Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > DIY

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-21-2017, 03:00 AM
Cujo#31's Avatar
Cujo#31 Cujo#31 is offline
Proofed by Wheelman
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 204
Cujo#31 is on a distinguished road
Default Acrylic....little help??

Is there ANYONE that actually knows how to do acrylic? I have taken the advice of many "experts lately with the same disappointing results. No matter how I prep my edges I'm getting crazing in my welds. Cutting the project apart for the second time tomorrow. It's thick acrylic, 1" sides and 1 1/4"front and back.
__________________
Cheers
Gary
604-319-0317
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-21-2017, 01:25 PM
Myka's Avatar
Myka Myka is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saskatoon, SK.
Posts: 11,268
Myka will become famous soon enough
Default

I haven't had that issue, not sure what you're doing wrong. Which solvent are you using?
__________________
~ Mindy

SPS fanatic.

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-21-2017, 03:23 PM
dino dino is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: chilliwack
Posts: 330
dino is on a distinguished road
Default

I used to work with it on occasion making helicopter windscreens. I believe crazing is normally caused by stress or overheating. maybe its something to do with the solvent? I know its really important to have flat surfaces. doubt that helps lol
__________________
150 gallon reef mostly softies/lps. 50 gal sump with bubble magnus skimmer/ Led fuge light/refugium/ 1200 return and tunze powerheads. Dual pharoah main tank led.4 pump dosser.
550 gallon stingray tank water drip system
150 bowfront. 75 turtle tank, many others
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-21-2017, 03:50 PM
Cujo#31's Avatar
Cujo#31 Cujo#31 is offline
Proofed by Wheelman
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 204
Cujo#31 is on a distinguished road
Default

Using weld on 40 so not exactly sure. I might try weld on 4 and see if I get different results. Gotta say...acrylic has a STEEP learning curve.
__________________
Cheers
Gary
604-319-0317
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-21-2017, 04:39 PM
The Codfather's Avatar
The Codfather The Codfather is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 796
The Codfather is on a distinguished road
Default

Do you have some details?
I worked with acrylic for a couple years, made a lot of sumps and overflows.
I used weld on #4 for just about everything.
Let me know what you are building and Ill try to help.
The only time I used #40 was to bond acrylic to pvc.
__________________
There's plenty of room for all God's creatures.
Right next to the mashed potatoes.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-21-2017, 05:52 PM
Delphinus's Avatar
Delphinus Delphinus is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Calgary
Posts: 12,896
Delphinus has a spectacular aura aboutDelphinus has a spectacular aura aboutDelphinus has a spectacular aura about
Send a message via MSN to Delphinus
Default

Weldon 40 is nice to work with because it's thick and not runny but it's not easy to make clean welds with it.

Something runnier like #4 is probably your better bet for super clean joins, but it's much harder to work with (at least I think so). I think you get your pieces placed together first and applied with pressure, then you take a needle bottle thing and follow it along and the weldon wicks into the join area.
__________________
-- Tony
My next hobby will be flooding my basement while repeatedly banging my head against a brick wall and tearing up $100 bills. Whee!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-21-2017, 07:13 PM
WarDog's Avatar
WarDog WarDog is offline
Darth Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC
Posts: 3,106
WarDog will become famous soon enough
Default

Stick to glass. Hope that helps. Lol.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-21-2017, 08:20 PM
sphelps's Avatar
sphelps sphelps is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lyalta, East of Calgary
Posts: 4,777
sphelps is on a distinguished road
Default

For cast acrylic use #4, for extruded use #3. Given the thickness I would assume its cast. 40 is almost totally useless IMO, only good for filling gaps which in reality you should never have. I doubt any tank manufacturer uses 40 or something of the like. Also I'd argue using #4 is significantly easier than 40 provided your edges are prepared properly.

You need to use a router or jointer (edge planer) to finish the edges and make them flat prior to gluing/welding and use a syringe with metal tip to apply the solvent. I remember seeing a good post somewhere with someone using a good technique for bubble free seems with thick acrylic. Basically used pins as spacers then flooded the joint with solvent and removed the pins. Personally I've always just balanced the acrylic panel in place and used the syringe with good success but I rarely worked with anything thicker than 3/8".
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.