Blade with Plexiglass? (HELP)

[anlatas]

Hi, I couldn't find polycarbonate tube anywhere. What happens if I do with plexiglass?

[Kouri]

The blade cracks or shatters with sharp edges if it is hit or dropped.

[Silver Serpent]

Yep. Acrylic (Plexiglass) is not durable enough for sparring. It's fine if you only want a display piece.

[FenixFire]

The blade cracks or shatters with sharp edges if it is hit or dropped.

Yep. Acrylic (Plexiglass) is not durable enough for sparring. It's fine if you only want a display piece.

Actually you two are only partially right. Plexiglass has become a very generic term like Kleenex or Bobcat.

If the plex is labeled as "Lexan" it is PolyCarbonate if it is labeled as "Lucite" it is Acrylic. If not branded, it is most likely acrylic.

[Kouri]

Actually you two are only partially right. Plexiglass has become a very generic term like Kleenex or Bobcat.

If the plex is labeled as "Lexan" it is PolyCarbonate if it is labeled as "Lucite" it is Acrylic. If not branded, it is most likely acrylic.

As someone who works in the sign business and handles these materials daily, no, "plexiglass", while a generic term, is reserved for different acrylic materials (the non-generic brand-name is Plexiglas - note the singular "s", with others such as Acrylite and Lucite). We'd never apply it to any sort of polycarbonate.

[FenixFire]

Perhaps that is true for those of us in the sign or product development industries, but in the general population they do not understand the difference. I know because the company I work for did research for Sabic on brand/product recognition. For general DIY population, they thought Lexan, Lucite, and Plexyglass were all just different manufactures of the same material. For instance walk into your local Ace hardware or Home Depot and ask for Plexiglass you will be directed to the "cheep"or "expensive" plexiglass.

[anlatas]

I wanted to use 2cm (~0.80inch) diameter polycarbonate but there is only 3cm (~1.2inches) diameter here. Should I use 3cm for blade? Or is it too thick?

And should I prefer clear or opaque(white) tube? And is 3w power led okay for blade?

Edit: Also what can I use for the blade's tip? I thought I can use melt glue (hot silicon) but idk. Thanks ^^

[Zacharyah]

3 cm will definitely be too thick to fit in the 1" blade holders unless the wall thickness is sufficient that you could sand or turn down the end of the blade tube to a little under 1"

[Don Se Wion]

If it's the same as here in Italy, you will have hard times finding policarbonate tubes in standard shops.

After a lot of searching we managed to find a small company that is extruding the tubes themselves and produce them in many sizes.
Now this company is producing all the tubes we use at the academy.

I bet if you try searching for a company like this at your home you will find some for sure.

For the blade tip we use acrylic, it's more fragile but it's easier than policarbonate to be machined on the lathe.

[anlatas]

If it's the same as here in Italy, you will have hard times finding policarbonate tubes in standard shops.

After a lot of searching we managed to find a small company that is extruding the tubes themselves and produce them in many sizes.
Now this company is producing all the tubes we use at the academy.

I bet if you try searching for a company like this at your home you will find some for sure.

For the blade tip we use acrylic, it's more fragile but it's easier than policarbonate to be machined on the lathe.

I contacted with some companies but they said they have no 20mm polycarbonate anymore. So I bought white plexyglass, I will try with that ^^ But still I didn't find a way for the tip :/ I welcome your suggestions. I will do my sword today.