Acrylic DIY Tips? - Page 2

Hooked · 01-06-2004, 10:27 AM

Wow, that's a great idea. Can't wait to see it!

Scooterman · 01-06-2004, 10:50 AM

Thanks for all the good Information, I just may one day DIY something with acrylic, I feel the need to experiment maybe a new sump!

Hooked · 01-06-2004, 12:07 PM

Nikki:

I'm also looking forward to seeing the canopy. I hate the door on mine and want to redo it, but need ideas. Maybe I can steal an idea or two from an engineer and his brilliant wife

Pro_builder · 01-06-2004, 12:24 PM

I just added some links to the DIY (Research Section) on IPS Weld On glues, and how to use them effectively. Most info is straight from IPS Web Site.
HTH

NaH2O · 01-06-2004, 12:43 PM

Thanks, Troy! Katrina....no problem - I'm sure the engineer will have a million new ideas for a better canopy once we have installed lights in ours.

Mary · 01-06-2004, 03:59 PM

Great thread Nikki! Got a question for the handymen that are answering the questions here. I have a scratch in my Nano tank that I want to remove. How do I do that and what do I use to do it? I know I will have to drain it, but need some guidance on the best way to do it. Thanks for any help!

wooddood · 01-06-2004, 04:07 PM

mary i read a thread recently on a acrylic scratch removing product but can't remember the name sorry.maybe someone else remembers sorry but heres a bump anyway,maybe somebody will respond with the answer.

Mary · 01-06-2004, 04:17 PM

Thanks WD! I figured someone here will guide me in the right direction to fix it.

reefer_wannabe · 01-10-2004, 09:24 PM

If you decide to cut your own acrylic, I just bought a new table saw blade (10") from Lowes for about $11. It is a 200 teeth paneling/finishing blade. This thing works GREAT! My local plastic retailer wanted to charge $1.00 per cut, no warranty on straightness, acuracy, etc. With the amount of cuts I'll be making, it was cheaper to buy the blade and screw the cuts up myself!

I also found, at Lowes, 1/4" extruded sheet acrylic in 2'X4' pieces for $35. I'm not sure if this is high or not, but my retailer charges by weight. Last time I was there, I paid like $6 for a few oz's of scrap.

tommyp · 01-10-2004, 09:44 PM

RW my local plastics house gets $4 a sq foot for 1/4" extruded. So that price is not outrageous.

RanRoc · 01-10-2004, 09:53 PM

I had HD finally cut my pieces...they were straighter than I could ever get them. And I sanded the edges to scuff them up a bit. I used Weld-On 16 from tapplastics.com...and electrical tape because I could stretch it then stick the pieces together very well. Remember (but I could be wrong), the taller the tank, the thicker the plastic should be. But once you get baffles in there, that should help keep everything together. Why do I feel like I'm posting this to the wrong thread? Oh well. HTH
-RY

BigReepher · 01-11-2004, 04:45 AM

Sweet looking sump and refuge RanRoc. Is that 1/4 acrylic? What are the dimensions? I use Craftics #33 clear-thickened acrylic cement. It's held everything I've put together so far. However it is on the quick drying side. Only advice I have is to make sure your cuts are square and that you plan your assembly carefully before applying the cement. I don't know if it's right or wrong but, after making the bond and using clamps to hold it together, I also run a fine bead of cement on the inside of the joint were the two pieces of acrylic join together.

NaH2O · 01-11-2004, 07:49 AM

Thanks for the responses guys! RW, we'll check out the prices and do a little comparison. Ranroc, great looking sump....and, no, you aren't posting that in the wrong place. BigReepher, I've read somewhere else about applying a bead on the inside seam, too. It must work all right, because so far I haven't had any responses that say, "Whatever you do, don't apply a bead of cement on the inside joint!!!"...LOL, I'm sure you aren't the only one that did it, and It seems to me it would only help with the bonding.

jks1 · 01-11-2004, 08:00 AM

Nikki, I was talking to Mojo on the phone about this and he suggested using thin fishing line run down the joint. Then clamp lightly, apply cement, slowly pull out the fishing line and apply a little more clamping pressure. Also if you have access to a router with a flush trim bit w/ a bearing guide then you can leave the edges a little long and trim them off after the cement sets up. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

RanRoc · 01-11-2004, 09:14 AM

BigReepher, yes it is 1/4 inch, but I don't remember the dimensions off hand. The tank on the left is about 14 gallons total, and the one on the right is about 10 gallons total (total, that is, if filled all the way to the top). I had to build them separately in order to get it under my stand, otherwise I would've liked to build one big continuous one.
-RY

01-06-2004, 10:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Wow, that's a great idea. Can't wait to see it! __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

01-06-2004, 10:50 AM	#17 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,184 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for all the good Information, I just may one day DIY something with acrylic, I feel the need to experiment maybe a new sump! __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

01-06-2004, 12:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
Hooked Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 287 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nikki: I'm also looking forward to seeing the canopy. I hate the door on mine and want to redo it, but need ideas. Maybe I can steal an idea or two from an engineer and his brilliant wife __________________ Katrina 90 Gal AGA with 2-250W 10k AB DE MH, 220W VHO, Turboflotor 1000, GEO calcium reactor, Pacific Coast chiller, DIY phosphate reactor and nilsen kalk reactor, sps, clams, zoanthids, rose BTA, ocellaris clown, 2 green mandarins, royal gramma, purple tang, sargassum trigger, flame hawkfish, coral beauty, neon dottyback, purple and blue linckia star, brittlestars, snails, snails, snails

