Frame broken, build one "myself"?

[BIGJchar]

I have seen a boatload of architectural aluminum, my friend.

I was an engineer at the Kawneer company in the 80's and we had a 12" extrusion press that made window frames etc. All our stuff was usually 60-63 T5 and bronze anodized or clear anodized.

That works but then when you cut the pieces the edges are going to corrode. If you weld up the whole frame and then have it anodized then the welds will look funny. Kynar 500 paint was all the rage.

About the time I left they quit pressing and put in a paint line, and started painting for the other company presses. At the time I think they had seven plants worldwide.

As long as you paint the aluminum well and don't scrape it up it will be fine. I had painted aluminum braces on several of my tank lids for years.

Now days everybody likes Plasti Dip for fish tank stuff but I have never used it on an aquarium myself.

Yeah I was definitely going to have it all welded. Then going to paint it after. I seen a tank with all white trim and white stand I'm thinking of going that direction and making a canopy to boot.

So what's the easiest way to get the old top frame off of its siliconed on? I have a feeling this is going to be a bear.

 

[The Morning]

It is not easy. They are siliconed on. I had to use a knife and slide it between the frame and the glass and cut as much as possible. Then pry of the plastic frame. Most of the frame ended up breaking and I had to break off chunks.

 

[monkeybike]

It is not easy. They are siliconed on. I had to use a knife and slide it between the frame and the glass and cut as much as possible. Then pry of the plastic frame. Most of the frame ended up breaking and I had to break off chunks.

2x4 and a rubber mallet, blast it off!

 

[Ulu]

I just cut them into pieces longwise with a razor. Old styrene frames are not worth saving.

 

[jsodwi]

I did something very similar to what The Morning did. No problems and stronger than factory.