Acrylic question

[gotfish]

I built a 20x20x12 acrylic tank last night. Question I have is there are some areas where the seams have bubbles. Can I just use some weld-on 16 on the seams as basically a caulk? That should bond the inner seams correct? Or, am I pretty much screwed and just break the seams before they really bond together, sand them down and start over again? I'm just worried the thing isn't going to be strong enough or that it will eventually leak or something. Maybe I'm just overly cautious though.

 

[matts125]

that depends on how bad the bubbles are. if the joints are mostly welded on a tank that small it should hold together. how thick of acrylic? post some pictures of those joints before you fill it and i can give you a better idea...

Matt

 

[gotfish]

that depends on how bad the bubbles are. if the joints are mostly welded on a tank that small it should hold together. how thick of acrylic? post some pictures of those joints before you fill it and i can give you a better idea...

Matt

Kind of crappy photos cause without the flash, the bubbles wouldn't show, but hope you can get the gist of what I'm talking about.

 

[matts125]

that is plenty enough for me to say that the tank is going to leak. the joints are mostly unglued/not welded. Because of the small size of the tank it probably will hold together but will leak unless you seal the inside of the joints with weldon 16...

Definatly practice practice practice before you try a larger tank... (those joints wont cut it on a larger tank)

Have fun...

Matt

 

[sgwill122]

I built a tank of similar dimensions and and similar results in the seams, no problems. I did add weldon16 to each of the seams since it is not a display tank.

 

[JPG@CFI]

I would break thoes joints and start fresh. What kind of solvent are you using? I would go with some weld on 40. It is a 2 part system, but most forgiving to edge finish. Make sure the edges are square, and that the panels are square, and get some blue painters tape. If you need some help, PM me. Good luck, and have fun! Jason

 

[gotfish]

I would break thoes joints and start fresh. What kind of solvent are you using? I would go with some weld on 40. It is a 2 part system, but most forgiving to edge finish. Make sure the edges are square, and that the panels are square, and get some blue painters tape. If you need some help, PM me. Good luck, and have fun! Jason

So sand down all the sides and base where the seems were at? I used weld on 3. I probably should have used 4 instead I imagine just to give myself some more time. Is there any place local where I can get the weld on 40? Do you use a brush to apply it?

 

[kgross]

I would also suggest starting over, but if you want to keep what you have, rather than using weldon 16 as a calk, use the weldon 40.

40 can be hard to use. I like to use a syringe to apply it to be honest.

You should be able to get 40, where ever you got the 3 and 16.

Kim