Mattiejay6 August 20, 2013 Share August 20, 2013 So I have been reading some Acrylic 101 threads between reef central and reef 2 reef and I think I want to make my own 2 part dosing containers and my own ATO tank.. Does anyone here have any advice, like your favorite source for ordering the acrylic from? It seems like its actually not that complicated and should be a fun project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoutlaw August 20, 2013 Share August 20, 2013 Well, from what I've read, I would recommend that you try something small first......like a lookdown box or something like that. Then move up to something a little bigger. I would ask Adam from Artfully Acrylic. He seems to know what he's doing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 20, 2013 Author Share August 20, 2013 :-) that makes good sense, I should do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExoticReefCreations August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 Something small like that you should check with NAGA at Pimped out aquariums and see if you can buy some scrap pieces from him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 21, 2013 Author Share August 21, 2013 Good point.. I was thinking about ordering pre cut/milled edges pieces of acrylic and doing the gluing myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 I have some scrap pieces in the shed if you want them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 Talk to ohaverd too....he just got into it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 21, 2013 Author Share August 21, 2013 Coral hind that would be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohaverd August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 sounds like you are covering all the bases with the research. I made sure I read everything I needed to know before gathering all of the necessary tools. You'll need a table saw with a high tooth count blade for acrylic, a good router for edging. You can get away with the razor blade method for doing your edges, as long as its a smaller size box that you are making, but since my end game for learning how to do this was a 100gal 8' long frag tank, I opted for the router. and most importantly, get scraps for practice, you'll want to practice the pins method a few times before "going for it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBVette August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 I would start with something that is not expected to hold water first and move up from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveS August 21, 2013 Share August 21, 2013 I would start with something that is not expected to hold water first and move up from there. I made an acrylic box for a fish trap. Based on those results, I stopped there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 22, 2013 Share August 22, 2013 I think if you can order precut/premilled pieces, then you can make anything easily. I suggest making a jig to hold the pieces straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctenophore August 22, 2013 Share August 22, 2013 The key is to have very straight, clean edges. The more sanding and edge prep you do before gluing, the prettier the seams will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 22, 2013 Author Share August 22, 2013 Thank you all for the advice! If I tried to clean the edges with no router what's the sanding / planer recommendation? I will probably order precut... But I will probably end up getting a router.. I've always used my dremel and dremel trip for routing so never needed a dedicated one... But I like the idea of playing around with this.. It's finicky and requires practice but not overly complicated! The reef central thread is crazy with info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohaverd August 22, 2013 Share August 22, 2013 Thank you all for the advice! If I tried to clean the edges with no router what's the sanding / planer recommendation? I will probably order precut... But I will probably end up getting a router.. I've always used my dremel and dremel trip for routing so never needed a dedicated one... But I like the idea of playing around with this.. It's finicky and requires practice but not overly complicated! The reef central thread is crazy with info! a planer I here is better for edges than a router, but way more expensive. Just CL yourself a decent router, and google good router bits for acrylic. I tend to forget details like router bit types after I've made my purchase... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 22, 2013 Author Share August 22, 2013 What about a hand planer? Using the good ol elbow grease? Maybe Adam can jump in and offer some hints and tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enkay August 22, 2013 Share August 22, 2013 This is the probably the best instructional video I have seen on buuilding an acrylic tank. Hope it helps you too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohaverd August 22, 2013 Share August 22, 2013 Oh ya, the final... and most important thing I learned was that you need an EXTREMELY flat surface to work on. Obviously if you are making smaller things its not so important. But if you are making 4' to 6' tanks, It makes things much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattiejay6 August 22, 2013 Author Share August 22, 2013 Thanks! I really appreciate your guys help! I don't think I will be making display tanks, but more or less small things :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtFully Acrylic (Adam B) August 23, 2013 Share August 23, 2013 This is the probably the best instructional video I have seen on buuilding an acrylic tank. Hope it helps you too. Rubbish. I'm glad you didn't try this yourself Enkay and that you had me build your tank for you instead For large display tanks, the methods used in this guys video set will result in a generous helping of bubbles in your seams (looks ugly), but more importantly....his method doesn't produce a very strong bond between the panels (not enough contact time and not 100% solvent coverage). That can be risky down the line. For much smaller tanks like a small sump or an ATO Box these methods will almost certainly work if you put in the efforts to get the pieces all right. If you want cleaner and much stronger seams then as OhaverD said, pins method is your best route when using a solvent based bonding process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtFully Acrylic (Adam B) August 23, 2013 Share August 23, 2013 Well, from what I've read, I would recommend that you try something small first......like a lookdown box or something like that. Then move up to something a little bigger. I would ask Adam from Artfully Acrylic. He seems to know what he's doing! Thanks Steve =). You better hope I know what I'm doing....your basement floor depends on it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohaverd August 23, 2013 Share August 23, 2013 Rubbish. I'm glad you didn't try this yourself Enkay and that you had me build your tank for you instead For large display tanks, the methods used in this guys video set will result in a generous helping of bubbles in your seams (looks ugly), but more importantly....his method doesn't produce a very strong bond between the panels (not enough contact time and not 100% solvent coverage). That can be risky down the line. For much smaller tanks like a small sump or an ATO Box these methods will almost certainly work if you put in the efforts to get the pieces all right. If you want cleaner and much stronger seams then as OhaverD said, pins method is your best route when using a solvent based bonding process. Yes and as someone who has had you (Adam) build me a sump, and have also gone through the learning process of it (just for fun mostly). I will always just recommend that someone goes to Adam, rather than learn how to do it themselves lol. Its too much time, effort, and skill, not to mention the countless dollars it takes to aquire the proper tools. But that being said, it was fun learning how to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami August 23, 2013 Share August 23, 2013 Overall, it seems like an informative series, though. From discussions that I've had with Naga (Jeff) in the past, the seams on larger tanks such as this one really require more solvent soak time to soften up the acrylic before bringing the two pieces together. He uses two techniques for these bigger tanks: The first is the pin method which he uses to keep the two acrylic panels separate and to flow in a little more solvent. The second is to slightly alter the chemistry of the solvent so that it evaporates a little slower and gives him more time to work. The capillary method shown here (as I understood it) doesn't draw in much solvent which, in turn, doesn't soften much of the acrylic and may compromise the joint integrity some because you think you're getting a uniformly solid joint and it's possible that you won't. Adam's post seems to imply the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enkay August 23, 2013 Share August 23, 2013 No way was I going to try and build a 120 gal tank myself. Maybe I will try my hand at a 12 gal but I would rather leave the heavy lifting to the pros when it comes to that. Rubbish. I'm glad you didn't try this yourself Enkay and that you had me build your tank for you instead For large display tanks, the methods used in this guys video set will result in a generous helping of bubbles in your seams (looks ugly), but more importantly....his method doesn't produce a very strong bond between the panels (not enough contact time and not 100% solvent coverage). That can be risky down the line. For much smaller tanks like a small sump or an ATO Box these methods will almost certainly work if you put in the efforts to get the pieces all right. If you want cleaner and much stronger seams then as OhaverD said, pins method is your best route when using a solvent based bonding process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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