Acrylic fabrication questions? I can help!

[Blown76mav]

YES!!!!!!! Thanks

 

[Pufferlips]

Almost done with cube tank... question... do I need teeth cut into the over flow? Hope not... I was tired and welded it in before realized it. (oops)

 

[Acrylics]

Would your contact happen to be at tap plastics? I was probably going to order from them, I've gotten a few things from them before and I was very pleased, unless your buddy is somewhere else. I wouldn't mind swinging business his way.

No, much better quality than TAP could ever hope for without the retail price, so when you're ready..

Almost done with cube tank... question... do I need teeth cut into the over flow? Hope not... I was tired and welded it in before realized it. (oops)

Some folks do teeth, some just a single slot - personal choice

James

 

[kyrin01]

Repairing a CPR bakpak Overflow???

Repairing a CPR bakpak Overflow???

So i was given a lot of equipment from my brother who is shipping off for Basic in 3 weeks. In the box i found a CPR bakpak overflow. In the Acrylic bottom where the bulkhead goes there is a TINY crack like maybe an 1/8th inch long. I hooked it up to a pre existing tank to see how bad the leak was and it had one drop trickle down the pipe like every 8 minutes or so, so its not bad. Is there a way to repair the Crack so it doesnt spread and to remake it water tight? Its practically new and doesnt even have any corraline on it. I would hate to throw it out because of this tiny crack. The Bulkhead completely covers the crack by a good 3/4 inch also.

Acrylic experts? What would YOU do?

 

[spleify]

You could try puting some Weldon # 3 or #4 on it and see if you can seal the crack back up. Is there any way of getting to the inside of it? If so, do the inside and the out with a little WO.

HTH

Good luck

 

[kvmn]

how do you rout acrylic? start from left to right or otherway around,,?
also when you apply weldon4 do you apply it from insize panal or out side panal?

iam sure maybe some where in this thead have my answer but its too long to read all and it properly take me a month to read all this,,,bad english here

 

[spleify]

Nope, sorry your going to need to read everything......

My router turns clockwise(when it is on the material ready to go into action) I work left to right. Wheter this is correct or not.....I don't know, but it has worked for me.

When I am cutting on the table the same holds true, but I push it through, the router for me is still spinning clockwise.

Lets wait and see what James has to say, as he is with out a doubt the master!!

 

[kvmn]

i saw this clip from and its does answer some of my question here you go
Marc Levenson Acrylic Demonstration at MACNA XXI

 

[kvmn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BlN4wAKQ4w

 

[Blown76mav]

Routers when put in a router table spin counter clockwise and you work from right to left. Put your finger on top of the bit to check Just kidding don't do that.

You want to use at least a 3 flute spiral router bit for acrylic.

As far as applying Weld-On 3 or 4 you can do it from either side, which ever is easier. If you do it from the outside you can router off the excess bumps and really make it look nice.

 

[spleify]

Routers when put in a router table spin counter clockwise

This would depend on which way you are feeding from, correct?

 

[Blown76mav]

This would depend on which way you are feeding from, correct?

In a router table the router is upside down, it won't matter which way you feed the material it still spins counter clockwise, you can stand on either side of the table and it still spins counter clockwise, when you hold the router right side up it spins clockwise. You feed left to right when using a table as to feed the material into the turning motion of the router bit, if you went right to left the bit would pull the material out of your hand.

I miss-stated earlier feed left to right, you feed right to left on a table, sorry.

 

[Blown76mav]

Look at this picture, I turned off the router to get pic and walked around to the front side. I'm feeding the piece of acrylic into the router bit, right to left. Or you could feed it away from you on the left side of the bit if you wanted. I work with the piece of acrylic between me and the router bit. I hope this helps clear up any miss understandings.

 

[Acrylics]

how do you rout acrylic? start from left to right or otherway around,,?
also when you apply weldon4 do you apply it from insize panal or out side panal?

iam sure maybe some where in this thead have my answer but its too long to read all and it properly take me a month to read all this,,,bad english here

If possible, I would highly recommend getting someone with experience to show you a little bit. Routers are very efficient at remove flesh from humans so IMO getting some hands-on training, even if informal, will be beneficial. Whether left-to-right or right-to-left depends on what you are doing IME, there are times when it's very beneficial to do things one way over the other

As a standard though, I stand feeding the work forward with the router on the right side of the work. But many people have different ways and can achieve good results with whatever way they're most comfortable.

Look in my gallery, should be some pics in there showing one of my router set-ups.

As for gluing, I always glue from the outside, that solvent bottle never sees the inside of a display tank - one drop inside a display area and I'm starting over. Gluing baffles into a sump is different, not nearly as critical and you have no choice but to glue from the inside

HTH,
James

 

[spleify]

Blown76, I think like James said. It will matter which side you are feeding from, and what side your fence is on. So you can cut with the machine running clockwise, or counter clockwise

 

[Blown76mav]

Blown76, I think like James said. It will matter which side you are feeding from, and what side your fence is on. So you can cut with the machine running clockwise, or counter clockwise

Don't want a war, but no matter what side you cut on left or right of the bit, it still turns counter clockwise when mounted in a router table. Routers don't have a reverse feature.

Also if you look at the picture AGAIN, like James said the router bit is on the right side of the piece and push away from you, which would be right to left if the router bit was in front of you.

 

[spleify]

No wars, I am just trying to visualize this, my router table unfortunately is barried in crap right now so I cant just go out and look at it. Physics would say that you could change the direction in which the bit turns, by the side of the table you are on and which side the fence is on, no? I am not at all saying this is correct, more asking a question.

 

[MADtanks]

The basic thing to want to do is push the material againts the blade..... the router spins counter clockwise(already established) so you would want the fence to your left side and to the left of the router bit. The cutting edge of the router bit will be touching the right side of the material if you are pushing the material forward. If you put the fence on the opposite side of the router you will still be doing the exact same thing . The only difference now is that you are on the opposite side of the table. I hope that makes sense .

 

[Acrylics]

The basic thing to want to do is push the material againts the blade..... the router spins counter clockwise(already established) so you would want the fence to your left side and to the left of the router bit. The cutting edge of the router bit will be touching the right side of the material if you are pushing the material forward. If you put the fence on the opposite side of the router you will still be doing the exact same thing . The only difference now is that you are on the opposite side of the table. I hope that makes sense .

As a generality, yep - you're quite correct But there are times when it's advantageous to go the other way. Just have to be careful of the when and how

James

 

[MADtanks]

True that James, I can def say that i have gone the other specifically when flush trimming.... after cutting off the initial edge i will go back both ways. Or when free handing with an upcut bit to make say filter sock holders its just scary. I had a few kick on me where i was not paying attention, I felt like i got punched right in the stomach!!!

Thanks James bc of you i love playing around with acrylic!!