DIY ACRYLIC 85gal AIO

What do you find is the best way to cut the acrylic..I only have available to me a table saw,band saw and jigsaw...what would work better and what kind of blade do I need..Thanks...BTW...looking AWESOME..

 

I wish you were my neighbor!! Looks like you are one heck of a craftsman and I'd commission one of these from you for sure.

 

Jkat21, I use a Freud 80tooth, 3deghook Doublesided Laminat/Melamine blade for the tablesaw. And for the bandsaw and jigsaw the more teeth per inch the better. Try to use a slow speed on the bavdsaw and jigsaw. I only use those tools for rough cuts. Followed by either a router or a cardscraper. I depends on what the application the acrylic is going to be used for.

Costie R. Thanks for the kind words. Shipping is always an option,LOL

 

cool thanks..im just looking to do simplish box to cover my heatsink for an led build..

 

Jkat21 if that is all you are building I wouldnt go out and buy a $120 saw blade. A run of the mill combination blade will cut it just fine. But you will still need to clean the edge of the saw blade marks to get a solid glue line

 

Gotcha..I will get one of those scrapers to clean the ends with..

 

I built a mock-up of the tank so I could build the face frame with out having to lift the tank up and down on the bench. (its heavy)

The upright green panel represents the right wall and the acrylic sheet represents the back wall corner.

I used bisque's to join the face frame



A little plane work to clean up any saw marks

I need access to the rear of the tank for the skimmer and the closed loop pump. I made a sliding panel.



Joint detail for the slider

 

I will put some Q maple panels on the face frame. I will stain them to bring out the figure.



Had to build another mock-up wall the one on the bench was to high to build the hood

Tape will help control the glue squeeze out

All glued up

I worked on some of the trim profiles

 

I started the hood with the fuge section. Again no light is to get into the DT from the fuge. I made this part of the hood to be accessible without having to touch the main part of the hood. I will install a fan at the back of this compartment, blowing in. The hole in the top will let the air flow out.



This will help reflect the light



Here you see the 1/2'' elevation for air flow

 

I can only say WOW!