Hello I'd like some advice on using weldon 40 to strengthen my 180g I recently acquired I'd like to do it without crazing if possible I've seen a few weldon 40 enforced tanks and some had extremely bad crazing how can I avoid this I've spent probably 12hrs or so sanding and polishing it would be a shame to craze the tank to death tank is 3/8
First time acrylic tank reinforcement weldon 40
- Thread starter Newandoverthetop
- Start date
Welcome to MFK!!
To get you started on some reading, check out Weld-on 40 and 42 for some questions and answers until someone else chimes in.
Is the tank 3/8" thick on all panels? How does the top look? You probably need to have 5 posts before you can post pics as I'm sure other members will ask to see some.
To get you started on some reading, check out Weld-on 40 and 42 for some questions and answers until someone else chimes in.
Is the tank 3/8" thick on all panels? How does the top look? You probably need to have 5 posts before you can post pics as I'm sure other members will ask to see some.
Can’t really control crazing… all acrylic bows over time. When u apply weld-on it heats up the material and reveals whats already there. All depends on how old the tank and material is. You can curb it a bit by using small beads/bevels of the weld on 40. Using acrylic square rod and 40 will help a bit also. I prefer the look of the bevels alone but both ways of reinforcement work about the same. 3/8” is thin for a 180… im sure its bowed alot and will craze. Kinda inevitable. Had plenty tanks the same way run just fine over 30-40 yrs old. Sometimes u have to sacrifice a bit of looks for the insurance of reinforcement to b confident the tank will hold another 20+ yrs ?. The cooler u can keep the tank while working with #40 the better. Be patient, do one seam at a time…one day at a time. Use small 3/8” bevels and it wont craze too terribly. If u do all the seams say 1 every 1-2 hrs ull run into problems as it wont cool.
Another tip is use the least amt of weld on on the front seams… the back and sides dont matter much for looks load em up ?…
Thank you so much for your responses and tips I do think that top panel is slightly thicker than rest of aqaurirum maybe 1/2" I am currious what do you mean by bevels I'm sorry if I'm sounding out of my zone because I am lol I just dived head first in to the fish keeping hobby and am jumping in too deep too fast buying tanks needing fixes and doing it myself I've resealed a few glass tanks at this point but this is my first acrylic tank and first use of weld on also wish I had a way to show my seams I might be worrying for nothing
Just keep posting… then ull b able to share pics… “bevels” with weld on 40 for acrylic look like silicone does in a glass tank… 40 is a 2 part syrup consistency resin/epoxy. It is basically liquid acrylic. To make bevels u tip the tank at 45 degrees angles and pour 1 new seam/bevel at a time. Search weld on 40 on here and u should find my thread about the process. Lots of pics and more info there to read through if u want to tackle to project ??
I just resealed my first (and only) acrylic tank, using weld on 40, and following advice given to me here, and in treads in this site. What I found is key is 2 things:
To have proper small plastic dispenser containers for the mixed 2 part weld on (cheaply available from eBay), and to use a support system so that the tank can be safely positioned at angles, for each individual seam. My system was using a futon sofa as support. The tank was 6 feet long. One seam at a time, it took 8 days and came out perfect. Good luck!
To have proper small plastic dispenser containers for the mixed 2 part weld on (cheaply available from eBay), and to use a support system so that the tank can be safely positioned at angles, for each individual seam. My system was using a futon sofa as support. The tank was 6 feet long. One seam at a time, it took 8 days and came out perfect. Good luck!
I used this:
Very cheap. I realized after buying that the syringes are too small diameter. I simply nipped the metal and distal beginning of the plastic tip, and achieved a very nice dispensing bottle.
The mustard dispenser is probably just as good, but where do I get 8 or more of those? I did NOT reuse the container (used on two different days), but it is possible that it can be done. But then, it becomes harder to estimate the proportion of reagent and catalyzer.
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Very cheap. I realized after buying that the syringes are too small diameter. I simply nipped the metal and distal beginning of the plastic tip, and achieved a very nice dispensing bottle.
The mustard dispenser is probably just as good, but where do I get 8 or more of those? I did NOT reuse the container (used on two different days), but it is possible that it can be done. But then, it becomes harder to estimate the proportion of reagent and catalyzer.
Oh here's some pictures of my seams if anyone wants to throw any opinions out again thank all of you so much!
