looking for a acrylic or lexan

[ckwatson]

I am going to build my sump this weekend. I am using a 24 gallon long tank. I will be adding the baffles sat. I am looking for a place to get acrylic or even better lexan (if it is tank safe). I am also thinking about getting my tank drilled, anyone know a place in smyrna or marrietta that can do it and does a good job.

kyle

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Lowes carry the best stock of both acrylic and lexan..

Cap Bay can drill the tank for you.

 

[roundman]

chrisjet has become a drilling fool. I would contact him

 

[wbholwell]

Charlie, I've got another project in the works that requires some thin acrylic/lexan. I don't remember you having any thin stuff- what's the thinnest you've got?

 

[scsinet]

You can also call Piedmont Plastics and ask for Beverly. She spent a great deal of time on the phone with me discussing their various acrylic choices. I ended up with a 50x98" piece of 3/8" cell cast for about $200, about the best price I've ever seen on that thickness. The stock I got is called "PMG" Acrylic if I remember correctly. They often have large size remnants from cutting down larger sized pieces for customers, which is what this was.

Lowes and Home Depot only carry extruded acrylic, which will work okay for a sump but it will distort and warp some as it absorbs water.

 

[ckwatson]

will lexan absorb water and warp like acrylic will?

 

[scsinet]

All acrylic absorbs water and warps to some extent, but cell cast does not do it nearly as bad as extruded. Lexan is just a trademarked name for extruded acrylic.

 

[seedless reefer]

Whats the best way to cut this stuff?

The cutter I bought at Lowes doesn't work worth a ****.

 

[scsinet]

Table saw. Lowe's sells a Freud Avanti ultra fine crosscut blade, 80 tooth, 10". This blade works VERY well.

You can cut it with a jigsaw, but the big thing about cutting acrylic is perfectly straight cuts, or the strength of the assembled piece drops dramatically, along with a rise in the chances of leaks.

I've heard of people using a circular saw, which I suppose is possible IF you find a suitable blade, but the same goes as above.

 

[scsinet]

Seedless Reefer;74685 wrote: Whats the best way to cut this stuff?

The cutter I bought at Lowes doesn't work worth a ****.

If powder springs is anywhere close to Cumming, you can always come by and run the pieces on my table saw.

 

[chibils]

Acrylic won't seal to a glass tank, will it?

 

[victor626nj]

use acrylic not lexan as it doesnt weld as good as acrylic does just what i heard

 

[scsinet]

Lexan is just a brand name of acrylic, so it won't make a difference. There isn't anything out there that bonds to glass, acrylic, AND seals. Silicon seals and bonds to glass, but won't bond acrylic. Weldon won't bond to glass, and superglue doesn't seal.

The best way to do it, such as when installing acrylic overflows or baffles into a tank, is to use superglue to establish a structural bond, then silicon to seal it. Silicon will seal it okay if the joint is not stressed. Another way is to silicon both sides of the joint so the acrylic is "clamped" in between beads of silicon.

 

[victor626nj]

well lexan make polycarbonate which looks like acrylic and they say is stranger than acrylic but doesnt weld very well thats what i ment sorry

 

[roland jacques]

wow,
Lexan is not a brand it a type of "plexi" like flaco says, polycarbonate. Not a very good choice for welding... bullet proof yes, sumps no??? It also bends & scratches easy.

Cell cast is the best for fabrication cuts good, welds good ... HD does not carry it (last i checked) HD sells extruded acrylic Works OK at best last i checked HD does not sell any thick stuff. i would look for at least 1/4".

GOOP well bond Glass to acrylic, It a little runny to work with but holds awesome.

 

[scsinet]

Roland Jacques;74825 wrote: GOOP well bond Glass to acrylic, It a little runny to work with but holds awesome.

How well does it seal and how do the joints appear when done? I've used goop before but never to bond glass to acrylic.

 

[roland jacques]

The appearance depends on how good you are with it. ( you might want to tape it off) If you have big gaps it will not fill in very good. Remember it a little runny, that makes it harder to work with than silicon. Do not get it wet AT ALL for 24 hours and your surface has to be DRY.