Glueing acrylic

I'm sure it can be done. But to get the seam right would be extremely difficult. And to get it done at home without distortions would be next to impossible IMO. Best left to the experts I would think.

 

Bending acrylic, sure - Trying to make multiple bends and line up seems or making cylinders no, would love to see someone try it though :

 

I'm sure if you built a jig or fixture, then with the appropriate heat source, and some gloves !..you could make some amazing stuff...you said you had a bunch of it...Get r did! ;D

I have a frag rack made of acrylic...one 90 bend and 12 holes for plugs..couple rubber covered magnets from a craft store....Here is a link from where I got the idea... check it out..they have corner units etc.

Eshopps AEO19105 12 in. Frag Rack Clear Straight (689076035514) | eBay

 

Yeah when I get time ill mess around with something and see what happends lol

 

Proper way to glue for professional edge

First of all ... no matter how good your blade is, and that includes $400 C5 grade carbide blades, a raw sawcut will have very fine chips along the edges. They may be hard to see with a high quality.. new blade, but they are there. When you apply solvent, it will enter those chips and expand them. As the solvent evaporates, and the melted acrylic merge together, the material contracts. This causes micro fissures. When water is added, it expands the acrylic (2% absorption of water) and this increases the fissures, with is edge crazing and possibly, eventual degredated cracks.

You must finish the edge, with a sharp router bit or sharp jointer. This takes off enough material to go below the micro cracks.

This allows a perfect seams (clear, no bubbles) and with quality material will last along time without much degredation.

 

Heh acrylic absorbing water cracked my 1st 40 breeder and caused a huge puddle in my living room lol.

 

I'm building a fuge /sump/return...using silicone only....so far so good...and I sanded but I am certain I didn't go that deep, just really knocked the edges off, so as to remove burr's...commercial cut, but sealed with silicone, I think a bit coarser was better?
Here's my build..no weld, but it's not going to be fully filled tank, with professional edge either....just another way to "skin a cat" ;D
: )
check it out..
http://www.3reef.com/forums/refugiu...-build-thread-new-photos-page-4-a-131595.html