Acrylic Fabrication Q & A

[cromag27]

Nice seams! I'd leave it a week before filling it. you don't need to finish the edges if you don't want to.

 

[dbl]

Nice seams! I'd leave it a week before filling it. you don't need to finish the edges if you don't want to.

Thanks. Made that decision easy, the edges are complete then! I will fill it next weekend and see if it stays together.

 

[cromag27]

Then you have 4 months to worry about any issues

 

[SerpentSlick]

That looks sweet!

 

[dbl]

That looks sweet!

Thanks.

Then you have 4 months to worry about any issues

4 Months? Wow! Well, the positive is the bottom of my stand is lined and can hold about 25 gallons of water.

 

[cromag27]

4 months for maximum water absorption. of course you can always still have issues down the road.

Whether it's tenacity or just plain hard headedness, I think I may be getting the hang of this acrylic thing. A huge thanks to @Floyd R Turbo, @cromag08, @Lowell Lemon for helping me out last week and not giving up on this acrylic newbie!

My 16"w×18"d×20"h ATO box is built. Just going to make a lid for it. I Have no idea if it holds water as I want to give it a few days to completely cure. As this is my first project, it will be filled and tested on the driveway. My wife hates water on the floor!!!

Due to its height and because I used 1/4" material, I put some angled cross braces in it to help prevent it from bowing when full. Not sure if it was necessary or if they will even work, but they're in there.

Let me know if you see anything that I should be concerned about. I don't remember reading (although I'm sure it has been mentioned) how to finish the trimmed edges, or if it's even necessary. It's for personal use under a stand so I was just going to leave them "router finished".

Here's a couple shots of the completed box and two different seems. Again, thanks for the help.

Thanks.



4 Months? Wow! Well, the positive is the bottom of my stand is lined and can hold about 25 gallons of water.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

@cromag08 @Lowell Lemon correct me if I'm wrong but you can fill test it after ~48 hours (then empty it) it's just that you want to let it cure for a week for long term use because the solvent welded seams adsorb water at a higher rate than the acrylic panels, and this rate lowers to (closely) match the panel adsorbtion rate after a week. It's not that the seams are going to fly apart, they're pretty much at full strength after 24 hours. But they will still adsorb water faster and this is what affects seams long term

The thicker the material, the longer the full cure time. So 3/8" = 2 weeks, 1/2" = 3 weeks, 3/4" = 1 month, something like that

 

[cromag27]

Correct, I have always understood the same. but my logic is - what can you tell by filling it momentarily? if there's a leak right off the bat, then you have bigger issues (fabrication- wise). when I fill vessels to leak test for several days, I wait the week (or however long) first.

@cromag08 @Lowell Lemon correct me if I'm wrong but you can fill test it after ~48 hours (then empty it) it's just that you want to let it cure for a week for long term use because the solvent welded seams adsorb water at a higher rate than the acrylic panels, and this rate lowers to (closely) match the panel adsorbtion rate after a week. It's not that the seams are going to fly apart, they're pretty much at full strength after 24 hours. But they will still adsorb water faster and this is what affects seams long term

The thicker the material, the longer the full cure time. So 3/8" = 2 weeks, 1/2" = 3 weeks, 3/4" = 1 month, something like that

 

[dbl]

I'll just give it a week and fill it. I'd like to leave it for a few days "just to make sure". And yes, I realize we can always have issues down the road, I'm just hoping I don't...lol.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Well done and you can leave the edges unpolished but ease them a bit to avoid sharp edges.

Don't have any special knowledge about cure time and water absorbtion rates and when they reach a plateau. In most cases the tanks I built were dry from a couple of days to several weeks due to fabrication and delivery times. So some would sit around for months and some were shipped in a couple of days after completion.

I did have to static load some large tanks and measure deflection rates after one month before delivery to the customer. I did not record any increase in deflection over the period of the month from day one to day 30. So I am not sure what that proves.

I do know that water does affect the acrylic and will provide spectacular failures if you use to thin of a guage however.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

Correct, I have always understood the same. but my logic is - what can you tell by filling it momentarily? if there's a leak right off the bat, then you have bigger issues (fabrication- wise). when I fill vessels to leak test for several days, I wait the week (or however long) first.

It just shows you that your joints are strong and done correctly. If they are not strong you will know right away. IMO though you can tell visually if a solvent joint is strong and correct after about an hour

 

[cromag27]

Yeah I rely on a visual inspection, rather than filling it. either will work I guess. it's less work to just look at it. lol.

It just shows you that your joints are strong and done correctly. If they are not strong you will know right away. IMO though you can tell visually if a solvent joint is strong and correct after about an hour

 

[dbl]

It just shows you that your joints are strong and done correctly. If they are not strong you will know right away. IMO though you can tell visually if a solvent joint is strong and correct after about an hour

Well they look good to me but what the heck do I know...lol. I will just wait a week and try it out as I'm in no hurry. This is just a small part of a larger project!

 

[dbl]

Last update from me and then I will leave everyone alone...lol. About 30 hours in to my ATO box leak test and all is well. Haven't noticed any bowing at all and it's filled to the top. Just for fun, I used RO/DI, 0 TDS water to fill it for the test. I filled it outside under a covered area, stuck the lid I made for it on, and 30 hours later, it's still registering 0 TDS. I was actually a little surprised about that part.

Anyway, just one last word of thanks to all those that helped me with this project. I have a new found respect for you folks working with acrylic. I also have a little confidence in myself to try some other projects. I'll still be lurking around this thread for new tricks and tips. Thanks so much.

 

[cromag27]

nice job david!

 

[cromag27]

Magnet holders!!!!!!!!

 

[TherealplexiG]

This stuff is awesome...

 

[cromag27]

That's a lot of grits!

 

[TherealplexiG]

There are wide range of products with them like belts, sheets, foam blocks, pads etc...
This one would be good for inside corners..

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

I've actually been to Wilton, IA lol

I have 2 of these kits, but I haven't used them in a while. Those little pieces of sandpaper are really durable though. They're cloth so they hold up forever