MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I had a lexan lip break last night when my lure crashed against the rocks..... MY FAULT for fishing in pitch dark... Plus Im rusty with my casting lately.. haven't been on the lake much.. Now I dont know if I cut out a old picece of plexy glass thinkin it was lexan.. but Im about 95 percent sure it was Lexan!! I have tried to break this crap in the past with pliers.. all I ever do is bend it... ANY THOUGHTS!!! Good news is.. I just drilled out the old lip and put a new one in today! Is lexan unbreakable? I always thought it was the best you could put on your baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 (edited) I guess , that it must be that 5% of your uncertainity , though I am not sure about wether Lexan may go through a process of "aging" under certain circumstances(long exposure to sunlight or contact with solvents or chemicals or similar) , that may render it breakable:? . Many years ago I have made some three larger lures with Plexiglass lips from scrap(didn't know it better back then) , one accidentally slipped from my hand and fell tail first on the floor , the impact shock was enough to crack off the lip like laser-cut around the belly curve ! Thought , that the lip was damaged before , so I dropped a second lure intentionally the same way , and it happened again ! After I cut out all the three lips on my routing machine and replaced them with aluminium ones . Good Luck , diemai Edited August 5, 2008 by diemai addition of text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 You obviously need to know for sure what the problem was. Because lexan and plexiglass are different materials, then a scratch comparison test with a sharpened nail should give you the answer, if you compare with a known piece of lexan and plexiglass. I don't have any myself, or I would do the test to confirm a difference. Also, closely examine the broken edge. Is the break clean? If rings are visible, this would indicate a flaw in the material, at the centre of the rings. Does anyone know of another method of telling plexiglass from lexan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazmail Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Stick it in some hot oil @ 165C, and if it bends and is still clear, it's Polycarbonate. pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 we use lexan only. it will occasionally break. cold water and rocks will shatter lexan. its still far superior compared to plastics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rofish Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Rookie, Here is the simplest test you can do. Put acetone, or thinner containing acetone on the remaining lip. If the acetone melts the lip, you will know it is plexi. If acetone whitens the lip, it is Lexan. Better put a piece of the lip in acetone, because it takes some time for you to see the result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spare tire Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I can put a 90 degree bend in the stuff without heating and not have it break. I'm thinking yours was plexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lure--Prof Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I can put a 90 degree bend in the stuff without heating and not have it break.I'm thinking yours was plexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lure--Prof Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Stick it in some hot oil @ 165C, and if it bends and is still clear, it's Polycarbonate. pete We don't let Tater near boiling oil since that incident with a Turkey fryer last Thanksgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike-A-Pike Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I was surprised at how many different grades of polycarbonate there are. This is a list of compounds that can damage polycarbonate: Acetone Acrylonitrile Ammonia Amyl acetate Benzene Bromine Butyl acetate Sodium hydroxide Chloroform Dimethylformamide Concentrated hydrochloric acid Concentrated hydrofluoric acid Iodine Methanol Methyl ethyl ketone Styrene Tetrachloroethylene Toluene Concentrated sulfuric acid Xylene Cyanoacrylate monomers At temperatures above 60 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Well here is something to think about, Do not know what kind of clearcoat you are using, but I can tell you that if you are using a moisture cure urethane or an epoxy that is thinned you may get a reaction with the lexan weakening the lexan and making it more susceptible to breakage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizza Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 I had my first lexan lip break a few weeks ago. Felt a sudden big tug then nothing. Reeled my lure in (bass crank about 1/4 oz - lexan was 1/16") and the lip was gone. It breaks, just like Rapala lips do! A sudden strong impact would most likely do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Man , if I read all this , I think , I'd better stay with my aluminium lips(though they don't look as good) . Always thought , that Lexan was the ultimate material:huh: ! Greetz , diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palmetto Balsa Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Polycarbonate is what bulletproof glass is made of. It is strong stuff. Just don't slap your baits on the water (100+ mph impact), don't