www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

hi all, im looking for the best glue to bond cast acrylic by using a syringe, ive tryed extru-fix but found out that it is for extruded acrylic and not cast, ive found a company that does a glue called 'weld-on 3' which is designed for cast acrylic but they are in the USA and to get it to the uk cost quiet a bit and is classed as a dangerous material, has anyone got any ideas ? (im making acrylic fish tanks)

D

The acrylic glue (cement) of choice for cast acrylic sheet such as perspex is tensol cement.

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/ACRYLIC_GLUING.htm

The two part one would probably be best for gluing fish tanks, You can mix the required amount and then dispense it using syringes which you can get from any chemists.

The only problem with tensol cement is that it takes 24 hours to go of fully and so the work will require clamping into position.



http://www.mcmordiebros.co.uk/tensol_cement.htm

hi again, yes i know about tensol 70 and how long it takes to dry of but im looking for a thinner substance i.e water type liquid, i have used extr-fix but that is for extruded and it was not much good for cast acrylic, i was going to use a water thin glue first then seal it with tensol 12 after.

D

You could try perspex distribution and see if they stock anything similar.

http://www.perspexdistribution.com/sign-accessories.asp

Failing that I would contact the makers of the weld-on 3 and see if they have any distributors in the UK.

hi again, i have contacted the company in the USA but it will cost £152 just to send over a small sample, it cost so much is due to it being classed as a hazardous material.

Yes i will contact http://www.perspexdistribution.com/sign-accessories.asp and see what they have got that will help me.

Thank you very much for your help with this, its good to find sites like this

You are welcome, Please let us know how you get on

of course i will.

D

Any updates??????

When I was at school, I remember using acetone/solvent type stuff when I was doing work experience at an Architectural model makers!!! I made a few perspex/acrylic covers for models while I was there. The solvent melts each surface slightly resulting in a welded join. The excess solvent evaporates and then leaves a perfectly clear join connection between the two mating surfaces!

I remember there being different strengths of solvent depending of its use! One chap used some hardcore stuff for a perspex tank that was for a weir model. He used 30mm perspex for a tank the size of a bath. Amazing model!!!

Hi All,

The clear liquid from America (IPS Weld On), etc is just good old Methylene Chloride. Its five quid a litre from any chemical supply company (like http://www.scichem.com/). A litre will last you your whole life.

While you're at Scientific and Chemical, ask them for a "10ml Luer lock tip glass syringe" and a pack of blunt needles for same. Costs about another fiver and looks the business. Better than the manky plastic ones.

The only down sides to gluing with Methylene Chloride are that the surfaces to be bonded need to be dead flush or as good a finish as you can get and theoretically you're supposed to anneal the joint for 24 hours at 60C but I've never needed to do that.

Cheers,

Wilson.

It's amazing how many can't read rules