DanielLikesPlants OP t1_ixrrpp7 wrote on November 25, 2022 at 8:38 PM

Reply to comment by DotAccomplished5484 in Can i replace my broken glass counter top with polycarbonate? by DanielLikesPlants

is there a film i could put on it?

thblackdeth t1_ixrsvo2 wrote on November 25, 2022 at 8:46 PM

Not really, films are also plastic and scratch easy.

But it isn't hard to polish scratched plastic (does require elbow grease). there are polishing kits.

If you wanted a harder surface, a two part epoxy may do the job, but epoxy is expensive and hard to work with.

I'd just use the plexiglass and if it scratches, who cares

zoinkability t1_ixsy11v wrote on November 26, 2022 at 2:23 AM

I wonder if — ad long as the edges were covered — a thin piece of glass glued to (or just laid on top of) the polycarbonate would work. The glass could provide the scratch protection and the polycarbonate could provide the strength. Or is there something I’m missing?

thblackdeth t1_ixtb3t8 wrote on November 26, 2022 at 4:24 AM

It could work for sure, but I see two tricky parts. Strength wise, since the plastic is less rigid, you have to be careful the glass doesn't crack. The polycarb top of the table will deflect more easily than the same thickness of glass. I think really thin glass helps with this, think screen protector for a phone.

The cosmetically difficult part is gluing them together. It's tricky to get a perfect bond over the whole surface of the glass with no air bubbles, voids, or dirt.

Artisan_sailor t1_ixvenoi wrote on November 26, 2022 at 5:59 PM

Temperature changes. The two materials will expand and contract at different rates, which may be fine or may not. The glass may "spontaneously" break at the slightest touch because it's stetched.