Input for the 1/25 acrylic DIY demo?

[JohnK]

I'll be doing the acrylic DIY demo at the january meeting.

I'll be installing a simple overflow in a 10G glass tank, but that will only take a few minutes.

Does anyone have anything they would like me to show? Techniques, simple projects I could do on the spot? Suggestions?

I'm all ears.

jk

 

[Liam]

how about flame polishing

 

[JohnK]

I haven't exactly mastered it, but I can show the good ol propane torch hackers style

(Your welcome to lend a hand if you know more than I)

jk

 

[biggyclops]

how about a small HOB refugium?

 

[sciknen]

i think i might go just for this..im going to be putting an overflow on my 125..are you drilling it too?

 

[JohnK]

HOB ref? Let me think about that a little, There would be a lot of steps in building that, many more than could be done in one day. Maybe I could build one and demonstrate an interesting portion of the build. Let me think on this one....

I was planning on drilling the tank in advance, at home on the drill press. There may be a seperate demo on drilling glass, but I'm not sure at this time

 

[Jeff.:P]

Maybe just showing how to master perfect seams, using the "pin method", maybe bring in a half built tank or the HOB ref and finish it. I think once people see how easy it is there will be a lot more doing it. I have an extra bottle of weldon #4, let me know if you need some extra.

 

[sciknen]

thats pretty much what i want to see is the putting the acrylic together and such

 

[JohnK]

Right,

I've been trying to figure out how to accomplish some competing goals;

-Clearly show bonding / "the pin method" / how to get good seams.
-Clearly show (or explain) how to cut and how to get good cuts.
-Show or or at least explain and show tools, for flush cutting with a router.
-Show a simple project start to finish.

How about I move away from the completed project idea, and focus on a more interactive "how to get a good seam" theme?

 

[sciknen]

yea and cutting??? maybe just show all the tools you know

 

[sciknen]

i have a ? you can probably answer this.. wouldnt it be better to have glass in a glass tank than acrylic

 

[JohnK]

Glass in glass will be ideal, but plexi in glass also works fine.

Glass to glass silicone seams are strongest. Acrylic doesn't bond well to silicone, so that is the limitation in installing acrylic baffles into a glass tank. Acrylic will also absorb water and swell whereas glass will not. Too tight fit acrylic baffles can crack a glass tank.

That said, if you do it right, acrylic baffles in a glass tank can be quite solid/strong IME. (All those AGA megaflow tanks rely on a glass-silicone-plastic joint)

 

[JohnK]

i have a ? you can probably answer this.. wouldnt it be better to have glass in a glass tank than acrylic

I think I missed the point of this question in my reply last night.

I choose to demo an acrylic overflow in a glass tank, because the acrylic/silicone/glass seams are plenty strong to use for an overflow box, and it's a very common project people want to do (and I'm doing the acrylic DIY demo, so I had to come up with something ).

This is something that comes up all the time, and I can do most of the work at the meeting. It will give me the chance to show how to cut, cut teeth, seam, and silicone acrylic to glass.

 

[JayM]

how about an acrylic handle for my par meter sensor

 

[JohnK]

how about an acrylic handle for my par meter sensor

Tell me more? What's it look like, got a pic?

 

[jbishop]

Wish I still had my busted skimmer....

 

[wsonner]

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

Wes

 

[JayM]

Tell me more? What's it look like, got a pic?

there's a thread here somewhere, but I cannot find it. Someone (melev?) made a tricked out handle for their par meter.

EDIT: here it is, from the lightmeter thread: http://www.melevsreef.com/par_readings.html

 

[JohnK]

Ahh, I knew that idea sounded framiliar.

How does the sensor attach? Does it just need a hole drilled, or something more complicated? The pics look like it's just sitting in a hole (maybe 1/2"?), but it's hard to see.

 

[JayM]

there's a small hole that needs to be drilled, because there's an attachment point on the sensor with a srew already. I can bring my PAR meter (and a drill) to the meeting if it's a help. 1/2"would be way too big, it's probably in the 3/16" range