Where to buy cast acrylic tubing by the foot?
- Thread starter h20cooled
- Start date
Siffy
New member
Would you have to use acrylic or would you be happy with clear PVC? It's much more durable and easier to work with, and with something as expensive as a skimmer that large in diameter you'd hate for it to get bumped accidentally and just crack. Also, would you be able to get by with making it a bit taller and/or using 6" diameter pipe?
http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=19 Unfortunately they sell by the 10ft lengths cut in half, but it would give you an idea the price difference (not much) of acrylic vs clear PVC. Only $22/ft for 6" diameter isn't bad if you can end up using it all. Just a note/warning, clear PVC fittings even 4" dia are outrageously priced.
http://www.thomasnet.com/products/pipe-clear-pvc-plastic-95910774-1.html
Might give you some leads of a company near you that might work with you to provide a shorter piece.
http://www.atlantic-screen.com/?content=showproducts&catid=7
and
http://www.pbsplastics.com/extruded_components/plastic_fabrication.html
seem to say they carry it... but they have crappy websites w/o even an idea what it'll cost ya. You might try going in on building several skimmers or big Ca reactors with some members of a local reefing club if you do get forced into buying a 5' or 10' stick.
Good luck with the project.
http://www.clearpvcpipe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=19 Unfortunately they sell by the 10ft lengths cut in half, but it would give you an idea the price difference (not much) of acrylic vs clear PVC. Only $22/ft for 6" diameter isn't bad if you can end up using it all. Just a note/warning, clear PVC fittings even 4" dia are outrageously priced.
http://www.thomasnet.com/products/pipe-clear-pvc-plastic-95910774-1.html
Might give you some leads of a company near you that might work with you to provide a shorter piece.
http://www.atlantic-screen.com/?content=showproducts&catid=7
and
http://www.pbsplastics.com/extruded_components/plastic_fabrication.html
seem to say they carry it... but they have crappy websites w/o even an idea what it'll cost ya. You might try going in on building several skimmers or big Ca reactors with some members of a local reefing club if you do get forced into buying a 5' or 10' stick.
Good luck with the project.
Siffy
New member
http://www.harvel.com/piping-clear-pvc.asp
Harvel I believe actually makes the stuff (they brag about technology allowing them to make sch 40 10" and 12" dia), but I don't know if you can buy directly from them or who their retailers are. You might want to give them a call. I think they even make 8" in sch 80 strength if you wanted to go that route. I just wish their site gave at least an idea what the price would be (ie, an MSRP if they are an mfg).
Harvel I believe actually makes the stuff (they brag about technology allowing them to make sch 40 10" and 12" dia), but I don't know if you can buy directly from them or who their retailers are. You might want to give them a call. I think they even make 8" in sch 80 strength if you wanted to go that route. I just wish their site gave at least an idea what the price would be (ie, an MSRP if they are an mfg).
h20cooled
Premium Member
With my current 6 inch diameter skimmer I used clear pvc and it worked awesome. The problem I have is like you said it is 10' min purchase and that gets costly when you are looking for 10 to 12" diameter clear PVC, it would actually be cheaper to get 2 or 3 foor of cast acrylic tubing.
Rich
Rich
nikonosis
New member
ErikS
New member
First if all, yes Deltec uses "extruded".....but....it ain't even in the ballpark of what we know as extruded. A paraphrase from a fabricator I know "it ain't like any extruded I've ever seen here, much closer to our cast".
Second, read this thread . According to James if you want extruded in anything over 6" it will be imported = $$$$$ (I've never seen anything beyond 6" for sale).
Second, read this thread . According to James if you want extruded in anything over 6" it will be imported = $$$$$ (I've never seen anything beyond 6" for sale).
fade2black
Premium Member
I don't know how that would even be possible as the manufaturing process are completely different. It's not like you can combine the two and get a "kind of extruded" material. It's either extruded or it's not.
A lot of acrylic here in the states is already imported. In fact, the stuff made here in the states is usually more expensive than the imported stuff!
ErikS
New member
Oh please..........you could have all kinds of variations in the process. Time, temperature, pressure - all variables that can effect the finished product. We don't know....all I know is what someone who know far more than I do about acrylic said - that being that it's a higher quality than the US stuff.
Of course I'm not in the camp of believing "slapped together" = quality because it's cast material.
And I'm not defending anyone, just pointing out it's not an apples to apples comparison.
Of course I'm not in the camp of believing "slapped together" = quality because it's cast material.
And I'm not defending anyone, just pointing out it's not an apples to apples comparison.
:lol: Yeah, but we'd be WAY off topic discussing what that stupid situation occurs.
fade2black
Premium Member
I don't think the variables you listed vary that much though. That was kind of my point. To get a consistent product across the board, the process is held to pretty tight specs. I have had several conversations with a company in NJ that manufactures cast acrylic tubing and they have a very consistent process for making the tubing. Not to say that it is EXACTLY the same every time, but it isn't enough to make the product behave in such a dramatically different way as cast and extruded acrylics do.
I agree!
I agree!
As long as we're wandering off topic here, I would say that I have found significant variation in quality of cast acrylic; Cyro and Spartech polycast both solvent weld very consistently, where some imported cast I've used has very poor welding properties. I built a few skimmers out of imported cast, and got joints that looked fine but still had small leaks when the skimmer was filled....big bummer. Since then I use only cyro or spartech. I don;t have much experience with extruded acrylic, but it stands to reason that there could be a similar variance in quality.
