What adhesive to make acrylic refugium?

92reefer · 05/29/2007, 10:31 PM

Went to home depot to buy sheets of acrylic for my home-made refugium.

I was suprised to talk to 4 different managers regarding the correct adhesive to use to join the acrylic pieces. None of them knew which was the right thing to use and didn't want to suggest one, only to have the tank break.

So I'm sure this has been done a million times on this board, but I can't search for this (error returned for the last few days.. I'm not a premium member)

So what should I use and where can I get it?

Thanks in advance!!

JohnstonAtoll · 05/29/2007, 10:40 PM

The adhesive is called Weld-on. Depending on your application, which sounds like just baffles, use either weld-on #3 or #16. #16 will be easier to use as its gooey vs. #3 is like water. Grab the yellow pages and look up a Plastics supplier in your area, they will most likely have it in stock. If not, order online. #3 and #16 are less than $10 each for 4 ounce which will be more than enough.

JohnstonAtoll · 05/29/2007, 10:43 PM

If you are building the whole tank and it is bigger than say 50 gallons, use Weld-on #40 or #42. Smaller than 50 gal. use Weld-on #4 and #3 or #16 for baffles. #4 is pricier about $30 but required.

92reefer · 05/30/2007, 08:03 AM

Johnston,

I'm making a small refugium square that will be placed in my existing acrylic sump. Size is about 10x10x10 square.

So it looks like I have to use the pricey one at 30$. I decided to make my own cube since the parts were about 10 in acrylic, but 30 for glue makes this little thing much too expensive??

92reefer · 05/30/2007, 08:11 AM

So nothing on Home depot's shelves is made to bond acrylic? Why the heck would they carry so much acrylic in every imaginable shape and thickness if you can't glue them together? I thought this was very odd..

saltyreefguy · 05/30/2007, 09:27 AM

hd or lowes carries them, because they are being used for home improvements likes replacing glass with acrylic or adding a window a/c or evap. cooler, to a preexisting slide window and the square hole thats left, instead of plywood sheet to cover it, acrylic is used to make it look nice, instead of a nasty plywood piece. which is the way i did mine. 100% nicer looking... probably why they carry tons of sealant...

92reefer · 05/30/2007, 09:41 AM

Do you happen to know which sealant is OK to use? I had 4 managers comb the entire store looking at glue, sealants, PVC etc and nothing states OK for acrylic. Some of the 2 part epoxies state they are plastic but doesn't mention acrylic or lexan at all. Also that would be a very messy way of gluing the tank together if you ask me?

JohnstonAtoll · 05/30/2007, 10:49 AM

#3 will be strong enough for a 10X10X10 no doubt. Use the #3 to bond all together then run a bead of #16 around the inside of all seams to fool proof it. #40 and 42 are used for making aquariums where hundreds to thousands of pounds of pressure are being put on the seams. You're good with the #3. If you have a plastics supplier there, a 4 oz. can of #3 is under $5

JohnstonAtoll · 05/30/2007, 11:00 AM

Here is what you need to bond acrylic. Weld-On #3, #16, applicator bottle for #3, applicator bottle for #16. I paid $12 for all.

92reefer · 05/30/2007, 12:07 PM

Thanks Johnston.

Now to only find a retailer that carries weld-on? IPS website isn't worth a crap!

05/30/2007, 10:49 AM	#8
JohnstonAtoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 307	#3 will be strong enough for a 10X10X10 no doubt. Use the #3 to bond all together then run a bead of #16 around the inside of all seams to fool proof it. #40 and 42 are used for making aquariums where hundreds to thousands of pounds of pressure are being put on the seams. You're good with the #3. If you have a plastics supplier there, a 4 oz. can of #3 is under $5 Last edited by JohnstonAtoll; 05/30/2007 at 11:01 AM.

05/29/2007, 10:31 PM	#1
92reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ellenton Florida Posts: 994	What adhesive to make acrylic refugium? Went to home depot to buy sheets of acrylic for my home-made refugium. I was suprised to talk to 4 different managers regarding the correct adhesive to use to join the acrylic pieces. None of them knew which was the right thing to use and didn't want to suggest one, only to have the tank break. So I'm sure this has been done a million times on this board, but I can't search for this (error returned for the last few days.. I'm not a premium member) So what should I use and where can I get it? Thanks in advance!!

05/29/2007, 10:40 PM	#2
JohnstonAtoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 307	The adhesive is called Weld-on. Depending on your application, which sounds like just baffles, use either weld-on #3 or #16. #16 will be easier to use as its gooey vs. #3 is like water. Grab the yellow pages and look up a Plastics supplier in your area, they will most likely have it in stock. If not, order online. #3 and #16 are less than $10 each for 4 ounce which will be more than enough.

05/29/2007, 10:43 PM	#3
JohnstonAtoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 307	If you are building the whole tank and it is bigger than say 50 gallons, use Weld-on #40 or #42. Smaller than 50 gal. use Weld-on #4 and #3 or #16 for baffles. #4 is pricier about $30 but required.

05/30/2007, 08:03 AM	#4
92reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ellenton Florida Posts: 994	Johnston, I'm making a small refugium square that will be placed in my existing acrylic sump. Size is about 10x10x10 square. So it looks like I have to use the pricey one at 30$. I decided to make my own cube since the parts were about 10 in acrylic, but 30 for glue makes this little thing much too expensive??

05/30/2007, 08:11 AM	#5
92reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ellenton Florida Posts: 994	So nothing on Home depot's shelves is made to bond acrylic? Why the heck would they carry so much acrylic in every imaginable shape and thickness if you can't glue them together? I thought this was very odd..

05/30/2007, 09:27 AM	#6
saltyreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: palmdale Posts: 697	hd or lowes carries them, because they are being used for home improvements likes replacing glass with acrylic or adding a window a/c or evap. cooler, to a preexisting slide window and the square hole thats left, instead of plywood sheet to cover it, acrylic is used to make it look nice, instead of a nasty plywood piece. which is the way i did mine. 100% nicer looking... probably why they carry tons of sealant...

05/30/2007, 09:41 AM	#7
92reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ellenton Florida Posts: 994	Do you happen to know which sealant is OK to use? I had 4 managers comb the entire store looking at glue, sealants, PVC etc and nothing states OK for acrylic. Some of the 2 part epoxies state they are plastic but doesn't mention acrylic or lexan at all. Also that would be a very messy way of gluing the tank together if you ask me?

05/30/2007, 11:00 AM	#9
JohnstonAtoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 307	Here is what you need to bond acrylic. Weld-On #3, #16, applicator bottle for #3, applicator bottle for #16. I paid $12 for all.

05/30/2007, 12:07 PM	#10
92reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ellenton Florida Posts: 994	Thanks Johnston. Now to only find a retailer that carries weld-on? IPS website isn't worth a crap!