Thread:

Need to make a splash shield

What's the correct material to use?
There isn't a Tap Plastics near me, so I am looking online and there are quite a few options.
None of them cheap.
I want to get it right the first time.
Any specific suggestions here, other than "don't drive backwards"?

Probably plexi.
It needs to be done pretty cheap...whatever that means..

Swiped this pic from another thread.
This is pretty much exactly what I want.
The color is great too.

from the plexi experience i have, if youve never worked with it... leave it to the pros. doing a shape like the one pictured requires a heat/ vacuum mold. acrylic is tricky it can get hairline crackes if heated and bent wrong. just using plexi would be cheaper but it wont stand up to the elements as well. that is why you need acryllic. more exp and harder to work with. more dense so it needs longer to heat but it can blister fast if your not watching. if you were just doing straight corners or 45's etc not as big of a deal but curves?????

Good info. Thank you.
I knew it wouldn't be easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
Just saw another thread that mentioned Finney's.
I'll contact them and see if they can make me one.
Worth a try.

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/loca...00038788381458

There is 1 in stockton and 2 in Sac area. That is fairly close. If you have a heat gun you should be able to do it.

Originally Posted by moneysucker

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/loca...00038788381458

There is 1 in stockton and 2 in Sac area. That is fairly close. If you have a heat gun you should be able to do it.

I looked at Tap online, and there is quite a selection of sheet plastics. Not sure which type I should use. Home Depot has Lexan, but $100 for a sheet of the stuff seems a bit pricey. Maybe it's not? Wonder how thick it should be? 1/8"? Thicker?

It was $100 for a 6' x 3' x 1/8" sheet of clear.
Not sure if I will be able to find clear blue, which would be ideal, but I'll be patient and look around.
Aluminum would be awesome, but I think I would mess it up.

you can buy it by the squre foot at taps and they do have a transparent blue. if you choose to come to the sac location hit me up first i may be able to save you a few dollars as i have done businesss with them since 2000 with supplies for car stereo. 1/4 inch minimum and good luck getting a controlled bend with a heat gun. i did some experiments using mirowaves etc on 1/4 and it took about 12 minutes for it to get pliable, but at 15 mins it started to curl. it has a small margin of working temp so using a gun on a wide area is difficult because as you try to heat one area the other hardens quick. i just started working with a element bender and it is still difficult to get non geometric curves. but like i said hit me up i can try to help you on the $retail

I also need a splash shield..I remember a thread a while back where someone was saying they threw theres in the oven....can't remember if it was lexan or plexi. I may go aluminum....can any one recommend a good gauge to go with. 1/8" or????

i havnt tried this but it makes since in my head.....get a shet of 3/4 mdf. lay it on top of your back of boat and out line where you want to make a spl shd. cut it out and then router out a lot of copies and glue pieces together until about 4 inches thick. now you will have a hard template of your opening to work with. so no need to scratch the paint or work around engine. secure the "mold" to a working surface. now you can heat and bent your aluminium to the radious you need. make it over hang alot out of the ends and fit to the boat and trim as needed. your welcome