KatieB
Well Known Member
I may have really done it this time.
I upsized the screw holes in my canopy today, drilling through the fiberglass skirt from #40 hole to #30 using a regular drill bit. Some of the holes chipped. Here is a picture of the worst two. It happened on the sides, where the plexi had the most flexibility.
Since this picture was taken, I cauterized the insides of all the holes and chips with a soldering iron, then deburred them with a piece of flexible 150 grit sandpaper. The canopy is edged along the inside with a strip of .032 aluminum bonded with proseal. The holes will be filled with #4 screws countersunk into the glass skirt and sealed with 3M 5200 flexible marine caulk. My question is, is there anything else I can do to prevent cracks, or am I screwed? Should/can I find a small ball-shaped sanding bit and smooth out the chips even if it creates a dish around the holes?
I should have used Sikaflex! Gaahh!
I upsized the screw holes in my canopy today, drilling through the fiberglass skirt from #40 hole to #30 using a regular drill bit. Some of the holes chipped. Here is a picture of the worst two. It happened on the sides, where the plexi had the most flexibility.
Since this picture was taken, I cauterized the insides of all the holes and chips with a soldering iron, then deburred them with a piece of flexible 150 grit sandpaper. The canopy is edged along the inside with a strip of .032 aluminum bonded with proseal. The holes will be filled with #4 screws countersunk into the glass skirt and sealed with 3M 5200 flexible marine caulk. My question is, is there anything else I can do to prevent cracks, or am I screwed? Should/can I find a small ball-shaped sanding bit and smooth out the chips even if it creates a dish around the holes?
I should have used Sikaflex! Gaahh!
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