bonding acrylic pieces together

[Rosco's Reefs]

I am building a bracket out of two pieces of 1\4" acrylic and would to glue\bond two pieces together on the thin sides to form the top of the bracket. What glue or bonding compound have people use successfully? I could just heat it and bend it but that stuff is way expensive. Ideas appreciated. Thx

[Origami]

Ross, not sure what you mean "that stuff is way expensive." Just heat the acrylic piece in the oven set to 275-300 degrees and it becomes pliable. Alternatively, use a heat gun to soften it and bend it into the desired shape. You can get an inexpensive, but perfectly usable heat gun at Harbor Freight Tools. Your nearest one is off Lost Knife Rd in Gaithersburg.

 

As for "glue," you're going to want to solvent weld the bracket. For that, you'll probably need Weldon 16 (which has a thin gel-like consistency) or Weldon 4 (water thin).

[Kevin Garrison]

Weldon #16 best stuff... EVER... I fixed a protein skimmer with it.

[Coral Hind]

I have some scrap 1/4" if you mess up and need some more. It bends really easily. I have made several brackets by heating it over the stove and bending around the edges of a door.

[Rosco's Reefs]

Expensive means I went to home depot and they want a fortune for it. Anyone have other sources? Finally, who sells weldon? Thx

[Coral Hind]

Have you already bought the acrylic?

[Rosco's Reefs]

Nope. I'd like about a 4 ft x 4 inch x 1\4 piece. Thx.

[Coral Hind]

I can bring it to Rockville Monday or Tuesday. Send me a PM when we can meet.

[Rosco's Reefs]

Thx, I will.

[ArtFully Acrylic (Adam B)]

If you mean you are trying to butt two thin ends together for welding you will get better results by chamfering the edges to get more surface area to weld that isn't vertical.

 

Cheapest way to use a heat gun for it if you are going to bend is to buy one at Home Depot and return the next day but I didn't tell you that rofl.

 

If doing in the oven make sure the wife isn't home and that your oven is electric. Gas is to risky.

 

As for weld-on if you need 16 but only have 3 or 4 most people don't know you can make your own if you have a router. The acrylic shavings from routing the acrylic edges can be mixed with 3 or 4 in small increments till it reaches the thicker consistency you want . Just make sure you have a thick gauge syringe to handle the thicker solvent.

 

Hope this helps.