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?
![upload_-1.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-AAt3yZq9rk4%2FVhA_RuNES2I%2FAAAAAAAAY30%2Fyd8o99q7m8Q%2Fs800-Ic42%2Fupload_-1.jpg&hash=f19b1fbe300098e673c45ab5cbb94b0b)
I should have used Sikaflex! Gaahh!
Last edited: