Weld-on #40 and #42

wednesday13

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Fantastic thread. I have another thread going trying to figure out how to seal the leak my 480 tank. I already used #4 in the seam where it leaked which worked good but still a tiny bit of water is coming out. Now if I can find the #40 I can run a seam as suggested and hopefully be back in business. I was starting to think the tank was finished.
Acrylic tanks are almost never finished :) my 450 exploded in someones house due to a poor stand and i repaired an entire cracked bottom and seperated back wall. Tanks been running for almost 4yrs now. Urs sounds like a minor fix. #40 does wonders when refurbing acrylics.

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Oscar Mike

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Phixer...i dont think youll run into any problems with ur project. Since ur butting the pieces end to end youll need to buff most all of the excess 40 off anyway. Ive really only seen yellowing in the tip and pour style seams when the glue is 1/2" thick or thicker. On my same 20 yr old tanks the thin parts of the glue around the overflow box are still very clear at only 1/8" thick. I think it has everything to do with how thick the glue is.
Dang I didn't know weldon turns yellow over time... definitely still better than scraping a tank altogether but I wonder if it would look better using acrylic rods in the corners with thinner beads of 40. How long does it usually take to start yellowing and would going thinner than 1/2" still prevent future crazing? Fedex delivered my gallon a few weeks ago and the part A is already pretty yellow but I thought that was normal lol, the nearest place that carried it was 6 hours away tho so maybe they sent an old batch...
 

Phixer

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Thanks Wednesday. Wish I could make this project go faster but sometimes life gets in the way.
 

wednesday13

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Thanks Wednesday. Wish I could make this project go faster but sometimes life gets in the way.
Believe me i understand, im in the same boat. My 3k should have been finished months ago hah


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wednesday13

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Dang I didn't know weldon turns yellow over time... definitely still better than scraping a tank altogether but I wonder if it would look better using acrylic rods in the corners with thinner beads of 40. How long does it usually take to start yellowing and would going thinner than 1/2" still prevent future crazing? Fedex delivered my gallon a few weeks ago and the part A is already pretty yellow but I thought that was normal lol, the nearest place that carried it was 6 hours away tho so maybe they sent an old batch...
Ive used acrylic rods aswell up to 1" on the inside seams and i prefer the look of weldon even if its yellow buts its all personal preference. Both methods work under the same principal. Even if ur weldon arrived yellow it will clear up when u add ur hardener. Acrylic itself will yellow with age just the same and 20yrs is a long time in my eyes.

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Oscar Mike

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That's good to hear, I'm going to be covering most of the visible seams with trim from the stand and canopy anyways but it would have been a bummer if they were still yellow after curing lol. I've just been super busy with work lately but I'm hoping to get started in the next few weeks
 

wednesday13

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That's good to hear, I'm going to be covering most of the visible seams with trim from the stand and canopy anyways but it would have been a bummer if they were still yellow after curing lol. I've just been super busy with work lately but I'm hoping to get started in the next few weeks
I highly recommend working in a garage or heavily ventilated area aswell as using a respirator mask. Ull be on the moon before u know it lol....it can be hard to move large tanks and ive had to do a couple in my basement and the smell of the glue was a nightmare for a few days.

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Oscar Mike

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I highly recommend working in a garage or heavily ventilated area aswell as using a respirator mask. Ull be on the moon before u know it lol....it can be hard to move large tanks and ive had to do a couple in my basement and the smell of the glue was a nightmare for a few days.
I'm probably gonna have to do it inside of my apartment because even if I convinced someone to help me move it downstairs I would still have to keep the garage mostly closed to make sure my apt manager and neighbors don't see an 8ft tank in there lol. I was planning on getting a good mask and keeping all the windows open with a fan blowing out but I'm not sure if that will be enough to protect our dog and cats. Im hoping the actual tip and pour process only takes a few days so i can just keep them in my room with the door closed. That stuff smells pretty strong without even taking the lid off tho so I can't imagine how bad it will get while pouring (especially with my head inside the tank lol)
 

Natureboy71

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Well I sealed my 480 today on the base using 1/2" acrylic bar and the #40. Good thing I used a respirator as recommended doing this inside the tank as that #40 is some powerful stuff. All seemed to go well, a little "crazing" as this was the first time I have done this but for my tiny leak I am sure it will be fine. That #40 is some crazy sh*t, I had it in a mustard bottle and after 20 minutes it was so hot you couldn't touch the bottle anymore as I only used maybe half of it and it was bursting out the top! About a week I will do a water test and see how it goes.
 

wednesday13

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Well I sealed my 480 today on the base using 1/2" acrylic bar and the #40. Good thing I used a respirator as recommended doing this inside the tank as that #40 is some powerful stuff. All seemed to go well, a little "crazing" as this was the first time I have done this but for my tiny leak I am sure it will be fine. That #40 is some crazy sh*t, I had it in a mustard bottle and after 20 minutes it was so hot you couldn't touch the bottle anymore as I only used maybe half of it and it was bursting out the top! About a week I will do a water test and see how it goes.
Ive done the same with the mustard/ketchup bottles...its hard to rush through and get everything glued in the 20-25 min potlife. I thought i mentioned how hot it gets lol my bad...glad to hear everything else went well tho, id say that seam is good for another 25 yrs now :)

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