hit the motor when casting, and don't throw them onto the rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted August 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 Guys Im more sure its LEXAN now!!! It was solid hit... David is right.. I SMACK THE ROCKS HARD!! I was more happy my bait didnt have any chips or marks on the lure!!! IM GIVING THIS BAIT TO DEAN ANYWAY!!!! LOL!!.. .The lip was a easy fix.. Yall know Im not chemist! Im buying LEXAN with WHITE AND ORANGE Plastic sheet BACKING!! What grade is WHITE AND ORANGE!!! Do they have a BLACK AND BLUE GRADE!!! White and Orange sounded sissy right from the START!!! It was a CLEAN BREAK VOKAMAN!! LOOKed LIKE A SNAP!! I guess I will take a picture if this happens again!!! I already replaced it and its good to go back to the water... ITS all MIKEY's FAULT!! He turned on his dam Radio BUCKET right when I was castin! Yall have to see this new thing my boy Mikey invented. REMEMBER THE TRUCK LURE!! YEP SAME GUY!!!! He put a freakin Car RADIO into a 5 gallon bucket!!! I SWEAR I DONT MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!! The crazy thing is.. He wants me to sell it on ebay!!! and I actually think someone will buy it!!! He said "you can take it anywhere!!! GOLFING... FISHING... HUNTING.. well wait a min.. nope huntin might not be that great of idea Matt!! etc etc...!!! " And it has this neat handle!!! Those were his exact words!! I will post a picture of it SOON!! WORDS JUST CANT EXPLAIN MIKEY's RADIO BUCKET!! or the boys MIND!!! We got to get Mikey a REALITY SHOW!!!! Remember that movie ED TV!!! MIKEY WOULD BE PERFECT!!! Thanks for the help on the LEXAN DEAL!!! BLACKJACK MIGHT BE RIGHT!!! because the break was near the end where the glue and clear coat would contact the lip just outside of the slot! Maybe the chemicals made the lip weak!!! but I did hit the rocks HARD!! I think it was a perfect hit too!! At least were not talking about EPOXY!!!! OR DN!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellure Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Lexan is strong, however it will break/snap when it meets a rock with a direct shot. Have had it happen a couple times when chunking near riprap. See it all the time with repairs. The beauty in breaking one is having the skill and knowledge to repair it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 (edited) There are different grades of Polycarbonate aka. Lexan. For each lesser grade there are impurities mixed in with it. The purest is used for bullet proof glass. A 1/16" thick 1ftX1ft piece is $80 plus. If you buy cheap polycarbonate then you get alot of impurities mixed with it. In 7 years of making baits I have never had a lip break. I have only had 1 lip come loose in the slot due to a rock hit. Do your homework and get the best grade that you can afford. Skeeter Edited August 7, 2008 by Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted August 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 HEY SKEETER I WILL PAY FOR THE 1/16 thick Lexan your taking about if you have the guts to stand behind it while I shoot!!! "Are you sure its bullet proof!":D:D:D:D What's the last thing a redneck says before he dies!!! "HEY YALL WATCH THIS!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.dsaavedra. Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 don't have much input on the subject (never made a lipped bait) but i casted a lucky craft pointer and it hit a dock and the lip broke clean off sent it back to lucky craft and they gave me a new one though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 You would think they would have replaced the whole lure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lure--Prof Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 Lexan is strong, however it will break/snap when it meets a rock with a direct shot. Have had it happen a couple times when chunking near riprap. See it all the time with repairs. The beauty in breaking one is having the skill and knowledge to repair it. Yes, and if I know The_Rook, it was probably about a 400 yard cast that would have left a crater had it landed on soil instead of a rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Bullet proof polycarbonate that is used is 1 1/2 thick. However, they make it thinner. Not that it will stop a bullet, but it is almost pure polycarbonate. It definitely won't break. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny.Barile Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 I have tried ABS, PVC, and Acrylic Plexi-glass, but am now using lexan because everything else breaks to easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesehead Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 we use .250 polycarb as vat covers and have it break quite frequently. It is my opinion that it is just like Taters ego... abuse it enough and it will break:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Hey CHEESE!! NICE ONE!!!! dont know what I did to you to make you say that.. but it was funny even at my expense. If you cant laugh at yourself who can you laugh at!! Skeeter I was just cuttin up with you... I hope you took it that way.. Thanks for making me aware of bulletproof Lexan.. I only posted this thread because I was suprized.. .. You learn something new everyday.. and I still have alot to learn.. The Rookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
