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General => General => Topic started by: Grahamm on 30 June 2020, 09:12:36 pm

Title: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Grahamm on 30 June 2020, 09:12:36 pm: I want to create a watertight case made from clear acrylic (about 2 foot long by 2" wide by 4" high), but I'm after some advice on how to seal it.

Yes, I can buy acrylic glue,but it's ludicrously expensive (about £20 for a small container) and that would cost twice as much as the materials :(

Given the size of it, using some form of caulk or sealant wouldn't really be feasible because it would be very difficult to get it into the interior.

So can anyone recommend an alternative that would work?
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: coffee on 03 July 2020, 12:05:13 am: I wonder if you could carefully "weld" it with a hot knife/thin scraper, I've done it with plastic but not sure about acrylic.You can get some good stuff now for cracked aquariums that's not as expensive as you were saying.
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Dudeofrude on 03 July 2020, 08:44:49 am: Disclaimer... I have no clue about any of this haha
But the first thing that springs to my mind is fish tank sealant?

https://www.sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk/silicones_and_sealants/aquarium_vivarium_terrarium_sealants/everbuild_aqua_mate_aquaria_aquarium_silicone_sealant_clear_aquatr_P23509.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5rq53Mqw6gIVEu7tCh0mIwYbEAQYASABEgLkRPD_BwE (https://www.sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk/silicones_and_sealants/aquarium_vivarium_terrarium_sealants/everbuild_aqua_mate_aquaria_aquarium_silicone_sealant_clear_aquatr_P23509.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5rq53Mqw6gIVEu7tCh0mIwYbEAQYASABEgLkRPD_BwE)

Could you not use some kind of cheap generic no nails or glue then seal the entire inside with fish tank sealant?
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Grahamm on 03 July 2020, 01:03:50 pm: Quote from: coffee on 03 July 2020, 12:05:13 am
I wonder if you could carefully "weld" it with a hot knife/thin scraper

Unfortunately that wouldn't be viable due to the length of the pieces :(
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Grahamm on 03 July 2020, 01:05:47 pm: Quote from: Dudeofrude on 03 July 2020, 08:44:49 am
Could you not use some kind of cheap generic no nails or glue then seal the entire inside with fish tank sealant?

I've looked at that possibility, but I'm trying not to add extra complexity.

Thanks anyway.
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: BBROWN1664 on 03 July 2020, 01:58:04 pm: Superglue along the entire joint length?

It should fuse the two pieces together.
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Grahamm on 03 July 2020, 05:51:37 pm: Quote from: BBROWN1664 on 03 July 2020, 01:58:04 pm
Superglue along the entire joint length?

Superglue isn't good on plastics.

The "proper" acrylic glue is like a solvent which melts the plastic so it bonds as one piece, however, as mentioned above, it's ridiculously expensive.

There are potentially alternatives (eg I've seen someone online suggesting acetone), but I was wondering if anyone here had experience of using acrylic and could suggest anything else.

Thanks anyway.
Title: Re: Foccer font of all knowledge - Sticking acrylic
Post by: Fazian on 03 July 2020, 06:18:03 pm: Solvent weld from a plumbers merchants isn't expensive but not sure if it will work on acrylic, I use it on waste pipes all the time but you have to apply then twist so it really gets spread properly so I would suggest if you use it you would have to apply to both surfaces then rub them together a couple of times.