Acrylic Tube 6"OD

[kskvarci]

I spoke with Placo Plastics in Whitman MA today and they have 6"OD acrylic tubing. They sell in 6FT lengths for about 45 dollars. I only need two feet for a Kalk reactor. Anyone interested in splitting it with me?

[seasno]

Is it cast or extruded acrylic?

[kskvarci]

Is it cast or extruded acrylic?

Not entirely sure, but I'd be willing to bet its extruded at that price. I'll find out.

[Greg Hiller]

Since calcium reactors, or kalkwasser reactors too, are under very little pressure, I doubt it matters much the grade of tubing. I'd get the cheapest available.

[JeremyR]

Of course it matters.. as does wall thickness. I've seen plenty of extruded devices crack after a couple three years.

[Greg Hiller]

Well...let's put it this way, I've always used the cheapest grade of acrylic I can find, and NONE of the 10 or so devices I have built have ever failed. Of course I use sound designs. ;)

[kskvarci]

It’s extruded. Anyone? I'm going to attempt to build something in semblance of the reeftek reactor:

http://www.reeftek.com/Nilsen_Reactor.htm

[JeremyR]

Round extruded tube is quite prone to cracking down the line where drilled for fittings. This has nothing to do with designs, it's just the nature of the beast.

[kskvarci]

Round extruded tube is quite prone to cracking down the line where drilled for fittings. This has nothing to do with designs, it's just the nature of the beast.

One of the reasons that I like the reeftek design is that the tubing remains intact. No drilling, etc.

[Greg Hiller]

>Round extruded tube is quite prone to cracking down the line where drilled for fittings. <

One thing I learned about working with acrylic...I never drill it. I use a dremel tool to..in essence, melt a hole through the plastic. Works well for me.

[Muscles]

I would be interested as well

[kskvarci]

One more person and I think we will have a good 2 FT each split. If not, maybe we can just split it in half muscles...

[jango]

kskvarci,will they cut it into 2' lengths if you by 6'.and are you and muscles going to the meeting,im moving back to whitman tonight(all thats left is the tank in an empty apt.) i could pick it up and bring it to the meeting.ill grab the other 2' if there pre-cut im in, if not ill still pick it up for the meeting,let me know

[kskvarci]

kskvarci,will they cut it into 2' lengths if you by 6'.and are you and muscles going to the meeting,im moving back to whitman tonight(all thats left is the tank in an empty apt.) i could pick it up and bring it to the meeting.ill grab the other 2' if there pre-cut im in, if not ill still pick it up for the meeting,let me know


I should be attending the meeting. I talked with the folks over at palco and they said they can cut two foot lengths no problem. I say go ahead a grab it when you have time to stop by!

Let me know.

[jango]

sounds good,ill let you know

[ScottM]

did you pick it up already?
do they have other sizes avail?

[kskvarci]

Looks like they didnt have it in stock when jango swung by. Hes going to get some more prices including cast, etc..

[jango]

scott what size are you looking for? they have not gotten back to me yet,i will give them a call later today to see whats going on

[Piscevore]

The cast has more acrylic in it, so it is easier to tool. When they extrude the stuff, it needs to be a little more watery, and it is prone to air micro air bubbles both of which (h20, air) make it heat unevenly and chip/facture when tooling. If you do not cut it, the difference between cast and extruded, to the best of my knowledge, is quite negligable.