DIY- "Pins" method of gluing acrylic.

[artnsx]

Hey, Ive tried looking around local stores for weld on. I can't find it ANYWHERE? Does anybody have any suggestions besides ebay ? Should i start calling hobby shops ?!

 

[melev]

artnsx,

[welcome]

tapplastics.com sells it. Did you look up "plastics" in the Yellow Pages to find someone that sells acrylic? Typically if they do, they sell Weld-On as well.

 

[NorthernCF]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7790398#post7790398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by artnsx
Hey, Ive tried looking around local stores for weld on. I can't find it ANYWHERE? Does anybody have any suggestions besides ebay ? Should i start calling hobby shops ?!

Not all the plastic shops carry it. For your time searching and money driving it may just be worth ordering it. This depends on how much you go through of course.

 

[greenstarman]

Zeph or Acrylics,

When attaching the bottom of a sump, is it easier to put the bottom on a flat surface and then put the 4 side assembly on top of that and use the pins? Or should I put the 4 side assembly on a flat surface and put the bottom piece on top of that then insert my pins? Thanks for any input.

 

[NorthernCF]

Bottom on the bottom, sides on top of that, pins in the center. It helps if the bottom is a bit larger than the foot print of the sides to give a runner for the weldon as it wicks in.

 

[olemos]

what type of cement would you guys recommend, to put together a 96"L x 40"W x 36"H and also,what thickness should the acrylic be?

 

[melev]

I would imagine the acrylic needs to be 1" thick, and you should use Weld-On #40, the two part mixture. That is the one recommended for display tanks.

 

[Zephrant]

Weldon #40 is tough to use- I'd suggest that it is beyond the average person doing their first tank.

It's entirely possible to get a perfect looking joint, that has almost no strength at all to it due to a poor "bite" in to the acrylic.

I'd suggest #4 slowed down with some #5, using the above method. More room for error, and if you mess it up, you can tell.

Zeph

 

[melev]

Thanks Zeph. Where've you been? I never see your posts anymore.

 

[Zephrant]

Busier than I want to be. My 2.5 year old frag is more fun that I ever thought, so I spend as much time with him as I can.

Other than that, working on new designs and new projects, all on top of my regular job. I check all the old threads regularly, and keep up with some of the heated ones, but I just don't have much time to contribute right now. By the time I get to a thread to post relevant information, some-one else has done it already.

Zeph

 

[melev]

:lol:

Gonna come to MACNA next month? Or did you donate something to the raffle?

 

[mpdharley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7986514#post7986514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zephrant
Weldon #40 is tough to use- I'd suggest that it is beyond the average person doing their first tank.

It's entirely possible to get a perfect looking joint, that has almost no strength at all to it due to a poor "bite" in to the acrylic.

I'd suggest #4 slowed down with some #5, using the above method. More room for error, and if you mess it up, you can tell.

Zeph

Zephrant -- Any issues with using Weldon 4 without mixing it with #5 for a display tank? That's what I'm doing for my 72 x 48 x 24 tank (3/4 inch acrylic). I haven't had any issues with getting it lined up and seated (so far anyway).

Thanks!

Mike

 

[WarrenG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=1553091#post1553091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zephrant

I still use standard sewing pins, but I intend to get some small piano wire some day.

Zeph

At a fishing store you can find stainless steel wire "leader".

 

[Zephrant]

Can't make MACNA this year- Family matters. Maybe in a year or two we can come down.

Mixing #4 and #5 is supposed to be fine. I've never used #5 though, just didn't have the need. My glue-up area is pretty cool, so I don't need to slow down the glue usually.

Thanks for the tip Warren- Sad fact, I still use pins though. They just work.

 

[mflamb]

I've read this thread through twice and studied melevs reef preparing to build a sump for my 390 project. I plan to build a 60x26x27 with a 30x26 fuge, sort of a modified model H. I plan to use extruded acrylic and weld on #4. My question is should I use 3/8" or 1/2 " acrylic. The local plastics store will give me scraps for free to practice gluing with. I ordered acupuncture needles already.

 

[melev]

I made my sump with 3/8" and it is 60 x 30 x 16. Why are you making it so tall? If you really go that tall, you might need 1/2" thick to retain the shape and avoid bulging.

 

[mflamb]

Part of the sump plan is a section for RO/DI top off water, so the height allows me more total water volume and more ro/di water. Is that a bad idea. I'm open for any help.

 

[mflamb]

I guess I could make is shorter and then put a RO/DI top off tank on a rack above the sump. My stand has at least 37" of inside height. Then I could use 3/8" on all of it.

 

[melev]

You can make a separate section or tower just for top off water near your sump, and build the sump 16" tall.

I do <b>not</b> recommend hooking up your RO/DI directly to your system. There is too much risk to your livestock in my humble opinion.

 

[mflamb]

Oh I agree about the RO/DI. It will fill a 60 gallon barrell in the garage, where I will also have another 60 gallon mixing barrell. A pump will be used to transfer ro/di water to a holding tank in the stand where a dosing pump will handle topoff. The salt mixing barrell will supply water for changes. THANK YOU for taking time to help me with my setup. Why 16"? Is there something about that height that I'm not aware of, or is this something experience has taught you?