Glue for plexi sump???

keqwow · 12-31-2005, 07:37 PM

Just wondering how difficult it is to make your own sump out of plexi? Would you glue the pieces together or use silicone? I am looking at premade sumps at $200+ and I am thinking it might be easier to make an exact fitting sump for my needs if I do it myself. How difficult is plexi to work with?

BLFuller123 · 01-01-2006, 05:23 PM

Its really easy. Just use a table saw with an 80 tooth per inch blade to cut it and use weldon glue. No silicone needed.

reef_noob · 01-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Actually, plexi can be really difficult to work with if you're unfamiliar with it. It has a tendency to shatter when cut at too low a speed and to melt when cut at too high a speed. You're better off scoring and snapping it. Home depot sells scorers right next to the plexi.

You have to use a glue specifically for acrylic. Weld-on is the standard. Most people use a #4 and a #16. #4 is very thin, and works well for the intial gluing. Afterward, use the #16 which is much thicker to fill in any holes. You may have trouble finding it locally, but you can order it online at www.craftics.com.

Check out www.garf.org. In the DIY section they have a calculator and instructions for gluing your own sump.

Doug1 · 01-01-2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reef_noob

Actually, plexi can be really difficult to work with if you're unfamiliar with it. It has a tendency to shatter when cut at too low a speed and to melt when cut at too high a speed. You're better off scoring and snapping it. Home depot sells scorers right next to the plexi.

You have to use a glue specifically for acrylic. Weld-on is the standard. Most people use a #4 and a #16. #4 is very thin, and works well for the intial gluing. Afterward, use the #16 which is much thicker to fill in any holes. You may have trouble finding it locally, but you can order it online at www.craftics.com.

Check out www.garf.org. In the DIY section they have a calculator and instructions for gluing your own sump.

The cleaner you can make all your edges the better they will bond, you might cut or snap a tad oversize then trim to spec with a router table setup