How do I plexiglass a banister or make a barrier for babyproofing or Child safety ?

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Keep in mind plexiglass you find in hardware stores are generally low quality . The thickness of plexiglass I prefer for bannisters is one eigth . Less than that cracks easily . Now how to layout you plexiglass is going to have to be your problem . I can't explain how without seeing it . Like I said before make sure you toddler can't climb or slip through it . Generally the ends allways extend past with nothing to support them . This is unaceptable . I have heard of other baby proofing companies drilling holes in the ends and using nylon ties to secure them . All I have to say is thats not a good practice and can cause other dangers . I have learned how to work with acrylic glue and make special pieces for my ends and my splices .

So why the tools I use ?

I'll go in order . First cutting acrylic . Some people score and break it . They do that by using a special scoring tool you can buy at the hardware . Scratch a line . Only one and then place it on a round object such as a broom handle and crack it . There is too much room for error in my mind and who wants to destroy a perfectly good sheet of acrylic ? I use a saw with a panel blade . Since I do a lot of this I have an advantage of owning a table saw and a panel saw . Most acrylic shops will cut it for you for a small charge . Next would be making any small cuts such as for floor molding . You need a saber saw for that with a medium toothed blade . Be careful and go slow you can break your piece easy with the saber saw . Keep the piece firm from vibration as much as possible . Now you need to round your edges with the planer and the file for the corner . Last thing to do is drill your holes and mount your piece . This is what the wood is for . Lay the part of your acrylic sheet to be drilled on the wood . Set your drill moter clutch low usually 3 or 4 so it will slip rather than crack your sheet as you drill . Space your holes in such a manner that the sheet has no give to it Us nylon straps to attach it . Usually found in the electrical department or where mechanical ductwork is sold . A note about the ties don't get them too big or too small for the job . You want them strong enough to do the job. I use 50 pound strength ties . If they are to big then they will be too stiff to fit correctly . Thats it . Sounds easy ? Its not . This is a lot of work .

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D&M toddler safety , inc . Of Michigan

248-624-7877

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Our main business is in home baby proofing . So if your looking for a baby proofer in Michigan or Northern Ohio please keep us in mind . We service both western and eastern Michigan .

We install plexiglass on banisters and we use it for other child safety issues as well !!!