I am working on a new skimmer and had to cut flanges for it. I bought a circle cutting jig for my router to make them. This thing works excellently. The jig is very precise, I even routed grooves into the flanges for the tube to fit into and they fit perfectly.
The Reactor Projects (graphic Intensive)
- Thread starter TAMU Reef
- Start date
TAMU Reef
New member
OK gbtower you absolutely ROCK. I did what you said and it worked GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures to follow on the method I used. Man you saved me some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Of course I had to buy a drill press today, but it was a tool that needed to be replaced anyway.
TAMU Reef
TAMU Reef
TAMU Reef
New member
OK here is how I cut my flanges, I used the drill press and clamped down a piece of acrylic with wood underneath.
I cut the circles out, but the edges were beveled due to the circle cutter cutting a groove into the acrylic. So I used the router to smooth the edges off. See below:
I cut my flanges out using the drill press and have a collection of them below:
I was trying to figure out how to cut the bottom flange of the Kalk Reactor without a hole in the middle. I was going to glue a piece of acrylic on it, but after reading gbtower's suggestion we got out the duct tape. Good old duct tape, it will fix anything. I double taped a cut flange to a piece of acrylic (seen below). The screw goes into a predetermined length to round off my flanges with the router. Then the router simply cut my flange with NO HOLES in the middle. Again thanks to gbtower.
I will be doing the gluing part next.....
TAMU Reef
I cut the circles out, but the edges were beveled due to the circle cutter cutting a groove into the acrylic. So I used the router to smooth the edges off. See below:
I cut my flanges out using the drill press and have a collection of them below:
I was trying to figure out how to cut the bottom flange of the Kalk Reactor without a hole in the middle. I was going to glue a piece of acrylic on it, but after reading gbtower's suggestion we got out the duct tape. Good old duct tape, it will fix anything. I double taped a cut flange to a piece of acrylic (seen below). The screw goes into a predetermined length to round off my flanges with the router. Then the router simply cut my flange with NO HOLES in the middle. Again thanks to gbtower.
I will be doing the gluing part next.....
TAMU Reef
TroyPierce
New member
A note about the bevel cut with the circle cutter. As purchased, the intent is to cut inside holes so the point of the cutter is on the outside of the cutting radius.
You can turn the cutter around so that it cuts on the inside radius and you'll get square edges on the circle and tapered edges on the scrap.
You can turn the cutter around so that it cuts on the inside radius and you'll get square edges on the circle and tapered edges on the scrap.
TAMU Reef
New member
Ahhhhh. Another excellent idea...... You see, by the time I get to the calcium reactor I will have all of these tricks down. The hardest part about this is getting all the parts located for instance my local Home Depot does not carry them and waiting to order everything online... The following items I could not locate today:
Thumb screws #12 size
1/8" Neoprene
1/2" Tap
Metric size drill bits....
Any good places to find the neoprene and thumb screws???
Thumb screws #12 size
1/8" Neoprene
1/2" Tap
Metric size drill bits....
Any good places to find the neoprene and thumb screws???
evolution
Member
The best way to cut a circle in acryllic in my experience is to cut a piece of 3/4" MDF into the diameter that you want. Screw that circle into another larger piece of MDF so you can clamp or screw it onto a workbench. Hotglue a piece of acryllic to the circle and run a handheld router around it. Works like a charm and you have no holes in the piece. But in a calcium reactor, you need holes anyway so...
TAMU Reef
New member
OK I found the BEST place to order any plumbing / hardware supplies. This place had the thumb screws and neoprene at a cheap, cheap price. Just thought I would pass it on. They had everything.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
TAMU Reef
http://www.mcmaster.com/
TAMU Reef
newbiereefer24
In Memoriam
newbiereefer24
In Memoriam
you might have to search in the photo gallery for calcium reactor and mine is the left one.
BumpinTJ24
In Memoriam
Here it is. I actually just started my own saltwater business and i'm going to start selling them locally. Full setups for 350-400(10lb. tank, dual reg., CR, pump, media). Should be easy being that there is only one saltwater store where I live and they charge 550 for just the reactor and reg.
alf-magne
I dont have a parts list or such cause I kinda just thought along and built it. I'll try to get one together though. Thanks. Ram
alf-magne
I dont have a parts list or such cause I kinda just thought along and built it. I'll try to get one together though. Thanks. Ram
BumpinTJ24
In Memoriam
that's mine...i just used my other s/n so I could post it here.
It's a 6.5" Diameter 1/4" Cast Tube 12" tall..
It's for my 90 gallon RR
It's a 6.5" Diameter 1/4" Cast Tube 12" tall..
It's for my 90 gallon RR
CaptainDave
New member
hey TAMU, do you have a link to the thumb screws you used? McMaster-Carr is GREAT, but sometimes a little hard to navigate.
Thanks!
Thanks!
BumpinTJ24
In Memoriam
do a search for
"Nylon Knurled Head Slotted Thumb Screw"
That's where I got mine too.
"Nylon Knurled Head Slotted Thumb Screw"
That's where I got mine too.
CaptainDave
New member
Thanks BumpinTJ, I found them.
Mangas8282
New member
What type of pump/top-off system are you going to use to feed the reactor??
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