Alternative Acrylic cements

[exmt]

Besides Weld-On 3, 4, and 16, what other cements can I use for bonding acrylic together? I am just looking for a small project, so the seams do not have to be perfect.

Can I use:

PVC/CPVC/ABS pipe cement?
Superglue?
Nail Polish Remover?

How strong would PVC cement be to bond acrylic?

 

[BeanAnimal]

The acrylic cement is pretty inexpensive. It glues the acrylic by causing it to melt. The acrylic then dries fused together.

PVC glue works the same way. The problem is that the PVC glue will not melt the acrylic enough to create a strong bond. Superglue will not melt the acrylic at all. It is a "glue" that bonds the surfaces together. You may have some luck withit, but hte surfaces will have to be very true, with no gaps or irregularities.

2 part epoxy would be a good choice as well.

Bean

 

[Limpit]

MEK will work

 

[BeanAnimal]

A can of MEK costs as much as a small can of weld-on...

but I guess "buying local" is an advantage.

 

[exmt]

Thanks you guys!

I have a can of Oatey PVC/ABS/CPVC cement around, so that was why I was asking...

Would this two-part epoxy work?

Would I have to mix it before I set it, or just apply it directly?

Thanks again,
exmt

 

[BeanAnimal]

You have to mix it first then appy it accrodng to the instructions.

 

[exmt]

Thanks, BeanAnimal!

 

[BeanAnimal]

you can always try the other glues on a piece of scarp to see if the results are suitable for your application.

 

[exmt]

I have never worked with epoxy before. If a joint has a hole in it, can I just put a bit more on the hole to fix it, or is it a solvent, melting the joint further. Do I have to use the pins method, or can I just use callipary cementing?

Thanks,
exmt

 

[kgross]

If you are using epoxy, you can not use the pins method or capillary action. The epoxy is much to thick. There has got to be a plastics supply shop in the DC area that would sell you some weldon 3 or 4 which is the best way to go (if you edges are prepped correctly. If you want to use the epoxy, first it is not as strong as the weldon 3 or 4, to actually glue with it, what I would do is lay a bead where you want the joint to be, and then place the second piece into the bead, don't press down because you will want epoxy to be inside the joint as well as on the sides.

Kim

 

[exmt]

I just looked in my copy of the Yellow Books and found a local plastics supplier. They should be able to sell me some Weld-On.

Home Depot sells acrylic sheet, so they might have some weld-on too. I'll look this weekend, as HD is closer than driving 18 miles to get there.

 

[BeanAnimal]

HD will not have the weld-on.

 

[exmt]

Off the the plastics store this weekend. They should have some "bargain bins" there, as I hear....

What's the difference between cast and extruded acrylic sheet?