Video: Gluing a bubble-free acrylic seam
- Thread starter melev
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2016
- Messages
- 5,348
- Reaction score
- 6,710
Thank u. For the video and for ur site u have helped me out with a lot of ideas.
Justin
Justin
revhtree
Owner Administrator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
RGB
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
R2R TV Featured
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Black Friday Sponsor
Industry Professional
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- May 8, 2006
- Messages
- 49,239
- Reaction score
- 98,071
- Seller Rating
- 4 ★
- Rating Count
Very cool and thanks for sharing!
Chris Ferrell
Community Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2016
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 51
- Location
- Houston TX
- What state or country do you live in
- Texas
Nice!
Nice quick video on the pins method @melev thanks for sharing!
OP
OP
melev
Avid Hobbyist
I use a table jointer to get all my edges perfectly smooth. I've been doing that for about a decade. If I get a CNC later this year, I'll retire that machine.
OP
OP
melev
Avid Hobbyist
It's not as easy as it looks, and the thicker the material, the harder that is to accomplish. I've been working with acrylic more than a decade, and a couple of years ago I went to an acrylic workshop to improve my skillset. I want it perfect whenever possible.
TinyChocobo
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2016
- Messages
- 708
- Reaction score
- 352
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
I know from a cosmetic standpoint bubbles are an issue - but from a strength/reliability standpoint is a tiny bubble in a huge/wide seam an issue [beyond cosmetics]?
To be honest I work with wood and Acrylic seems to be very similar in nature in regards to working with it / prepping it. I'm looking at building an acrylic sump and while I don't need perfection as far as cosmetics I need perfection as far as it not coming apart on me down the road
.
To be honest I work with wood and Acrylic seems to be very similar in nature in regards to working with it / prepping it. I'm looking at building an acrylic sump and while I don't need perfection as far as cosmetics I need perfection as far as it not coming apart on me down the road
.
OP
OP
melev
Avid Hobbyist
It just comes down to how big the bubble is. The larger the void, the less strong the seam. I've seen some gorgeous reefs in acrylic tanks so bad, I warned the owner to order a new one immediately and get it switched out. Where more than 50% of the seam was failing, and it was just a matter of time.
The benefit of acrylic welding to acrylic, it can be more forgiving than silicone and glass.
If your sump project is square and well supported, it should last a long time.
The benefit of acrylic welding to acrylic, it can be more forgiving than silicone and glass.
If your sump project is square and well supported, it should last a long time.
I've seen the same thing Marc! Our LFS has a 600 that has those white gaps in the bottom seam where the joints have completely separated. Some 6" long! On vertical seams and horizontal seams, it looks like the only thing holding in that area is the fillet bead, it's nuts - and it's been that way for over 5 years, it's crazy what some people will ignore. It's a ticking time bomb...I'm waiting for the day when that tank rips wide open.
Getting every single minuscule bubble out of a seam is much more of an art than a skill I think. And not one that I can claim to have mastered, but then again I don't build a ton of things these days
This is IMO the key to a long lifespan of an acrylic tank - don't do a cheap stand and put it on doubled up 3/4" plywood
