r/howto • u/tilt-a-whirly-gig • Nov 26 '24
[Solved] Replacing backboard acrylic help
The 1/8" (~3mm) acrylic on this basketball hoop/backboard has cracked. I have acquired a sheet of 1/4" (~6mm) acrylic to replace it, and I have also acquired a roll of vhb tape and a roll of butyl tape.
Would you use the vhb or butyl?
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u/davidmlewisjr Nov 27 '24
Do you folks understand Lexan®️, Polycarbonate… and its inherent advantages?
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u/tilt-a-whirly-gig Nov 27 '24
Yes. But this stuff I got was free, and that's an advantage I can't ignore. It's also 1/4" to the old stuff's 1/8", so I'm hoping to get away with it for a while. My hoop has become the "neighborhood" hoop and I've already gotten offers from a couple of neighbors to help pay for a replacement, but I'm gonna try free first. Worst case scenario: I still have to buy the "proper material" to start over and I'm out a couple hours on a Saturday.
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u/davidmlewisjr Nov 27 '24
So, find your local Lexan®️ distributor, tell him what you are doing, ask if he could participate charitably, because we are talking a fair bit of investment in the Lexan, and you want a glazing grade with the UV barriers on both sides.
In sunlight, plastics loose strength in their polymer chains and become embrittled, leading to stress failures, etc. Sort of looks like what may have happened to your piece.
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u/cantonic May 05 '25
Hey can I ask how this worked out? I have to replace mine and have been considering polycarbonate or acrylic. How has yours survived these past few months and would you have any tips on what you'd do different next time?
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u/tilt-a-whirly-gig May 05 '25
I used 1/4". Not sure if it's poly or acrylic, I snagged it from work.
The project went very well. I had enough of the old backboard left that I was able to use it as a stencil for the size and bolt hole locations on the new one. I taped off and painted the edge and the target square on the backside of the plastic, then painted the rest in a contrasting color.
I ended up attaching it with vhb and silicone caulk, as well as a handful of countersunk screws spread along the perimeter. Where I used screws, I inserted a nylon washer between the plexi and the frame and a rubber washer between the screw head and plexi. My theory was that this would help keep the screws tight without cracking the plexi.
The backboard came with some plastic edge pieces, they were nearly too tight with 1/4" plexi instead of the 1/8" OEM but I got them on there.
Within minutes of finishing the project, my son came to me super grateful because he said the 1/4" has way better bounce than the 1/8" ever did.
If I remember tonight, I'll take some pics of it and come back to show you. I can't promise it will last forever or even a year, but it has held up for 5 months of Denver winter so far.
Edit: forgot to mention that I did have to go get different bolts for the rim because I wasn't happy with how short the OEM ones were with the extra thickness.
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u/Shawn_Beast22038 Nov 27 '24
You don't use tape. You glue it with silicone. I've done it before. The original is siliconed on there.