Acrylic Work

[Europhyllia]

Anybody know somebody that works with acrylic?

Or if nobody does that would anybody know any good sites to
a) learn how to work with it
and
b) order supplies for it?

[mcm13yn]

I would also be interested in learning how to work with Acrylic.

[Europhyllia]

This is what I want to build:
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=198145&highlight=&sid=575b289ffd156507cdcbac2299a900d0

[mcm13yn]

That's neat!

I cut out some Acrylic dividers for my DIY sump and at first attempted to use the scoring method. That wasn't working for me so I broke out my jig saw and that was interesting. I think there are special blades that stay cooler so it doesn't melt the Acrylic back together while your cutting it.

[hobogato]

the best way to cut acrylic is with a router or a table saw that has a finishing blade on it.

that looks like a pretty simple project karin

[Europhyllia]

Ace that's what I thought. I still have a table saw left over from our last wood floor project. Will have to look for a finishing blad.
And some kind of round drill bit thingy.
Now where in San Antonio can I buy acrylic sheets and tubes? Does Home Depot carry that sort of stuff?

I found this site with some tips:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/7/diy

[hobogato]

i usually buy from allied plastic supply off of i35 between rittiman and eisenhauer

[Europhyllia]

Sounds like you do this a lot. Are you for hire?

Do they sell small pieces? I don't want to buy a 4' by 8' sheet for my little 3" by 5.5" box I am wanting... ;)

[hobogato]

they do cut the acrylic to size for you there, so you dont have to buy a full sheet.

[texasaggie]

home depot does carry smaller peices of acrylic. but they dont have a big variety of thickness or sizes.

[Bill S]

You can also PM hobogato, if you want him to do the work for you. He won't initiate the contact though.

[corruption]

The acrylic available at Home Depot or Lowes, if I recall correctly, is of a lower grade than what you want to be using in most cases... Not uncommon for it to shift colors/warp/crack over time -- though, for a project this small, I don't think its going to be a major problem. I also could be wrong, its been quite some time since I tried to attempt any acrylic projects :)

-Corruption

[barderer]

I can do this project for you if you like.

[Europhyllia]

Thanks barderer. Ace just agreed to make me one (via PM) :)

You have a great website with beautiful pictures by the way!

[Teeb]

The acrylic available at Home Depot or Lowes, if I recall correctly, is of a lower grade than what you want to be using in most cases... Not uncommon for it to shift colors/warp/crack over time -- though, for a project this small, I don't think its going to be a major problem. I also could be wrong, its been quite some time since I tried to attempt any acrylic projects :)

-Corruption


I've been told by several people that the HD or Lowes acrylic sucks. Stick with allied plastics. Ace does great work, for a good price and a quick turn around. He's building out my sump currently.

[barderer]

thanks, from what I have seen ACE is pro, I am more of a, for fun dude, so I am sure it will come out great!

[corruption]

I've been told by several people that the HD or Lowes acrylic sucks. Stick with allied plastics. Ace does great work, for a good price and a quick turn around. He's building out my sump currently.

This is exactly what I have heard, and my limited experience using such (in my past life doing body work, etc) correlated with this.... and that makes 2 of us that Ace is building sumps for! :D

-Corruption

[Europhyllia]

well thank you for ordering sumps from Ace so that there are some scraps for my little project! :)
Can't wait to see how it turns out!

[Europhyllia]

THANK YOU ACE! It turned out beautiful.
It's very functional. I love the clear acrylic tube to see where the frozen food is on it's way down.
The food doesn't blow out at all and I can easily retrieve it.
Now the waiting begins to see if and when the Mandarins figure out that the buffet is now open all day :)

[txav8r]

Pictures? Ace does awesome work!

[Europhyllia]

Tada:
Here's the grazing station with a cube of Hikari bloodworms in it:
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm135/dominopads/acebox.jpg

And here is Bruce trying to figure out how to get to it. I'll have to try it with Bob (the female) if Bruce doesn't figure it out. The female generally seems to be a little smarter... :)
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm135/dominopads/brucebox.jpg

I am pleased though that he immediately showed interest in it and I am so happy we chose a clear tube.
Bob and Bruce know to expect food from the Kent Sea Squirt and the Sea Squirt fits perfectly into the clear tube. It was really the Sea Squirt that caught their attention and made them aware there's food in the grazing station.

I am hopeful this will work. :)

[ReefOne]

That's sweet, i'm gonna have to build one of these also, i love mandarins. Sorry i just saw this thread, i got a ton of acrylic scraps. Just dont have my router setup yet.

[txav8r]

Looks great! Wouldn't expect anything less from Ace.

[4fun]

good job Ace! Turn out great!

Hopfully your littel guys like it and learn to use it, EuroMom.

[Europhyllia]

She's in ... just goes to show how much smarter the females (or maybe just more food oriented?) are.
The female has been in there twice for a snack. It still takes her awhile to find the entrance and she gets a little freaked out when she wants out and can't find the hole but I'm sure she'll get better at it.
Terrible picture but proof she's using it (I added some chaeto for now to make it less scary):
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm135/dominopads/bobbox.jpg

[mabel_photo6]

Yay!!!! :D That box is awesome!

[Rychek]

Awesome!

[oceancube]

i need one of these for my acans and my carpet anemone.... smart idea..

[rcasiano]

Nice acrylic work ace, Im gonna try to make my own AIO chambers for my 29biocube. Thanks for the Info Ace

[arh1]

Try a guy named Jerry Willis. He used to work at Tropical Fish Haven in Corpus Christi doing custom tank construction. I understand he is free lancing now. TFH will probably know his number.