DIY- "Pins" method of gluing acrylic.

[BruiseAndy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6784651#post6784651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drewdegenhardt
Question for you all-

So I am trying to build a 2' cube. I got a price quote from a local acrylic dealer of 188.96 for a 3/8" clear cast acrylic for a 48x96 sheet. This will actually give me two extra 2X2 squares. They will do the cuts for free, and I have a 2 1/4hp dewalt router and a table saw if needed to finish the rest.

With a 2" lip around the top is 3/8th is enough?

What can I use to clean the edges for jointing, Can I use the router and what bit?

A 48x96 will give you 6 pieces that are 2'x2' 4 sides and a top and bottom. Use the extra to build a sump with fi theyre charging you for a full sheet and not by the square foot. I just built one with 2" bracing and I used 1/2" material.

 

[melev]

I used to scrape the edges smooth with a utility razor blade in a wooden DIY holder, but I later bought a jointer that prepares all the edges that need gluing. It costs a little ($159), but it saves time and isn't hard on the ears like scraping was.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Hi all,

looks like this has dropped down a bit now, but I'ved been reading your site melev, top stuff by the way!

I'm building myself some fluidised sand bed filters out of (probable) 8" acrylic tubing and then the rest of sheet acrylic, 6/8mm.

The only problem is the glue. I can't find Weld-on #4 on any UK site but have found Tensol 40 which is used for glueing acrylic but not sure if it's the equivilant to the Weld-On #4.

Thanks in advance.

 

[melev]

I don't know. I think you'd need to know the active ingredient perhaps. If they match, you've got a winner. Maybe James knows. He goes by "Acrylics" here.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oki dokey, cheers..

Here's where i found out about the Tensol glue, I think I picked the right one from the ones they mentioned...

http://www.k2a.co.uk/data/Workshop Handbook.pdf

Page 30.

 

[melev]

I noticed it mentioned Tensol 70 in that PDF on page 28-30. Can you get that one, or only #40?

 

[Paul_MTS]

Whoops, typo!

Yes it's Tensol 70 I can get. It comes with 1 big bottle and 2nd smaller one which is the hardener, if I'ved read the sites correctly.

If thats not right though, someone on the forum kindly offered to ship some Weld-On over to me.

 

[melev]

If this stuff is watery like Weld-On, you'll need needle tip applicator botttles. Get two at least. If it clogs, which it can, hold a match under the needle briefly to unclog it. You can only do this about 5 times before the bottle must be replaced.

Shipping solvents is expensive, because it is explosive and carries and extra price tag. At one point, I thought I could ship small amounts of Weld-on to other hobbyists, but that idea fizzled out when I learned about the extra fee. It was like $20 extra per box, and the product cost less than that!

 

[Paul_MTS]

hehe, yep I'ved read that on your site, although the bottles i found last night suggested that I could just replace the hypodermic needle they take.

so does this stuff sound like the right stuff to you....before I go ordering!?

oh and what guage needle is going to be best?

 

[melev]

I really can't say for sure, so I wouldn't buy the largest amount of this product your first time. Can you not contact some local plastics dealers in your area to ask what they use, even if they don't sell it to the local population? I don't know what size gauge needle to recommend, but it would be very fine. The applicator bottle's hole is so small, I don't have a single thing that will fit the orifice if it clogs, not even a single strand of wire from a group of wires used in hooking up brake lights to a trailer. It is very tiny.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Yer, sorry should of realised.

It seems it only comes in 2 sizes....large or extra large!

So it's going to cost me Ã"šÃ‚£20, but should do the job hopefully, otherwise I can wack it on ebay!

Just bought a mixed pack of hypodermic needles so should have the right size in there somewhere!

Thanks.

 

[Acrylics]

Paul,

I believe the T70 is going to be a 2-part polymeryzable cement similar to Weld-On 40. It is nothing like Weld-On 4 in any way so solvent bonding techniques will not apply.
HTH?
James

 

[Paul_MTS]

Ah!

Reading throught that PDF manual i linked to, they mention Tensol 12 which I'ved also found and this is a single part cement.

Any ideas if this would be more suitable?

 

[Acrylics]

Hi Paul,

They mention that it's okay for filling small gaps so I'm not certain. Is the T12 a water thin cement? If so then it's probably similar to the Weld-On 4. If it thick & syrupy, then it's probably similar to Weld-On 16. Does it mention ingredients? What you are looking for is methylene chloride and/or ethylene dichloride with either acetic acid or trichloroethylene (as a buffer) and *very little* monomer (makes it syrupy). As solvents go, nothing else even comes close to working as well.

HTH,
James

 

[Paul_MTS]

I'ved just e-mailed the company I'll be buying from if it's the right stuff asking them those questions so hopefully I'll have a reply in the next few days.

 

[Paul_MTS]

here's the reply I got from them...

Hi Paul

According to the MSD we have it contains

Methyl Methacrylate 30-60%
Dicholromethane 30-60%
2-Phenoxyethanol 1-5%

Apart from that I don't know. I trust this all makes sense to you because
it's double Dutch to me.

It is a relatively thick liquid.

Regards

Sounds like it's similiar to #16 so guess I'll be getting some #4 shipped over!

 

[pappasmurf]

Zephrant-----PM SENT

 

[spykes]

how do you cut such a thin wood wedge?

 

[disbjohn]

Just buy a pack of wood shims at the hardware store. No need to cut your own wedges.

 

[NorthernCF]

I like the plastic? shims. Run the edge on a sander.