DIY acrylic cube build, 30x30x24

[DrawnToBeaches]

I'll be heading to paragon plastics soon to scavenge their scrap piles hopefully I'll find enough 3/4" acrylic to build this thing, have a couple questions.

What is the best way to form the seams, these need to be really strong for the load they will be handling. Is 3/4" thick enough? I'll be doing a euro brace around the top for about 2".

And would anyone be interested in doing this with me? I could pay or return the labor favor mostly need help with seams and whatever tools would be needed, I'm only doing DIY cause I'm having bad luck finding a prebuilt tank for less than $500

Plus paragon scrap is supposed to be cheap

 

[Evanski9]

I'll build one with you. We will build it together

 

[xxtechxx]

hi 3/4" is more than enough to support your tank. the key is to have nice straight and smooth sides. in order to do that you need a circular or band saw to cut
the side so that its at a perfect 90 degree angle. then what you need to do is route the side of the cut ends to smooth it out for bonding with the acrylic cement.
here is the acrylic work that i made a while back:
http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?25172-DIY-Low-Profile-ATO-reservoir&highlight=
im just not as active in this forum because i HATE theme color, it gives me a headache i wish it was back to white again.

 

[Spinner]

Hi XX,

You can change background to white at the bottom right of page by clicking DAYREEF. Also nice work on your ATO

 

[xxtechxx]

Hi XX,

You can change background to white at the bottom right of page by clicking DAYREEF. Also nice work on your ATO

life saver! dayreef should be used as default =]

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

I am going to pay paragon to cut the edges and prep for seams, any idea what scrap would cost? I don't mind nicks tbh but the better looking the happier I am, if I want to can I do 30x30x30 which is 116g?

 

[xxtechxx]

I am going to pay paragon to cut the edges and prep for seams, any idea what scrap would cost? I don't mind nicks tbh but the better looking the happier I am, if I want to can I do 30x30x30 which is 116g?

yeah make sure everything is 90 degrees or you will have problems. i dont know how much scraps would cost and yes 30x30x30 is roughly 116G

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

Their thickest scrap is 3/8" so I have to settle for 30x30x18 which is fine I'll be going tomorrow to go through it, I'm going to have them cut everything to perfect so I don't mess up, also going to get industrial acrylic cement since I don't even know how to do the seems, I hope this works, I'll have to find someone to help me build a steel stand,

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

Will someday set up a glass 116g cube but till then the acrylic will have to work since it is easier to build correctly

 

[DrawnToBeaches]

The acrylic will cost too much... I want do glass but I don't trust I can make good seams with silicone