Input for the 1/25 acrylic DIY demo?

[JohnK]

If you can get a measurement it would be a big help. If I try to drill acrylic with a hand drill and regular bits, it'll probably shatter. It's much safer/easier if I do it on the drill press and clamp the acrylic down.

 

[JayM]

will measure the screw tonight at home if my micrometer battery isn't dead. If it is, maybe I'll just pop over to Sudbury with some Sams....and YOU can measure it

 

[JohnK]

Bending!! That is the easiest thing to learn but the hardes to master!

Wes

Update on the Plan;

I'm going to be attempting to focus on Bending and repairing.

For repairing, Wes will be bringing a couple of broken acclimates (thanks Fed ex), and JayM has offered his smashed skimmer for a repair attempt.

For bending, well Wes got me thinking so I picked up a heat gun and made a simple bending jig, then did some practicing. I'll bend at least one overflow box at the meeting, and some simple demo bends. *playing with the heat gun is fun *

I will still be installing an overflow into a 10G as planned.

If anyone has any other broken acrylic stuff, please do bring it in, I can't promise I can fix it, but I can try

If anyone wants a custom overflow box, LMK (1 or 2, not 10).

jk

 

[JohnK]

Pics of Jay's light meter sensor holder, then smashed skimmer, then overflow boxes for to fit a 10G tank (the clear one is a little rough, it was my first test project ).

 

[JohnK]

Better version of the overflows pic

 

[JohnK]

3 sided overflow for a 20L, special request.

I'll be assembling this and the 10G corner overflow set up at the meeting. *The 10G will be donated as a raffel prize*

 

[BrianMac]

Looking good.

 

[JayM]

sweet light holder Did you do one for the BRS meter too? I'm not sharing mine!

 

[JohnK]

sweet light holder Did you do one for the BRS meter too? I'm not sharing mine!

Yup, yours is done, and I'll be making a second one at the mtg.

Also FWIW, the more I think over the skimmer repair project, the more I think I'm just going to patch the holes, and not try to add a bottom box and diffuser. It would be an awful lot of work and probably not worth it to do the total redesign.

 

[JayM]

oh well.....

 

[JohnK]

Here's drilling a 20L in case anyone does not know how that works;

 

[JohnK]

Some one asked, so I'm adding some pics of the DIY bending jig I made. This is not the only way to bend acrylic, but it's one way that works well.

Benifits with this jig are;

-The material can be heated from both the top and bottom with a heat gun (heating both sides is necessary to bend 1/4" this way and have it come out well)
-It makes it easy to get a clean straight bend, and end up with a consistent angle (90 deg, 45 deg or 70 deg).
-cost $16 in materials at HD

 

[JohnK]

and a couple more showing what it looks like when a bend is done. Note the clamps holding the material as it cools, this is key to keeping the bend straight and the angle consistent.

 

[Joel A]

i didn't know that was you today! hahaha

good to finally put a face to the name. You did really good work on that 20 gallon with the overflow. Wish i was handy enough to do that...

 

[biggyclops]

i didn't know that was you today! hahaha

good to finally put a face to the name. You did really good work on that 20 gallon with the overflow. Wish i was handy enough to do that...

+1 i thought you had a mustache in the picture

 

[Mrs. Delta]

The tank looks great, John. Thank you!

 

[JohnK]

The tank looks great, John. Thank you!

Your welcome.
(any chance you guys could post a quick pic of the finished product to complete the story here ?)

Biggy, your easy to spot with that avitar (clear pic of yourself). I think my attempt to look like I'm holding my breath kind of hid the beard...

Joel, that's funny. I thought I knew your face already, but now I'm not so sure, I didn't think I saw you today ??

 

[jbishop]

Jimmy great demo today. Gave me a lot of insight on what might be involved with the skimmer project

 

[JohnK]

Jimmy great demo today. Gave me a lot of insight on what might be involved with the skimmer project

Thks J-bish.

(Just between you and me, that skimmer project scares me, hence my lack of offering to get involved )

Did you happen to get any pics my efforts? If so, posting them here would be welcome

 

[jbishop]

Thks J-bish.
(Just between you and me, that skimmer project scares me, hence my lack of offering to get involved )

yeah I have a feeling its going to fizzle out into nothing as it sits.

Did you happen to get any pics my efforts? If so, posting them here would be welcome

I should have some posted but i dont think its going to happen tonight.