Help gluing acrylic

[joelr]

Hello,

I'm having trouble with my glueing job on an acrylic tank.
Anyone near Parker that would be willing to help me out and show me what the heck I'm doing wrong...?

Thanks,
Joel

 

[Jagermeister]

I have no experience in acrylic work but am researching it a lot because I want to build a calcium reactor. These articles might help you.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_acrylic_aquarium.php

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=169326

hth

 

[artful-dodger]

Here's a thread that will (eventually) answer just about any question you can think of (several times). Probably 100 pages or so now.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=96763&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[scaast]

Joel...what are you trying to build? I'm no expert but have built a nano that is still holding water. lol

 

[tkeracer619]

You need to use the pin method if using acrylic thicker than 1/4". I could help show you but i'm not neer parker very often.

 

[joelr]

Thanks for the replies. A couple further questions.

1) Why is the pin method important if Weldon 4 uses capillary action for creating a weld? Does the pin method 'melt' enough of the material such that small imperfections are less important? Would Weldon 3 be better to use?
How much Weldon 4 should be applied? Should it look like a bit of a puddle or something?

1.5) With capillary action I appear to get good flow when using Weldon 4 but then after it dries I see all sorts of bubbles. Does 1) help alleviate that problem?

2) What about using Weldon 40 for 3/8" acrylic?

Sheesh, I never imagined this would be that challenging!

Joel

 

[adova]

I tried the pin method and gave up on it (too much work). I just let the capillary action handle the work. If looks aren't soooo important, you can follow up with #16 (I think that is the one - the gel) and then even a coat of silicon.

If looks are more the thing, test the job with water and mark any leaks - then just capillary some more intothe problem areas.

I have made 2 - 70g cubes - 2 - 50g cubes and about 3 sumps this way....

Shawn

 

[adova]

PS - if you do not have a "dead on" table saw to make cuts, everything I said is a mute point - the edges need to be perfect IMO (or use the gel for the entire project).

Shawn