to TAP Plastic and get them to cut plastic to your specifications pretty cheap.
http://www.tapplastics.com/
I've worked with them before on some custom lighting projects, and they do work while you wait and are reasonably priced.
Lots of options for color, thickness, etc. Everything from opaque white/black to bright neon colors.
Or if you don't want to pay to have them cut it, they have good prices on uncut sheets of plastic as well. _________________ All-grain homebrewer with a 1990 Vanagon Carat. |
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dubbified Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 1406 Location: Redmond, WA
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 8:35 am Post subject: |
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I dig this idea.
Rain comes to mind.. keeping it out with something this easy is a great idea!!! |
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highaltidude Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2005 Posts: 219 Location: Colorado Springs, CO
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Camping in Colorado means afternoon thunder storms.....
I've got a rainfly for the pop-top....
But no way to vent the inside and stay dry.....
I followed the OP's instructions and now have two covers for my sliding windows.
Chuck _________________ 66 Double Cab
83 Vanagon Westfalia, Vanistan'd |
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