Make my own reservoir----with submersible pump

[johnrr6]

If I wanted to fashion my own reservoir ----approx 4 x 3 x 2-------big enough for a small space in a SFF machine----and big enough to submerge a Rio 180 or even a Hydor L20 on it's side

Whats the best material to use???

Cut plexi??

some sort of sheets of Acrylic???

What would be the best glue???

The best sealant???

Where's the best place to look for this stuff??

I saw an article by unaClocker where he used a 4 x 4 x 2 Marine junction box and a Rio 180-----it's a shade too big for my space.

Thanks for any help/suggestions-------John

[Khledar]

Acrylic sheets are easy to cut, tap and glue. Some people(cough..Home Depot..cough) suggest using epoxy to join acrylic sheets - but that's just sad - there's specific solvent cement for acrylic which can be had at any plastics supply store. The bottle I have says Methylene Chloride on it if that's any help. This stuff is as thin(viscous) as water and evapourates like crazy. Weldon makes thickened solvent which can also be found at most plastics supply stores.

Pipe thread taps can be found around too. I hand made my res. out of 1/4" acrylic, 3 pipe fittings, and a little teflon, and it requires no additional sealant, just the acrylic solvent to seal the box.

[killernoodle]

If you cant cut plexi very well or very straight, you may want to use goop. I have heard good things from that stuff.

[fhorst]

Originally Posted by Khledar

The bottle I have says Methylene Chloride on it if that's any help. This stuff is as thin(viscous) as water and evapourates like crazy.

You are lucky you could find it. In most of europe, it's not allowed anymore. So you just can't buy it. They used it a lot in films with kidnappings

No seriously. It is the best stuff out there. It desolves the plexi, and evapourates, so there is "no glue"used, only the Meth. Chl. Just make sure you have good ventilation, or you will have a head pain

You need to take some plexi pouder (you have it left over when you cut your plexi).
Mix that with the Methylene Chloride (it will desolve), and use that as glue.
Just remember that you need to make your contact points as flat as possible.

Epoxy works file also, but leaves you with glue residue. Super glue works fine (smaller contacs, as it dries so dam fast).
Goop (silicone) works fine also, but you need to prime the plexi first with a primer.
With goop it's not that strong.

I tried also with a replacement for the Methylene Chloride that's sold here in the Netherlands, but it dries slow! and ain't half as strong as Methylene Chloride.

For me (transparant) Epoxy is the only thing I use if I want a strong bond for a larger surface. Smaller ones I do with superglue.

[johnrr6]

Are acryllic sheets of plastic and Plexigalss the same thing??

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

Are acryllic sheets of plastic and Plexigalss the same thing??

OK---answered my own question----yes---they are the same.

Called a local plastics manufacturing place here in town. Got a small education on plastics.

In his products, he uses a glue called Weld-On-----I'm picking up some today. It seems to be pretty available in the US and the owner told me that it is methalene chloride based.