Speedo Dash Riser?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20653
Printed Date: November-20-2024 at 6:39am
Topic: Speedo Dash Riser?
Posted By: Keeganino
Subject: Speedo Dash Riser?
Date Posted: February-15-2011 at 11:40pm
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Below is a picture of my Skier dash pre restoration showing the Airguide speedo up on the plexiglass riser.(If that is the correct term) I hope this one did not come from the factory because it is hand made and pretty rough. While usable, I opted not to put it back in until I can make/buy something better. Well that has been on the back burner because my stabilizer tube got water in it and split, but I just ordered a new one.
I ordered a small sheet of plexiglass and have a decent template to go from with the old one but have a few questions for the materials experts out there before I ruin the stuff. In my limited experience this stuff is pretty hard to cut. Seems like a toothless metal cutting blade would work better than a wood cut blade? I watched a youtube where this guy says to use your hole saw with the drill in reverse so you grind your way through. Any ideas on that? Cheers and Thanks!  ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Replies:
Posted By: MAN - GA
Date Posted: February-15-2011 at 11:51pm
| I did a kid project with plexiglass sheet purchased from Home Depot and used a router to cut the shape and then used a drum sander to smooth it all out and roll the edges by hand - just make sure you leave the protective film in place when cutting sanding as much as possible to protect from scratches. I don't expect this to be expert advice, but it worked for me and came out pretty good |
Posted By: DrCC
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 12:21am
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Just go slow! You can buy sabre saw blades for plastic. And go slow, if you get the blade hot the plastic will fuse back together behind the blade.
For hole saws, just click the drill trigger, let it set for a few seconds, click, let cool, click, let cool etc... Just go slow, and you'll be just fine. I like Lexan it doesn't crack like Plexi. |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 12:27am
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Keegan talk to Marty too,I seem to remember him telling me how they "polish" the edge with a flame after you have it cut out. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 9:01am
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I've had good luck with a 10"-200 tooth blade on the table saw, and a drill press would make the hole cutting much easier. If you have to use hand tools, make sure to clamp the material well, and as mentioned, go slow. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 11:03am
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Keegan,
If you haven't flame polished before, try it on your scrap first. It can be tricky to get the heat (dwell) correct on the edge. You also take a chance of goofing up the surface. Another way to do it that's safer is with a buffing wheel on a bench grinder. I did mine that way for the Tique. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 11:45am
Keegan, if its not too late, you may want to consider ordering black lexan/plexi instead? It was pretty common for Skiers to ship from the factory without a speedo, so it wouldnt surprise me if your mount wasnt original. Ive seen a few Skiers with the Ski Tique style mount- so you may want to consider emulating that for yours?
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Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 4:01pm
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Thanks for all the tips. I have not started yet as I dont have the materials in hand. Will update as I make progress. ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 4:24pm
Tim, When the one broke on my Tique, I went shopping for black polycarbonate. Not wanting to buy a 4x8 sheet, I ended up at good old McMaster but, they didn't have it!!!  They only have it in translucent bronze and gray. I ended up getting black acrylic (plexi) from them!!!
BTW, polycarbonate (Lexan) will not flame polish. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
TRBenj wrote:Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 4:27pm
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Wow, if Mcmaster didnt have it, it must not exist! I assume lexan = polycarbonate?
Alternatively, can you paint it? ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 4:39pm
Yes, they didn't have the Lexan polycarbonate in black. I wouldn't try painting it (lexan) ether even with one of the paints for plastics. The stuff is very solvent resistant so the solvent in the paint won't get a good "bite". BTW, McMaster not having the Lexan in black was only the second time in all the years that I couldn't find something they didn't have. The other was a left hand 1/4" NPT pipe plug! It's a very specialized piece used only on refrigeration pressure regulators. It was when I was putting the CO2 tank for the air horn on the X55. BTW, the original tank still has CO2 in it after 2 years!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: February-16-2011 at 6:22pm
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Ebay is pretty amazing. I already have a bid in for a sheet of plexi but they have black lexan. If I win the bid for the plexi and buy the lexan I am going to have one expensive dash riser.
We use lexan "Nalgeen" bottles for backpacking. Way more durable than plexi http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110373746827&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT - Lexan on Ebay ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: March-15-2011 at 12:46am
So I ended up winning plexiglass at a cheap price. Got enough to make 2 in case I screwed up the first attempt but it went pretty well so hopefully this one will go in the boat next week. I was warned and it is true you have to cut this stuff real slow or else it melts back together behind the blade. Experienced that first hand but not a big deal.
 ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: connorssons
Date Posted: March-15-2011 at 12:51am
Hay! Kegan, make me one for the sep looks good. 
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