But, with the prices that Deltec is getting, I would expect that the materials they use would be absolutely the best regardless of cost. To me, this would mean top quality cast acrylic. I could be wrong, there could be some extruded out there that out performs all cast acrylic, but I kind of doubt it.
But, with the prices that Deltec is getting, I would expect that the materials they use would be absolutely the best regardless of cost. To me, this would mean top quality cast acrylic. I could be wrong, there could be some extruded out there that out performs all cast acrylic, but I kind of doubt it.
fade2black
Premium Member
I can understand differences in brands, as they all have their own proprietary "recipe". I was more specifically relating to differences within the same brand being almost unnoticeable.
Hi Fade2black - long time no see
Since we're kinda off topic, there are many variations quality within some brands. The major domestic brands, Cyro and Polycast are both consistently good materials IME, the Mexican brands (Plexi-Glas & Chemcast) are in the same camp, again IME. There are however, some import brands which will have varying qualities as they are made in different plants in different countries. Acrycast is just one example of this, 6 different plants, 6 different countries, 6 different QC guidelines and all of them buying resins off the open market so one batch can vary from another within the same plant and be very different than the materials made in other plants yet sold under the same name.
As far as Deltec's material goes, I've never tried messing with it as noone with a Deltec will let me cut it up and play with the material But there are "tweeners" out there which are kinda in between cell cast and extruded when it comes to sheet goods. An example of this is continuous cast materials which are not extruded but not cell cast either and have a mole wt right in between the two. It is quite possible some smart German company has found a way to do similar with tubing and Deltec uses it. Doing this would have some benefits which would rival extruded in having a higher mole wt (more stable chemically) and better aesthetics (little or no extrusion lines) and have better tolerances than spun cast tube but would give up a *little* in mole wt which is not that major of a concern. I don't know this to be the case but is reasonable to me as there are perfect examples in sheet materials. I have seen the Deltec materials and they do not have extrusion lines nearly as bad as US extruded tubing does so leads me to believe that they are not extruded in the same manner as domestic extruded materials are such as the ones made by Townsend Glasflex.
Where is that Doug guy anyway? Mayhaps he can shed some more light on it - I dunno
James
Since we're kinda off topic, there are many variations quality within some brands. The major domestic brands, Cyro and Polycast are both consistently good materials IME, the Mexican brands (Plexi-Glas & Chemcast) are in the same camp, again IME. There are however, some import brands which will have varying qualities as they are made in different plants in different countries. Acrycast is just one example of this, 6 different plants, 6 different countries, 6 different QC guidelines and all of them buying resins off the open market so one batch can vary from another within the same plant and be very different than the materials made in other plants yet sold under the same name.
As far as Deltec's material goes, I've never tried messing with it as noone with a Deltec will let me cut it up and play with the material
But there are "tweeners" out there which are kinda in between cell cast and extruded when it comes to sheet goods. An example of this is continuous cast materials which are not extruded but not cell cast either and have a mole wt right in between the two. It is quite possible some smart German company has found a way to do similar with tubing and Deltec uses it. Doing this would have some benefits which would rival extruded in having a higher mole wt (more stable chemically) and better aesthetics (little or no extrusion lines) and have better tolerances than spun cast tube but would give up a *little* in mole wt which is not that major of a concern. I don't know this to be the case but is reasonable to me as there are perfect examples in sheet materials. I have seen the Deltec materials and they do not have extrusion lines nearly as bad as US extruded tubing does so leads me to believe that they are not extruded in the same manner as domestic extruded materials are such as the ones made by Townsend Glasflex. Where is that Doug guy anyway? Mayhaps he can shed some more light on it - I dunno
James
fade2black
Premium Member
Hey James, been busy with work and school over the past year. How are things on that side of the country? I had a feeling you would chime in on this.
After reading your post, the continuous cast is the only thing I can think of that would come close, but like you said, I have not heard about anyone making continuous cast tubing. I had completely forgotten about that type too as I usually stay away from it. I pretty much stick to only 2 brands and they have been very consistent IMO. I have noticed some pretty significant differences in the laser engraving of Lexan though. That brand sticks out in my head as one we stay away from. Other than Lexan, I haven't really noticed any big differences within the same brand.
PS - I sent some business your way about 2-3 months ago. The guy was from Nevada (closer to you) and wanted a bunch of really odd shaped tanks. I'll PM you his name to see if they ever contacted you.
I'm done hijacking your thread h20cooled!
After reading your post, the continuous cast is the only thing I can think of that would come close, but like you said, I have not heard about anyone making continuous cast tubing. I had completely forgotten about that type too as I usually stay away from it. I pretty much stick to only 2 brands and they have been very consistent IMO. I have noticed some pretty significant differences in the laser engraving of Lexan though. That brand sticks out in my head as one we stay away from. Other than Lexan, I haven't really noticed any big differences within the same brand.
PS - I sent some business your way about 2-3 months ago. The guy was from Nevada (closer to you) and wanted a bunch of really odd shaped tanks. I'll PM you his name to see if they ever contacted you.
I'm done hijacking your thread h20cooled!
Similar threads
