Extruding skimmer!
- Thread starter Andrew
- Start date
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
the problem with extruded from a builder standpoint, is extruded is a pain to work with. Cast turns and cuts much nicer and cleaner. I suppose if you had tools for working with extruded it might be the same, good tools work well with cast acrylic.
Extruded will work fine in your setup. Only big conserns are first it is much harder to machine, and drilling holes in extruded tubing is very difficult to do without breaking it. And second you do not want to polish it or use any good cleaners on it, because it is already under a lot of stress and adding more stress could cause it to craze or even break completely. But many of the old cheap skimmers are made out of extruded acrylic and they work fine.
Kim
Kim
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I dont have a problem with cracking at all. its getting clean cuts. When i cut it melts a bit and always leaves a crappy edge. It also crazes easy around the holes when you go to glue it. It will definatly work, but if you have the cash for cast its SO much easier to work with. You will find yourself sanding ALOT on extruded to get your joints right.
RichConley
New member
The smaller deltecs are extruded, so its not just cheap skimmers.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
and i think thats a shame! a skimmer that cost $600+ should be made out of cast acrylic. My mrc was less then that and it made out of 1/2" cast flanges, and 1/4" cast tube. Way overbuilt but looks very nice, and what i would expect for a $500 skimmer.
All im saying, for a homeowner DIY'er, cast is SO MUCH more freindly to work with its worth the extra cost. Most folks dont have a CNC setup in there basement......But, if your just messin around, get some extruded. I just built a kalk reactor out of extruded, it was a proto type. THe tube cost me $17.00. the same for cast was $60.00. I had hours of clean up work after i was done milling the extruded, probably enough time to justify the extra $40 it would have cost for cast. But one major factor is i didnt have the money for cast, but i have the time to fix up the extruded
All im saying, for a homeowner DIY'er, cast is SO MUCH more freindly to work with its worth the extra cost. Most folks dont have a CNC setup in there basement......But, if your just messin around, get some extruded. I just built a kalk reactor out of extruded, it was a proto type. THe tube cost me $17.00. the same for cast was $60.00. I had hours of clean up work after i was done milling the extruded, probably enough time to justify the extra $40 it would have cost for cast. But one major factor is i didnt have the money for cast, but i have the time to fix up the extruded
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
it would probaby be plenty strong with 1/8", there isnt a ton of pressure in a skimmer. But, once again, the 1/4" is alot more freindly to cut and drill, and if its a tall skimmer you will have more weld surface area for the bottom seam. 12" cast 1/4" is going to be expensive. hope its not very tall!! personaly i would buy extruded if i had time to polish out the cuts and holes...
good luck.
good luck.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
If you have the cash, you can make three of them out of this piece
http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product223.html
http://freckleface.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product223.html
Andrew
Active member
I can get 12'' clear cast from the local plasic warehouse put it's a little bit more. Sold only in 5 foot lenghts too:
1/8'' thick- $69.87 a foot
1/4'' thick- $132.93 a foot
I can get by with 1/8'' and it won't fall apart I'll do that. I just don't want it to break when I try to pick it up.
1/8'' thick- $69.87 a foot
1/4'' thick- $132.93 a foot
I can get by with 1/8'' and it won't fall apart I'll do that. I just don't want it to break when I try to pick it up.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
use heavier flanges if your going to put flanges on them, and get those joints real flat, and it shoud hold. Do they have extruded in those kinds of sixes?
RichConley
New member
6" extruded is like $6 a foot. 6" Cast will cost you about $28/ft. For small skimmers/reactors/etc, using cast will more than quadruple the cost of the project.
RichConley
New member
Honestly, 1/8" would probably be fine at 48" tall. The issue isnt going to be from pressure, its going to be that its easier to break the thinner tubing.
