DIY - Cutting Acrylic,

[Sparky]

Well I started building my sump this afternoon. The acrylic is cutting GREAT!!

I am cutting it on my DeWalt Table Saw. I lay hardwood flooring on the side for extra money (firefighting will not make you rich).

I use a Freud wood blade for the hardwood. Its about the best blade money can buy for wood. I mean cabinet and furniture quality cuts. Its a thin kerf, triple chip, something like 80 tooth, 10" blade. Its all I have and I didnt want to spend $100+ for a new plastic blade I would only use once. So I thought...hey Ill try this. If it doesnt work Ill reevaluate and think of something new.

But its cutting great. Taking my time of course. But if any other DIY'ers are wondering these blades work great. You can find them at any LOWE's or Home Depot. If you dont have one of those any good hardware store or woodworking catalog should have them. The advantage here is you still have a GOOD blade you can still use for something else.

Now I hope Im just as lucky glueing this thing together!

[ 07-04-2001: Message edited by: Sparky ]

[Doug1]

I hear that on firefighting, my son was capt and training officeer in LVFD, He moved to SeaTac area to make a living wage as a glazier

[Sparky]

I know I could make more doing something else, but I just couldnt stand to leave it. I really feel born to do it. Just wish it paid like baseball, hehe.

But at least I can afford fish!


I heard those LVFD guys had a helluv a retirement plan. Hope your son does better in what he's doing. At least you know as a glazier, he's not going to have a roof fall on his head!

[ 07-04-2001: Message edited by: Sparky ]

[Doug1]

glazing has helped him with his EMT thing, nothing like looking at real tissue and bone up close and personal, at least he still has all his fingers(so far)

[Sparky]

Update on the sump.

Ive got all the pieces cut now. No visible chipping. All cuts are pretty smooth. You can see some saw marks, but still very smooth. Its as good or better than the cuts made by the plastic distributor.

Learned that when cutting wear long sleeved shirt that covers arms (dont wear large baggy clothing that could catch in saw!). When you cut this stuff the "dust" comes back at you and stings a little. Doesnt really behave like wood sawdust. Its a lot heavier. Also button your collar all the way up to protect your neck.

Glued some braces together to practice my glueing. It didnt matter if they hold water. They will go inside the lip to brace the sump and give it stability. I glued three strips 3/4" wide together. Making it 3/4" thick (Im using 1/4" material).

Clamping it together and using Weld-On #3 is really easy. Im using a medical syringe. My wife is an Registered Nurse. She had to help treat her dad at home, so we had a lot of left over med syringes. The Weld-On is water thin and really works well in the syringe. I have a lot of control dispensing it.

When I used the Weld-On #16 I kind of made a mess. That stuff run out pretty bad. A little goes a long way! Im going to just use this for a final "bead" around the inside bottom and inside side joints as a little insurance against leaks.

Saturday Im going to make my jig out of wood and start putting it together. First I do need to drill one hole for my return pump bulkhead. I get to borrow a boatload of clamps from a fireman buddy that does remodeling work on the side. Cant wait.

[Alice]

Saving money and having fun! Now you can make sumps on the side, too

[Kinesthesia]

Ya know, that's not a bad idea. I would've loved to have gotten an acrylic sump, but couldn't afford what places like life-reef want.

If the price was reasonable, I'd be customer number one.

Just something to think about.