Acrylic sump help :) - Questions

F

firemantx

[I have found a local shop that sells acrylic by the sheet.
1/8 4x8 sheet = 53.87
3/8 4x8 sheet = 164.47
3/16 4x8 sheet = 70.00
I will be building a sump that is
24x12x20 or 25 gallons.

What thickness do you think I should go with? I am thinking the 3/16, but I have never done this before.

When I call these places I am just asking for clear acrylic with film not plastic. Is this right? Are those prices good?]
 
[i think marc uses 1/4 for all but the large sumps, but he can answer that for sure. last time i checked, regal plastics (972) 484-0741, sold 1/4" 4'x8' acrylic for around $100.]
 
[I built mine and used 1/4" thick. Mine is approx the same size. I would recommend atleast 1/4". I have a little bit of bowing but not significant. The prices you have seem reasonable. I think regal is a bit cheaper. I think they have a sister store which is even a bit more cheaper. I think its called allied plastic. If you need any advice I could give you some. I'm sure Marc would also be more than willing to give you advice. I did get a book from regal (it was about $5) which I could let you borrow. It doesn't help much but does give some good advice on cutting the acrylic. In my experience use a table saw with fine teeth carbide blade. You will want all your pieces to match well because the bonding depends upon this. I used a jigsaw and a router and it was much more of a pain to get all the pieces to the same dimensions. Next time, I'll get my friend's table saw.

HTH]
 
[I just got quotes from both Regal and Allied in the last 2 weeks and Allied was cheaper for everything I asked about. I would think at the very least 1/4" if not a bit more. Marc has the most experience on this though... HTH]
 
[Ok, I will change to 1/4 then. Would 5/16 be worth it to make it a tad bit stronger? I have read that heat tape works well. I also have seen heat guns at home depot. Which is easier to bend acrylic? I will be making a overflow with the scraps also.]
 
[A big thanks to Marc for letting me call you at home. You answered so many of my questions that I was stuck on! :bow: :bow: :bow:]
 
[There is nothing to heat up, as this isn't being melted together in that way. Heating acrylic tends to create bubbles if you aren't careful, and that will leave the material scarred. Be sure to get Weldon #4 and #16, along with needle tip applicators (2 at least) as they clog. And buying a small package of plastic nozzles at a hobby shop allows better control of #16, for $.99 a package typically.]
 
[Oh! Yes, that would probably work. I use a propane torch, like the hand-held kind plumbers use to sweat copper.]
 
[if you want to melt acrylic just do what I did - remove the water and leave your titanium shelled heater suction cupped to it. Trust me on this - it'll melt in no time :cussing:]
 
[LOL I bet. Well now your tank is unique

Ok I guess I will use a heat gun then.

I was thinking about a heat gun from Home depot. Or would you recommend a propane torch like u use?]
 
[A heat gun would be better then a torch imo...less chance of getting a hot melted spot...

They make strips to lay across the acylic that heat up, to give you a nice evenly heated line.]
 
[@quangtam7 wrote:
[url=http://www.dfwplastics.com/linecard.htm]Nationwide Plastics[/url] has 1/4" 4x8 for $73 said:
..It's a very good price if it's cast acrylic.


For those of you that want to do your own sump, tank, etc., I would recommend cast acrylic. It's more expensive, but definitely better IMO.


FiremanTX, 1/4" is definitely okay for 25gal sump. You can even do a 50gal tank out of 1/4" if you construct it properly.

Have fun :bomb: ...]
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@firemantx wrote:
[LOL I bet. Well now your tank is unique Ok I guess I will use a heat gun then. I was thinking about a heat gun from Home depot. Or would you recommend a propane torch like u use?] said:
[Find yourself a Harbor Freight and get your heat gun there. You will save a lot of money. Lot's of other good tools as well. I don't typically buy power tools there, but drill bits, etc... are hard to beat. I think I paid around $10 for my heat gun and have bent several pieces of acrylic with ease. A word of advise, when the acrylic bends by itself it's ready, but it wont stay that way. Don't bend it and walk away. As it cools, it will contract and try to straighten back out. Good luck and have fun!]
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[Depending on the thickness, the heater tapes don't work very well and the heat gun MAY not either, but for $10... if they have it... it would sure be worth a try. When you get a lot of experience (like Marc), I would then go for the propane...cause it would sure be easy to "bubble up" a piece accidentally with it.

BTW... anyone know how to determine 'cast acrylic' from 'pressed/extruded(i guess)'....any why one is better than the other. Do we just rely on the vendor...?]
 
[Cost is one way to determine it, the brand is another, and extruded typically has parallel lines from the extrusion process. Cast is poured between two pieces of glass and is almost optically perfect. Extruded is very obvious.]
 
[Ok, I will get my gun through Harbor freight. All agreed??

Waiting on Nationwide to call back, but so far Allied is the less expensive.

I am making sure that I get quotes for cast.

This should be fun when I get everything]



Edited By firemantx on 1106937113
 
[Nationwide does sell cast clear acrylic. It is 33.65 cheaper than allied and 52.90 cheaper than regal plastics.

Has anyone ordered from nationwide before?]
 
@firemantx wrote:
[Nationwide does sell cast clear acrylic. It is 33.65 cheaper than allied and 52.90 cheaper than regal plastics. Has anyone ordered from nationwide before?] said:
[:shocked:

Last time I was at Allied I was quoted $84.50 for 1/4"x4'x8'. Now this was about two months ago, but I wouldn't think the price has changed that much. Are you saying Nationwide is selling it at $50.85? Order a palet full and resale it!]
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