4'x3'x17" all acrylic build
- Thread starter Silent Bob
- Start date
If this one doesn't explode that has possibilities. PM me when your ready. If you can't tell I have the DIY bug right now lol.
Would be better if I could get around to cutting the bottom.
Epic tank or epic failure. We shall see.
For the little guy calling it home it will be.
4-6mm is what your aiming for.
A larger gap means more cement, more cement = more heating. More heating = an exothermic reaction which is essentially the cement boiling from the heat. The boiling is what causes excess bubbles. By keeping the gap 4-6mm when bonding you are allowing enough cement for it to polymerize properly and not to much for it to boil.
Hope that makes better sense.
A larger gap means more cement, more cement = more heating. More heating = an exothermic reaction which is essentially the cement boiling from the heat. The boiling is what causes excess bubbles. By keeping the gap 4-6mm when bonding you are allowing enough cement for it to polymerize properly and not to much for it to boil.
Hope that makes better sense.
I agree. 4-6mm seems large, huge even.
I could be way off here, but with acrylic aren't you looking for < 1mm?
You may bash me now
I could be way off here, but with acrylic aren't you looking for < 1mm?
You may bash me now
Phixer it makes perfect sense to me and appreciate the post. I just can't see 4-6mm being right. Your talking about almost an 1/8"-1/4" glue gap? Sure you don't mean .4-.6mm?
Hi Bob. Yes thats a pretty big gap, after the cement is poured I nudge the panels closer together with a rubber dead blow mallet. When bonding with 2 part cements 20% shrinkage is the norm. As the cement polymerizes the panels will be pulled together closing the gap. Easy for 1/4 -1/2 material on it's own but needs assistance for the thicker stuff which is generally what the 2 part cement is used for anyhow.
Most folks dont consider these factors and end up with excess bubbles or creases in the joint. If the panels are not allowed to move as the cement dries you end up with creases in the joint, this is very common and looks like this (see attached photo). If the panels are too large and heavy to move on their own (i.e sheet of 2" thick material) they need to be moved closer together by hand as the cement dries.I hope that makes more sense. Yes, a 6mm gap when dry would be too big.
Update time. Finally brought the bottom home so I can finish putting this tank together. Test fit all the parts tonight and will start gluing tomorrow.
