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3/4” should do u… acrylic cuts just like wood… not terrible at all to router it out urself…i use regular bits for wood. orrrr u can maybe do 2 rods that meet in the middle to cover up the old… another “idea” is to use a thin piece of 1/4” acrylic vertical that spans over the existing rod at a 45 degree angle… then u can basically mix up 40 and fill in the entire void behind the thin sheet with solid liquid acrylic encapsulating the old rod lol… i did this on my 500g i had no help to move. It essentially makes a “beveled” seam look… hope u understand the last idea. It might b the easiest for u. U can kinda take the small acrylic corner piece in with #16 or solvent then fill up the entire thing with 40 behind the sheet. All depends on ur lid tho. I actually had to drill a hole in the top of the tank to fill up the new seam with 40…
Thanks bro!!! Sooo, i measured the existing rod with callipers. I got a few different measurements but it seems like 9.2 mm square from tank wall to edge of existing rod. What size square rod would you use to fit over it? 3/4 inch? And would you cut 9.3 mm right angle out to make room for glue and still hit tank wall?
And now that the guy who said he could get me the new rods has stopped answering me, who sells and "routs" square rods. Any ideas?
All good man… thread might help someone else who reads it with a similar issue… makes sense anyone with a business might b afraid for liability reasons… or like ive said earlier they also probably dont know any better. Ive ordered weld on 40 through acrylic shops who had no idea what it even was. My local shop now uses #42 (pre measured 40 that mixes when applied with a special gun) to build large displays for museums… every other glue they tried/sold things built with failed over time… so yes “a little bit of 40” will most definitely hold 1 seam together. It goes a long way. U can honestly use 2 rods on either side of whatever’s in there to repair it also. Just think of it as “seams” u now have 2 since the existing rod failed. As long as u reseal both of them again the tank will hold. Its holding right now as we talk about it full and running, and that shows u the strength of acrylic alone. Ive repaired much worse holding back double/triple the gallons… about anything is possible with acrylic. As for routering out the L and space to leave… have the gap cut slightly larger than the rod thats in there. Doesnt have to even be precise. Whatever amt the glue fills in will hold 1/16-1/8 to 1/4” even. Gotta remember that sheet is also being held in place by the top and bottom also. Ur more so just “re sealing it”… if it were gonna “pop” it would have already lol… very very very rarely will an acrylic tank just explode. It would have had to been made wrong from the start… really wrong lol… like the wrong glue, or material and if that were the case, again it would have let go already.
No please keep this thread going. I am learning about all this and following along as I am just about to get into a project that could be similar to this.
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Exellent! 1 step closer my man ?… u can use a gram scale to measure out glue/hardener or convert the amounts using metal measuring spoons and the cheap measuring/mixing cups used for paint. Either way works pretty well. The mixing ratio is (20:1) i believe sooo… example 100 grams of glue ud need 5 grams of hardener. Keep it simple work with numbers that are easy like 100:5… 200:10… 50:2.5 and so on. If ur doing 2 rods dont try to do both at once. Be patient take what time u have… it sets up in 15-20min so plan ur steps first. Anything u mix in or use like a brush will most likely be trashed after it sets so get enough for 2 mixes, maybe an extra just to be safe. It can be peeled out of plastic mixing containers once dried and wiped off ur measuring spoons before it sets up. Numbers were never my strong suit, but u can convert grams to milliliters then to table spoons for example to get the amounts u need and use. Id estimate 50 grams would be a good amt for one rod… probably too much but if u got a pint kit ull have way more than u need anyway so 2 batches of 50 grams/milliliters will leave u with most of the pint. Better to have too much than not enough once u slap it on the rod and stick it on… u got 1 shot to do it… I use a gram scale these days for mixing my silicones for molding and its pretty easy… in my glue pouring days i always used milliters, measuring cups and spoons just fine tho. The smell is bad i cant deny that lol… open windows, run a fan… escape to fresh air afterwards. My wife almost left me one time for pouring almost a gallon in 1 day indoors many many moons ago ????. If u have a family, send em on a day trip lol. Wear a respirator if u have one. At the least tie a shirt/bandana around ur face orrrr put ur “mask” on i know everyones got those handy now. It will b the worst when ur leaning over the tank working with it…ive been trapped inside tanks using it and went to space ??… if possible mix in ur bathroom with exhaust fan or even outside. That will help a bit. Keep a fan on u and or the tank aswell. Might sounds crazy but like with welding drinking milk before hand can help and a pro tip is eat a tylenol before hand…seriously it works. Now that ive scared ya a bit ? it wont b too bad. Ur using a very small amt. as ive said ive poured up to a gallon in one day before and thats where u really gotta b careful. Refrigeration is not necessary ive never done or heard of that.
Ok...i ordered the rods and weldon 40. Wont be in til next week. When u get a chance can you give me an idea about what might be helpful in how to mix the product, gloves, brushes and how bad my house is going to smell. Did i read its best to refrigerate the weldon 40? Anything that will help. Thanks again!
And give us an idea how fishing is going!
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