Weld on 4 is a water thin solvent and the strongest of all the glue/solvents you mention....it requires a perfectly smooth routed edge to work best....Could someone tell me the difference between Weld-On 4, Weld-on 16, and Weld-on 40? I have been reading a few things on the web about building acrylic tanks and some of them say to use the 4 and some of them say to use the 40 and one of them said to use the 4 and then use the 16 to fill any gaps that were left after using the 4. I'm assuming that the higher the number the thicker the solvent? Is one better that another?
After some practice I was considering trying to build my own tank (96x 48 wide x 30 tall). I've never made my own tank before, but I'm pretty handy. I'm a technology teacher, so I have access to a wide range of tools/machines. Any suggestions or should I not even attempt to do this?
Thanks for any info
Jason
IMO you're making it too hard, you can make the baffles whatever height you choose provided it serves your purposes. Just add them and it's done.This was posted in a separate thread but got no response. Maybe I'll do better here
I originally planned to build an acrylic sump from scratch but I got a killer deal on a Sea Clear 55 acrylic aquarium for 50 bucks. Now I'm backtracking on the design.
The plan right now is to add dividers and a fuge to this tank to go under my 125 long AGA build. I need some advice on how to add the dividers to an existing tank. I think the difficulty is that my original plan was to add the dividers during assembly by cementing them to the back before the front was cemented on. Having the tank assembled might make this a little trickier because there won't be any room for pins and such during the assembly. Also, the tolerances will be more difficult since the ends and dividers won't be cut at the same time.
The tank dimensions are 20" High X 13" Deep X 48 long. It will fit under the stand which has 31" between the floor and the top so that gives me 11" to spare.
There is 5" of material on the ends to plumb the returns with bulkheads. Also, is the center brace needed since I am going to add dividers? I am thinking that the dividers should keep the tank from bowing out.
Here is a sketchup export of the plans for the guts. Can I make the baffles and fuge section taller? This tank is taller than the one I was designing to build from scratch. Would it be better to cut the top off of it or am I making it too hard?
While it's possible he used long surgical tube, he was more than likely playin' with ya ChrisDattack,
I assume you are talking about the divided flat panels about an inch thick? I asked a CPR rep years ago how the heck they welded 2 seams where you couldnt get your hand or the bottle into. He grinned and said "A really long needle". Makes perfect sense. Possibly mcmaster has some really fine gauge tubing.
LOL, that's the way I see extruded, glues so easily, could damn near glue the stuff with just vaporsPlus their material is only about 1/16" You could just show it the bottle of solvent and it'd be glued![]()
Yep, it'll be fineI have a question about 1/2" acylite ff (extruded). I picked up some for cheap and have heard it's a no-no to build a tank with it (after the fact). Will it be okay to build 36" x 18" x 16" (40 breader) with it? What about a 48" x 18" x 16"? Both braced.
framschwaa,
...
1" Polycast would be good, it'll bow a little (and I mean just a little) but will do nicely.
HTH,
James
Give it a shot. I use a router table but still spin 1 1/2" cutters at 21,000 all day long so perfectly safe, just not many folks are exactly comfy with it.I mentioned we machined thermoplastics, but our specialty is in polyesters and the like. It's amazing though the speeds at which can run this stuff at. I'll definitely keep that in mind. I know our large bed routers will go well upwards of 20k, but I'm not sure about spinning a 1-1/2 router bit that high. I'm thinking I'd get some looks from the guys......seems safer for some reason run in a router table as you seem to do. Might just have to find out anyways :rollface:
Hmm, *I* won't use anything for tanks other than Polycast, but then my price difference isn't nearly that high - maybe a buck or two per sq ft difference. You can use Plex G, many companies will and do and I don't have a problem with that - it's good material. Just that for me, I'll happily pay the minor difference for a better material. If the difference was $6/sq ft as yours is, I might think differently.Back to the Polycast though. Is it that much "nicer" than Plexiglas G? I have a quote here with a $200 price difference on 1" x 4' x 8' from two of our vendors--one carries the Polycast, the other G.
Hmm, I guess I do not follow, what supporting braces? do you have a drawing of such?The other sides are not visible so we think about using 25mm ,1", for these windows and eventualy place braces in the middle. These supporting braces, are they best put verically or horizontal? or both?
Correct, and glued well to the adjacent side.For the top euro-brace we want to put the braces on the inside, not on top, because we can not turn the tank to seal them. As they are used against bowing of the pane, must they come in the corners?
I would recommend at least on more crossbrace if possible. I don't like the idea of a 4" crossbrace for a tank this size, 6-8" is best.We would use 4"w 1" thick acryl for the top bracing. the big centerbrace will be 8" w and the other 4".
no problemFor the bottom we think using 20mm +- 3/4"thick acryl pane. The bottom comes on a 1 1/2" thick multiplex sufficiantely supported.
Depends entirely on how well you can machine your parts and how good the edge preparation is. If you do a good job, either is fine.On the website of plexi-glas ( Evonics) they say we have to use a 2 component solvent to make the seams. In this thread other solvents are used.
hello i got my hands of a few good sized peices of 1.5 in spartech the tank i want to build is 68"x48"x24"high with a 4" 1.25 euro brace do you foresee any problems? gonna be gluing with wo#4 have built a couple small thing but nothing this size and suggestions for me?
thanks in advance