I plan to build a turtle tank. 48-24-12/18". I got some acrylic tonight from regional and had some 1/2 recently discovered acrilic that was 18x18. So I had some experiment stuff to play with.
I got out my table saw, cheepo 10" with a plastic housing 100$ home depot special with a fine tooth wood blade ,sorry I don't have a tooth count. I cut some plexy and it worked but kinda melted. Acrylic didn't melt and cut good. I started with a small peice of trimoff that was 1/2 wide. Glued the two peices with weld#3? I tried a little bit of glue, but it wasn't acting like enough. So i slopped it on there and could see the seam "disapear" I then held it for a sec and put it in the bench vice for "pressure". Well hours later it was REALLY hard to break apart in the vice.
I got more of the thick stuff and cut it at 45* and flipped it over and glued it. It seemed to work good to, but we broke it apart a little pre-mature.
I then tried to glue more of the 1/2" together smooth side to smooth side and it didn't seem to work well.
So, do all surfaces that the glue is aplied to need to be "rough" for it to bond?
Why don't more people cut a square tank with 45* sides for looks?
I have heard of the "pin" technique, what is the benefit of this and can you use toothpics instead? Or do you really need to do it?
What is the best way to apply the glue?
Tomorow I torch practice