Thank you for the reply! I must have missed the 3-5 minute sitting period or it isn't on the stuff I bought. It does say to mix for 1-3 minutes which I have been opting for at least the 3. I have 2 or 3 seems left to pour but now winter has struck with a vengence so I'm not sure if I should pour with it so cold out now. I have been working on it in our uninstalled sun room (3 walls of windows open for ventilation). I've also dribbled in a few spots that I opted not to wipe up but wishing I had now since I think it would have been easier to wet sand.
Weld-on #40 and #42
- Thread starter wednesday13
- Start date
Ive actually poured a couple tanks on my sun porch/room in the colder months lol... too smelly for indoor use. Check the label for cure temps im not positive but u could prob throw in a space heater while u work for a couple days. I wouldnt glue while its freezing or anything but i think 50-60degrees should b fine.
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Very informative thread. I picked up a used 70 gallon tank. I did a 36 hour leak test with no leaks, but some of the seams are suspicious looking. The previous owner had the tank on cider blocks covered in a large sheet of brown pleather. After getting it home and unrolling the pleather (he had it disassembled when I arrived) I noticed a lot of water deposits on the pleather as if the tank had been leaking or at least something hanging off the back was leaking. Either way I've purchased a very expensive oak stand for it and I have no intentions of letting this tank leak. The tank has a single front/side piece with curved front corners. I had ordered a tube of Weld-On 16 because it's thicker than 3 and 4, and the tube would make for easy application. After reading this thread I cancelled the order and will place an order for 40.
This is my plan:
Create a 45 degree jig-like area for it to sit. Using something like a syringe or ketchup dispenser, put a bead along the front, then back, then sides, then corners, over the course of a few days, without using any acrylic stock. Can I assume it won't take much of a bead to seal it up considering that it's not leaking right now?
Also, I'm going to refinish the surfaces of the tank using Novus polish. Should I do this before or after sealing it?
Front seam:
Same seam, different angle:
Will my plan prevent future problems?
This is my plan:
Create a 45 degree jig-like area for it to sit. Using something like a syringe or ketchup dispenser, put a bead along the front, then back, then sides, then corners, over the course of a few days, without using any acrylic stock. Can I assume it won't take much of a bead to seal it up considering that it's not leaking right now?
Also, I'm going to refinish the surfaces of the tank using Novus polish. Should I do this before or after sealing it?
Front seam:
Same seam, different angle:
Will my plan prevent future problems?
Seams look pretty scetchy demigod...good u want to improve them... theres no way to make the existing bond better per say...but with square rod 1/8"-1/4" and weld on #4...or small fillets of weld-on #40 u can basically make a new seam inside the existing one if that makes sense to both reinforce it a bit and give u a good watertight box. In this scenario id almost go with some 1/8"-1/4" square rod and weld on #4 due to the acrylic thickness being only 1/4". The weld-on #40 heats up thinner material alot and can reveal crazing as it cures. #40 will work also but u need to be sparingly with it and keep ur fillets around 1/8"....a pint kit of #40 should do the whole tank. You'll need to find a small syrnge applicator or squeeze type bottle to keep ur pours that small.
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great thread @wednesday13
Much appreciated! thanks for the bump back outta the crypt lol...
hi wednesday13 tried to PM u but it says i don't have access guess i'm just a noob. But i have a 300 acrylic tank that I bought of CL and I just so happened to crack it.... From the top right of the back panel to maybe about a foot going towards the middle.
You seem like an a guy who knows a lot of about acrylic so this is my question to you. I used weldon 4 in the crack itself followed by weldon 16 on the inner part of the plexi glass i was given by my local "plastic shop" and put it on the crack itself followed by a bead of weldon 16 again around the outside of the plexi glass strip imo creating a really good seal. I repeated the same process on the inside of the tank creating almost like a plexi glass sandwich on the crack itself covering all basis on the inside and out. But upon stumbling on your post today about weldon #40 & #42 do you think i should buy the said product and apply it some more? thank u.
You seem like an a guy who knows a lot of about acrylic so this is my question to you. I used weldon 4 in the crack itself followed by weldon 16 on the inner part of the plexi glass i was given by my local "plastic shop" and put it on the crack itself followed by a bead of weldon 16 again around the outside of the plexi glass strip imo creating a really good seal. I repeated the same process on the inside of the tank creating almost like a plexi glass sandwich on the crack itself covering all basis on the inside and out. But upon stumbling on your post today about weldon #40 & #42 do you think i should buy the said product and apply it some more? thank u.