01-06-2004, 12:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I just added some links to the DIY (Research Section) on IPS Weld On glues, and how to use them effectively. Most info is straight from IPS Web Site. HTH __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

01-06-2004, 12:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, Troy! Katrina....no problem - I'm sure the engineer will have a million new ideas for a better canopy once we have installed lights in ours. __________________ ~Nikki~

01-06-2004, 03:59 PM	#21 (permalink)
Mary Evil Angel Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 269 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great thread Nikki! Got a question for the handymen that are answering the questions here. I have a scratch in my Nano tank that I want to remove. How do I do that and what do I use to do it? I know I will have to drain it, but need some guidance on the best way to do it. Thanks for any help! __________________ *~ Michigan Reefers ~* *~ My Photos ~*

01-06-2004, 04:07 PM	#22 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	mary i read a thread recently on a acrylic scratch removing product but can't remember the name sorry.maybe someone else remembers sorry but heres a bump anyway,maybe somebody will respond with the answer. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

01-06-2004, 04:17 PM	#23 (permalink)
Mary Evil Angel Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 269 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks WD! I figured someone here will guide me in the right direction to fix it. __________________ *~ Michigan Reefers ~* *~ My Photos ~*

01-10-2004, 09:24 PM	#24 (permalink)
reefer_wannabe Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rantoul, IL Posts: 34 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you decide to cut your own acrylic, I just bought a new table saw blade (10") from Lowes for about $11. It is a 200 teeth paneling/finishing blade. This thing works GREAT! My local plastic retailer wanted to charge $1.00 per cut, no warranty on straightness, acuracy, etc. With the amount of cuts I'll be making, it was cheaper to buy the blade and screw the cuts up myself! I also found, at Lowes, 1/4" extruded sheet acrylic in 2'X4' pieces for $35. I'm not sure if this is high or not, but my retailer charges by weight. Last time I was there, I paid like $6 for a few oz's of scrap. __________________ Bill http://www.cimaonline.us Join a local society or club today. You'll be glad you did!

01-10-2004, 09:44 PM	#25 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 659 View Gallery Karma Komment	RW my local plastics house gets $4 a sq foot for 1/4" extruded. So that price is not outrageous. __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

01-10-2004, 09:53 PM	#26 (permalink)
RanRoc Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central Florida: GO KNIGHTS!!! Posts: 443 View Gallery Karma Komment	I had HD finally cut my pieces...they were straighter than I could ever get them. And I sanded the edges to scuff them up a bit. I used Weld-On 16 from tapplastics.com...and electrical tape because I could stretch it then stick the pieces together very well. Remember (but I could be wrong), the taller the tank, the thicker the plastic should be. But once you get baffles in there, that should help keep everything together. Why do I feel like I'm posting this to the wrong thread? Oh well. HTH -RY __________________ My Disclaimer for any Advice I Give: I Could Be Wrong... Randy's Rockin' Reef MANGROVE ROOT GANG

01-11-2004, 04:45 AM	#27 (permalink)
BigReepher Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 474 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sweet looking sump and refuge RanRoc. Is that 1/4 acrylic? What are the dimensions? I use Craftics #33 clear-thickened acrylic cement. It's held everything I've put together so far. However it is on the quick drying side. Only advice I have is to make sure your cuts are square and that you plan your assembly carefully before applying the cement. I don't know if it's right or wrong but, after making the bond and using clamps to hold it together, I also run a fine bead of cement on the inside of the joint were the two pieces of acrylic join together. __________________ I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look.

01-11-2004, 07:49 AM	#28 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the responses guys! RW, we'll check out the prices and do a little comparison. Ranroc, great looking sump....and, no, you aren't posting that in the wrong place. BigReepher, I've read somewhere else about applying a bead on the inside seam, too. It must work all right, because so far I haven't had any responses that say, "Whatever you do, don't apply a bead of cement on the inside joint!!!"...LOL, I'm sure you aren't the only one that did it, and It seems to me it would only help with the bonding. __________________ ~Nikki~

01-11-2004, 08:00 AM	#29 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nikki, I was talking to Mojo on the phone about this and he suggested using thin fishing line run down the joint. Then clamp lightly, apply cement, slowly pull out the fishing line and apply a little more clamping pressure. Also if you have access to a router with a flush trim bit w/ a bearing guide then you can leave the edges a little long and trim them off after the cement sets up. Good luck and let us know how it goes. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

01-11-2004, 09:14 AM	#30 (permalink)
RanRoc Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central Florida: GO KNIGHTS!!! Posts: 443 View Gallery Karma Komment	BigReepher, yes it is 1/4 inch, but I don't remember the dimensions off hand. The tank on the left is about 14 gallons total, and the one on the right is about 10 gallons total (total, that is, if filled all the way to the top). I had to build them separately in order to get it under my stand, otherwise I would've liked to build one big continuous one. -RY __________________ My Disclaimer for any Advice I Give: I Could Be Wrong... Randy's Rockin' Reef MANGROVE ROOT GANG

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