Bending Acrylic

Dennis7 · 11-21-2003, 03:10 PM

I have bent acrylic before with a heat gun, but have a large overflow approx. 24" x 25" that I will be making. I just wanted to hear other opinions/ options on bending a larger piece.

SOCAL-Rich · 11-21-2003, 03:13 PM

the heat tape wont do large pieces?

Dennis7 · 11-21-2003, 03:15 PM

Thanks,
I was thinking of making a form out of wood for the overflow then using the heat gun to bend it to the shape of the form.
Does anyone see why this wouldn't work?

sorcerer · 11-21-2003, 03:22 PM

That should work as long as you keep the heat to the level to bend without thinning out the acrylic. I've got a friend that shapes plastics for a variety of projects and I've made wood forms for him a few times.

Dennis7 · 11-21-2003, 05:55 PM

Cool, thanks Walt!

EdgeKrusher · 11-21-2003, 05:57 PM

Hey could you do a pictoral documentation on how you do this? That would be very sweet.

Peace

EK

RogueCorps · 11-21-2003, 06:10 PM

Hey Dennis,

I don't think that's too large a part to be done with a heat gun, but a strip heater would have a much better result I think. Also a sheet of felt is a good buffer between the wood form surface and the plastic.

-Rogue

Dennis7 · 11-22-2003, 02:08 AM

Rogue,
You are probably right on the heat strip. I didn't want to spend the money now on that. I will give that felt idea a try, sounds good.
Thanks,
Dennis

wooddood · 11-22-2003, 04:53 AM

if it works dennis let us know.and a few pics would be great.thanks. dave.

Dennis7 · 11-22-2003, 11:37 AM

Will do.

Pro_builder · 11-22-2003, 08:43 PM

You can use a heat gun for that size. I would definately use the felt too. If that doesn't work for ya, get a fan tip for a soildering torch and turn it down real low. I have used that with better results.
Just my 2 cents

Dennis7 · 11-23-2003, 01:41 AM

Thanks, I will keep that in mine.

Dennis7 · 11-23-2003, 03:17 AM

I will post pictures within a week. My 120gal just came in, painted the back today, needs 1-2 coats more. Next will be designing the overflow. This will be a center overflow with 2 Durso standpipes that I will construct.

11-21-2003, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Bending Acrylic I have bent acrylic before with a heat gun, but have a large overflow approx. 24" x 25" that I will be making. I just wanted to hear other opinions/ options on bending a larger piece.

11-21-2003, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, I was thinking of making a form out of wood for the overflow then using the heat gun to bend it to the shape of the form. Does anyone see why this wouldn't work? __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-21-2003, 03:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
sorcerer Court Computer Wiz Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 252 View Gallery Karma Komment	That should work as long as you keep the heat to the level to bend without thinning out the acrylic. I've got a friend that shapes plastics for a variety of projects and I've made wood forms for him a few times. __________________ ------------ walt --------------------- ...and I thought woodworking was an expensive hobby..... 75G Oceanic Reef Tank, 30G Acrylic sump, 12G fuge, AquaC EV-120 skimmer, AquaMedic Kalkwasser Reactor, Mag 12 return pump, FlexiFlow dosing pump. 2-250W AB 10,000K MH, 2 95W Actinic VHO Sorcerer's Home Office Reef - 12G JBJ Nanocube, Minijet 606 pump, 50W heater, 12lbs LR ----------- http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner4.gif

11-21-2003, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cool, thanks Walt! __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-21-2003, 05:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
EdgeKrusher Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey could you do a pictoral documentation on how you do this? That would be very sweet. Peace EK __________________ ((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸>< ((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸. `·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.

11-21-2003, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
SOCAL-Rich Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 30 View Gallery Karma Komment	the heat tape wont do large pieces?

11-21-2003, 06:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
RogueCorps Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 106 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey Dennis, I don't think that's too large a part to be done with a heat gun, but a strip heater would have a much better result I think. Also a sheet of felt is a good buffer between the wood form surface and the plastic. -Rogue __________________ Mantis Shrimp Rights Activist - Have you hugged your stomatopod today?

11-22-2003, 02:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Rogue, You are probably right on the heat strip. I didn't want to spend the money now on that. I will give that felt idea a try, sounds good. Thanks, Dennis __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-22-2003, 04:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	if it works dennis let us know.and a few pics would be great.thanks. dave. __________________ 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.

11-22-2003, 11:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Will do. __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-22-2003, 08:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	You can use a heat gun for that size. I would definately use the felt too. If that doesn't work for ya, get a fan tip for a soildering torch and turn it down real low. I have used that with better results. Just my 2 cents __________________ -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!!

11-23-2003, 01:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, I will keep that in mine. __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

11-23-2003, 03:17 AM	#13 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	I will post pictures within a week. My 120gal just came in, painted the back today, needs 1-2 coats more. Next will be designing the overflow. This will be a center overflow with 2 Durso standpipes that I will construct. __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)