Tip-up Canopy Guide

[Taildrgr]

I have seen pictures of a tip-up canopy guide made of delrin that aligns the rear latches as the canopy closes.
Does anyone have a cheap source for small pieces of delrin?
The cheapest I can find is Grainger at $70 for 7/8 x 12 x 12. I would prefer a smaller size if possible. The guide is about 7/8 x 1 x 4 and of course would need 2.

[jim plaster]

Check out composite cutting boards at your local hardware store.

[Taildrgr]

Great idea! Thanks.

[rzbill]

I think there are multiple materials that could be applicable.

Delrin Acetal (as already mentioned)
Nylon (any version)
UHMWPE (the likely material in the kitchen cutting boards suggested above)
PTFE Teflon in high durometer form.

I'm sure there are other solutions too.

I think mine are UHMWPE but not sure since I had all the above materials in the scrap bin at the time.

[Greg Arehart]

Also try a local plastics shop. They often have a scrap bin with cheaper pieces.

Greg

[Don Jones]

Works nice, already made, just install them.

http://www.bullerent.com/CanopyGuide.htm

[bruceh]

I bought a 12" x 12" chunk that is 3/4" thick from McMaster, then just used the table saw to make appropriate sized slices of the material. I've still got a bunch left over, so if you want some of it, let me know and I will get rid of this stuff for shipping & handling charges.

[Taildrgr]

Thanks, Bruce.

PM Sent.

[Rupester]

I used 1/2" thick nylon that I got from one of our A/C suppliers (Spruce, as I recall). The stuff is a BEAR to cut. I about destroyed a friend's bandsaw blade cutting the pieces to the right shape ...the nylon gets sticky as it warms and the blade binds like crazy, heating the nylon up even more. Nevertheless, the finished guides work well.

[bruceh]

Here is the material that I used. Commentary from my web site photos attached.


This is UHMW plastic, 1"X4", 3/4" thick, with the corner cut down.
I cut this material with the table saw, then used sand paper of progressively smaller grit to get this all smoothed out.


You could put these either both on the outer side (as shown here) or both on the inner side of the latch lug. My canopy wants to spread out slightly, so I'm going to mount this on the outer sides. I'll put 2 counter sunk screws through this plastic to mount it to the roll bar. Getting a wrench inside the roll bar to tighten the screws will be impossible, so I plan on making a small plate with nutplates on it to secure this.


The guide block installed on the roll bar. I had to open up the slot for the lower latch lugs just a bit. It is a very tight fit, but with the guide blocks in place the canopy comes down nicely and into closed position smoothly.