black acrylic for overflow... NEED

[Ocean In A Box]

Hello all you DIY's out there -

...the stuff is impossible to find in scrap type sizes w/out buying a 1/2 or whole sheet a local plastics vendor here...can't even find any on eBay.

Looking for approx 24" x 12" piece (plan to bend 90% in the 24" dimension length and then have an "L" shapped overflow damn that I silicone into the back corner of the tank)

Anyone have any left over black acrylic they'd be willing to sell?

 

[Chrsnwk]

you can get a sheet that size from mcmaster.com

 

[billgraf]

I had the same problem, I made mine out clear acrylic and spray painted it with krylon fusion spray paint matte black and IMO it looks better than black acrylic(doesn't have that glare)

 

[manderx]

IMO it looks better than black acrylic(doesn't have that glare)

i always hit black acrylic that's going in water with fine-grit on a random orbital to scuff the surface a bit. then barely hit it with novus to take some of the roughness out. gives a nice matte finish. looks a bit grey & dusty out of water but perfect when wet.

 

[Ocean In A Box]

no prob with spray paint in the water? how long has it been in your tank?

 

[hebygb]

I just bought 2 black custom cut pieces 12x20 for $40. yes that may be pricey to some. My problem is the place I get it at is only open 9am -2:30pm M-F. What kind of business is that?

 

[billgraf]

Krylon Fusion spray paint is reef safe, I have some in my old tank with no problems for over a year.

 

[Ocean In A Box]

I can get 1/8" black (various lengths/widths...not much difference in cost) anywhere from about $7-8 to maybe $12-15 from a plastics distributor here. My problem is getting anything thicker, like 1/4". I can get 1/2 sheet of black 1/4" (2ft x 4ft) for $60. But I don't need anywhere near that much and there's no way I'm going to spend that kind of $$$. I found a place online that will do nice customer overflows out of the same material but they want about $80-90 for those.

I guess I'm going to go with a $10 piece of clear and paint it black and do the teeth myself...I don't know what else to do. Sure wish I could find 1/4" black acrylic "scrap" size!

Thanks all, Matt

 

[manderx]

www.mcmaster.com has 1/4" 12x24 black for cheap, even with shipping.

 

[Ocean In A Box]

GREAT SUGGESTED SOURCE!

GREAT SUGGESTED SOURCE!

Chrsnwk & manderx -

Wow...thanks for letting me know about mcmaster.com
Let me say, what a great site in terms of how to find things and narrow down exactly what you want.
Better still...price.
Here's (the very) detailed specs of what I ordered for just a little more than $12:

Part Number: 8505K923 $12.42 Each
Material Acrylic
Acrylic Material Cast Acrylic
Backing Plain Back
Shape Sheets, Bars, Strips, and Cubes
Sheets, Bars, Strips, and Cubes Type Rectangular Sheet
Sheet Style Standard
Thickness .236"
Thickness Tolerance +.020" to -.040"
Length 24"
Length Tolerance ±.125"
Width 12"
Width Tolerance ±.125"
Opaque Black
Operating Temperature Range -40° to +170° F
Softening Point 175° F
Performance Characteristic Weather Resistant
Tensile Strength 10,800 psi
Impact Strength 0.414 ft.-lbs./in.
Tolerance Standard
Hardness Rockwell M: 103

Can't beat it...and I won't be needing to paint clear acrylic now which I thought might be my only option at reasonable cost. Thanks again! - Matt

 

[Chrsnwk]

It's one of my favorite stores on the planet... I can't tell you how many things I've ordered from them over the years for aquarium DIY stuff. Stainless, Titanium, epoxies, plastics, etc.

It's usually the first place I look, and the stuff is at my door in a day or 2 even with standard shipping.

 

[RicGio]

I love Mc masters too. Use it at work all the time. Great service, reasonable and fast shipping too. Ever see the paper catalog? It's like 8000 pages and weighs like 14 pounds!

 

[gazog]

Black Acrylic

Black Acrylic

Try this guy, Delvies Plastic - http://www.delviesplastics.com/ - I have been buying all my stuff from him as of late. He has Black cast in 1/16 to 1/2 and he will cut it for you or you can get it in a 12 x 12 up to 24 x 48 sheet. Shipping is real reasonable also. I just bought a 24 x 24 sheet of 1/4 for 23.00 + 8.54 shipping.

 

[Ocean In A Box]

what i bought was just SLIGHTLY less than 1/4 and it was half the cost ($12). on mcmasters i think their true 1/4 thick was also about $23-24

anyway...great, great site and i've been on lots of buying sites...mcmasters really has thought out the easiest way for consumers to browse the 14lb 8000 page catalog online...

 

[Ocean In A Box]

mcmaster.com ROCKS

mcmaster.com ROCKS

Great prices, nicely shipped, fast delivery for just $7...all got here today from mcmaster.com:

BOX:

OPEN BOX:

WHATS INSIDE...clear 1/8 acrylic for doing sump repair noted earlier in the post, black almost 1/4 acylic so I can make custom overflow dam, Weld-On #3, some small brushes to apply, and also a squeeze bottle with needle dispenser for the Weld-On.

 

[Ocean In A Box]

Tank Parts from local home improvement store

Tank Parts from local home improvement store

Ball valves, spa-flex, bathroom fan w/ tubing & duct:









GETTING CLOSER! - Matt

 

[Ocean In A Box]

scratch the last post, not from mcmaster.com ... this was meant to post in my tank thread. <sorry>