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Unread 03/28/2003, 11:46 PM   #2
Zephrant
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,234
Now comes the fun part. Put the glue in a squeeze bottle, or a glass syringe available from the plastic shop, or your local addict. (Drug addict, not reef addict. )



Note: I could not get pictures on the above tank without risking a bad joint, so here is a couple of pieces of scrap being glued. Imagine it is a bigger piece, with shims under each pin as above.



The water-thin solvent is placed next to the joint, and it will wick in to the joint filling it completely. With a little practice, you can wick it in without getting any air in with it. If you get a bubble or two, don't worry. Trying to get it out will make it worse. When you get to the next step, most bubbles will squirt out of the joint.



Last step: Let the solvent sit for 30-90 seconds, depending on the temperature. Start pulling the pins out at one end, while bracing the piece with your other hand. Quickly get them all out, and realign the piece as it will shift some when you are yanking the pins. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers if needed, they can get glued down pretty well.



With ALL the pins pulled, realign the sheet in to location and hold it for a minute. If you miss a pin, it will bugger up the joint. After the piece is not going to float away by itself, go around to each wedge and snug it in a touch. If it is not tight, the joint will separate and make bubbles.



Hot tip: Don't over snug the wedges. If you start at one end of a tank and go around snugging up every wedge, you can end up at the start again which has become loose because you lifted the entire tank 1/8" as you went around. Again, practice is key.

Bracing a sump end: Note the corner has been knocked off of these cheap plastic framing squares. I use double-sided masking tape to hold them down.


Don't touch it for 4 hours. Let it dry for 24 hours at room temp. before routing it. In 4 hours, you can flip it over and do the other side though, then let it sit overnight to cure.

Read the IPS web page for your glue. It has good tips (link above) as well as serious health warnings. I always use a respirator, as well as cross ventilation to the outside.

With practice, you get perfect, clear joints.

If you do get a joint with some bubbles in it, install a triangular wedge of acrylic in the joint corner to seal/strengthen it.

HTH-

Zeph



Last edited by Zephrant; 03/28/2003 at 11:54 PM.
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