Olly Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 I am making an overflow box. I can get the acrylic to do so for a reasonable price, however I know next to nothing about glueing acrylic to itself and to glass Would silicon work? if so what type should I use? Is there a special glue that "melts" acrylic together? (I have read something about this somewhere) Would this modification to a conventional overflow box work to pick up crud that is on the bottom of the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Silicone doesn't stick to acrylic very well, not sure how best to stick it to glass. To get acrylic to bond, you need trichloromethane, better known as chloroform. You can get it from a pharmacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 The firms that sell the acrylic normally sell the adhesive as well. You can either use the solvent or the solvent with some of the acrylic disolved in it to make a glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 There are different types of plastics that look similar but need different solvents so make sure you get the right one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 You can't glue perspex or acrylic to glass. For my overflow I glued a couple of glass strips behind where the perspex is sitting and used a bit of silicon just to loosely hold the perspex in place. The water pushing on the perspex holds it in place since the water level on the inside of the overflow is always lower then the tank side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 giving the perspex a rough sand can help to get silicin to stick a bit better or drilling shallow holes in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie841 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Try Holdfast 202 clear it works for me when I am making dividers and holding stones/filters in place Here is the fact sheet: http://www.holdfast.co.nz/resources/pdf/products/19331_TDS.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Try Holdfast 202 clear it works for me when I am making dividers and holding stones/filters in place Here is the fact sheet: http://www.holdfast.co.nz/resources/pdf/products/19331_TDS.pdf "Application Limitations Do not use in applications where continuous water immersion is possible or in sanitary applications." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 "Application Limitations Do not use in applications where continuous water immersion is possible or in sanitary applications." it also says that on aquarium safe silicone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie841 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 "Application Limitations Do not use in applications where continuous water immersion is possible or in sanitary applications." The warning is because it will not stay crystal clear when in water it clouds a bit but stays strong and flexible The reason I use this is it was recommended to be by a friend that I worked with at Placemakers. He was a vet before working there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpetgear Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Hi re the glue for acrylic there is none -only solvant which melts the acrylic (tools used small bottle and a 10cm flexible injection needle)when joining together- best to get it done by the experts as if not done properly the join will break. cheers Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 for the acrylic glue you can allways try a model shop if you only need a small amount, they call it plastic cement and it joins real good. i use it for my plastic models. the tamia one even comes with a nice little brush to paint the glue on. looks like this http://www.hobbylinc.com/gr/tam/tam87012.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Pearl Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 To glue acrylic use Weldon, available in NZ The overflow use ordinary pipe adhesive from any good plumbing shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likoma Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 neutral cure* works well as long there is not too much stress placed on the join. I use options that have no mold inhibitors. If its is supported in the water I think it can work well. Neutral cure silicone is different from acetic cure which is the very smelly vinegary stuff that is sold as aquarium safe, which it is, just not on acrylic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Pearl Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 I see someone has mentioned a silicone type adhesive. Whilst this will work, the lifespan can be very limited with acrylic as there is little to bond to, the only proffessional way id with Weldon which joins by solvent welding so the joints are permanent and will never fail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Pearl Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 I see someone has mentioned a silicone type adhesive. Whilst this will work, the lifespan can be very limited with acrylic as there is little to bond to, the only proffessional way id with Weldon which joins by solvent welding so the joints are permanent and will never fail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish2water Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Excellent point. My comments regarding a neutral cure silicone was in reference to the bonding of glass to acrylic and not acrylic to acrylic. Moderators, Im using the commercial account as I do not have access to the email address registered to my personal account and therefore cannot get a password resent. I would love to rectify this with your help. Thanks Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 I see someone has mentioned a silicone type adhesive. Whilst this will work, the lifespan can be very limited with acrylic as there is little to bond to, the only proffessional way id with Weldon which joins by solvent welding so the joints are permanent and will never fail You're not wrong, but the person who asked the question probably found this out ~6 years ago if they did indeed try it! IPS WeldOn #16 is what I've used in the past for acrylic-to-acrylic, works well. Acrylic to glass, I wouldn't even bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Anyone know where you can easily buy WeldOn or another acrylic cement online or instore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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