Glazing panel doors

I'm proposing to replace a couple of small plywood doors (serving hatch) with framed glazed doors. I intend to make the frame from softwood and glaze the door with 3mm perspex. I'll cut a groove in the wood using a router and then stick the mitred frame together around the perspex panel. So to the question - is it better to just cut a 3mm channel and not bother with glazing silicone, or should it be a (say) 4mm channel and mount the perspex with some glazing silicone? I've not made something like this before, glazed lots of glass windows, etc but no experience with Perspex which I'll use for reasons of safety, cost and weight.

John M

Don't use Perspex, maybe polycarbonate, but to me I'd want to make it so its easy to get the transparent part out for when it cracks, as they usually do either by human error or age. Brian

Don't see any need for any "goo" if it is a snug fit. I like polycarbonate too but assuming it is out of direct sunlight (and since it should not see mechanical abuse) I reckon perspex would be OK as well.

Sorry, I should have realised that my loose terminology would be picked up. I do intend to use Polycarbonate, but the question still stands. The doors won't be in direct sunlight and shouldn't be subject to abuse John M

Perspex will scratch all too readily. Would the weight of toughened glass really matter?