Repairing A Cracked Acrylic Sump

[johnbarr]

I was wondering, what is the best way to fix a cracked acrylic sump. It got cracked at the bulkhead hole. The crack is about 2" long. My thoughts would be to drill a small hole at the end of the crack and use WelDon 3 and affix a piece of acrylic covering the crack on the inside on the sump. Does this make sense?? Is there an easier way?? All ideas welcomed!!!! Thanks.

 

[S Hunter]

i've never use 3 only 16 is 3 thicker and 16?... but yes that sounds like a good plan.

 

[Gina McReeferson]

#3 is much thinner. Sounds like a plan, one thought though, if you put a scab of material on the inside wall of the sump it would prevent your bulkhead from sealing properly unless you plan to cover the hole too and cut a new one. You need a nice smooth surface on the inside for the bulkhead gasket to seal on. Maybe I am picturing what you plan wrong in my head though...

 

[jrmx635]

I've done alot with acrylic and I would use the liquidy weld on.
You don't need the thicker stuff.
the thin one is stronger.it will bond the two peices together superstrong.
If you need the weld on type I can give it to you tomorrow.

 

[lawrant]

If you can get the weldon #3 into the crack you shouldn't need an extra piece at all since the adheisive actually melts and bonds the acrylic together. I would try to get a thin wire or something into the crack, then use a needle applicator to put the weldon in there and then after 30 seconds or so remove the "wedge" this would give you a nice bond and it should be water tight. If it isn't 100% water tight you could then put a bead of #16 on either side of the crack to fill in any of the holes.

the important thing to realize about this is that the acrylic "glue" works more like welding metal than gluing two things together. it actually melts away a small portion of the existing piece and then dries as a single piece. the acrylic glue is made up of a certain amount of liquid acrylic and some chemical that disolves acrylic but also evaporates into the air leaving behind solid acrylic. the amount of each is what gives you the more liquidy stuff (#3 or #4) as opposed to the more gell like stuff(#16, #40).

I would at least try this before attaching peices of acrylic as a patch.

 

[johnbarr]

Thanks for all the input! I cut a scrap piece of acrylic and am planning to use WelDon #3. Once again thanks!!! Go Pats!!!!