Good price on Acrylic

[tripntx]

Boebeker Plastics in Shiner Tx sells:
3/8" 4X8= $117
1/2" 4X8= $154
1800-292-1547

[captexas]

Is this cast or extruded acrylic?

[tripntx]

Is this cast or extruded acrylic?

This question proves I need to research this subject more. I haven't a clue if it is cast or extruded. Furthermore, I don't know which one is better than the other.

[captexas]

Matt can provide better details, but cast acrylic is stronger and more tolerant to pressure and heat. It of course is also more expensive. The type of acrylic you should use depends on what you are making of course.

[matt]

At that price, it's most likely extruded, and probably imported. For comparison, after shopping around, I got a 5'X8' sheet of 3/8" black spartech polycast (black might be a little more expensive) for $260. I wouldn't even use imported (other than the cyro factory in Mexico) cast acrylic for projects anymore. It's strong, but harder to solvent weld cleanly. I don't really know why, but my guess is that the molecular weight is not consistant throughout the material, changing the melt rate at various points along the joint.

Of course, for DIY projects, especially small stuff, good quality extruded is probably fine. Good quality means Spartech, Cyro FF, or some other domestic brand. I just wouldn't use extruded for a large sump or an aquarium; anything that has to withstand some decent water pressure.