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Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 16:24
by Henrife
Help!
We bought some thermo screens for our 1985 Westfalia Joker last summer, and have noticed ring marks and crazing on the inside windows. Has anyone else experienced this and can you help advise as what to do? I guess replacing them in the obvious answer but that is going to be costly. Bought from JK who have asked for photos, but have never heard of this happening before. Hope someone can help...
Thanks
Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 17:19
by pedro
I have small cracks where the suckers from the thermo mats are pressed against the windows. It's down to me being heavy handed really. I've removed the double glazed windows and replaced them with solid glass for now. I may go back to the double glazed units one day. It looks easy enough to split them, and then cut some polycarbonate sheet to size and put them back together.
Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 17:25
by Ian Hulley
Ahhh, the tribulations of westfailure ownership
Ian

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 17:43
by pedro
Ian Hulley wrote:Ahhh, the tribulations of westfailure ownership
Ian


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Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 19:18
by Henrife
pedro wrote:I have small cracks where the suckers from the thermo mats are pressed against the windows. It's down to me being heavy handed really. I've removed the double glazed windows and replaced them with solid glass for now. I may go back to the double glazed units one day. It looks easy enough to split them, and then cut some polycarbonate sheet to size and put them back together.
Blimey, that doesn't sound easy to me! Sounds like a right faff...I'm not much of a DIY'er!
Anyway I'm gutted about my windows. Have only had the van since June 2010 and now I'm looking at shelling out loads on new windows. My van is a good one and I'm concerned that I have affected its value and spoilt what was a very authentic, pretty much untouched van.
I'm not so sure it's down to you being heavy handed though...I know that certain plastics react with acrylic and especially when they are exposed to sunlight/heat. We were so careful with ours and have only applied the lightest of pressure.
Anyway thanks for replying and I hope you get yours sorted!
Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 19:25
by kevtherev
Why do you need thermo mats on Double glazing... seems a bit like over kill.
well I guess you have affected it's value and I expect by fitting nice new original westy double glazed windows the selling price of your van will plummet.
I suppose owning a 25 year old van has it's ups and downs, but we all live and learn eh?
chin up

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 19:54
by pedro
kevtherev wrote:Why do you need thermo mats on Double glazing... seems a bit like over kill.
Keeps the van cool in the summer and warm in the winter innit.
My van is a Mosaic panelvan conversion. I'm not too precious about originality

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Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 19:58
by Ian Hulley
pedro wrote: I'm not too precious about originality

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Be gone Beelzebub
Ian

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 20:16
by jed the spread
I must say I havn't noticed on mine. I dont use them much now though only on the back windows to stop people seeing whats in the back or of I want the van to stay dark if I want a lay in. Its nice that I dont get all that wet though between the window and the thermal mat these days making the end of the duvet wet from condensation dripping off the windows
jed
Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 21:43
by Henrife
jed the spread wrote:I must say I havn't noticed on mine. I dont use them much now though only on the back windows to stop people seeing whats in the back or of I want the van to stay dark if I want a lay in. Its nice that I dont get all that wet though between the window and the thermal mat these days making the end of the duvet wet from condensation dripping off the windows
jed
Hi Jed, well I guess I'm unlucky and maybe I have over egged things with the need for thermal screens, but being a bit of a novice in this world of T25 ownership, I thought I was doing the right thing... and just wanted to be super cozy and quiet on cold summer nights/cooler on hot ones.
I don't think I 'll be using mine anymore and that wet thing doesn't sound too good either so best avoided!
Love your video on wild camping. Love camping as wild as we can get...and a fire just really makes it. Find it hard to go without one these days! Our van not a syncro tho so we are restricted- yours is very cool. Thanks for your input and have signed up to your blog
H

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 30 Jan 2012, 23:18
by dansimpson
Too much worry about a little problem.
Just camp and enjoy

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 31 Jan 2012, 07:30
by kevtherev
When you buy an investment you can't do that Dan.
Maintaining the originality and the ability to have the bragging rights to those who are interested is more important than it's use to some.
I remember Martin added a customised California sticker to his westy, and was scorned by these people, yet the van won numerous shows in it's class.
I have double glazed windows at home......

Re: Crazing on acrylic double glazed windows
Posted: 31 Jan 2012, 10:01
by pedro
Ian Hulley wrote:pedro wrote: I'm not too precious about originality

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Be gone Beelzebub
Ian


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