Gluing Acrylic sheet

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Gluing Acrylic sheet

Home Forums Beginners questions Gluing Acrylic sheet

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • #107647
    Sub Mandrel
    Participant
      @submandrel

      Hi my stepson is asking if there is anything he can use to 'heal' a crack in acrylic sheet?

      Is there something that can be 'run' into the crack? Stopping it spreading is nmore important than appearance BUT A NICE JOB WOULD BE BEST.

      Neil

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      #6500
      Sub Mandrel
      Participant
        @submandrel
        #107650
        Mick D
        Participant
          @mickd41895

          Hi

          Acetone is a solvent for acrylics, it will wick into the crack if it is fine.

          Regards Mick

          #107651
          Kevin Bennett
          Participant
            @kevinbennett25223

            hi drill a small hole at the end of the crack it will stop it running any further across the sheet

            Kevin

            #107657
            MICHAEL WILLIAMS
            Participant
              @michaelwilliams41215

              Windscreen repair kit will do it perfectly but a bit expensive to buy .

              Unless very complex shape or priceless probably easier to make a new one .

              Alternatives :

              Make your own filler using Perspex glue and scrap Perspex .

              Glue a thin sheet patch on the less visible side .

              If thick enough and flat cut the damage out and insert a piece of new sheet .

              Michael Williams .

              #107660
              Sub Mandrel
              Participant
                @submandrel

                It's a curved boat windscreen. I suggetsted drilling a hole to stop it propagating, but that wasn't popular. Thsi is the second attempt at a replacement. I'll suggest acetone or weindscreen repair kit. Both should be less than the price of a new 6' sheet of acrylic.

                Thanks guys.

                Neil

                #107682
                Chris Trice
                Participant
                  @christrice43267

                  You won't make an invisible repair. Sorry, but not acetone. You want chloroform or Dichloromethane. If you're in the UK, try EMA in Shepperton (01932 228228) and try there PPC2 solvent cement.Is this surface crazing or a crack all the way through?

                  #107684
                  Michael Gilligan
                  Participant
                    @michaelgilligan61133
                    Posted by Stub Mandrel on 31/12/2012 21:39:44:

                    I suggetsted drilling a hole to stop it propagating, but that wasn't popular.

                    Neil

                    Neil,

                    With apologies for offending your stepson's visual sensitivity:

                    Drilling that hole is the most effective part of this repair scheme.

                    It need only be 2-3 mm diameter, and can be plugged after the screen has been solvent welded.

                    MichaelG.

                    #107685
                    Michael Gilligan
                    Participant
                      @michaelgilligan61133

                      If repair fails … this might be of interest:

                      MichaelG.

                      #107686
                      MICHAEL WILLIAMS
                      Participant
                        @michaelwilliams41215

                        Just for interest :

                        Whilst it is true that drilling a hole will inhibit crack propagation in some circumstances and in some materials it is not the universal cure it is always claimed to be – often the crack will just change direction . It only really works in ductile materials with very moderate stress levels .

                        Use of the drilled hole in wood is fascinating – sometimes a crack will stabilise for hundreds of years and sometimes it will grow at visible speed and split plank completely .

                        There is a whole section of stress analysis dealing with crack propagation and a whole branch of NDT for detecting and monitoring cracks . Understanding how cracks form and grow is of particular importance in the Aircraft , Nuclear and Process Chemicals industries .

                        #107690
                        Michael Gilligan
                        Participant
                          @michaelgilligan61133

                          Neil,

                          Michael Williams is, of course, correct in saying that the "hole" does not always work.

                          A couple of things will improve your chances …

                          1. The hole must be at, or just beyond, the very end of the crack. If the crack extends, even microscopically, beyond the hole then it will give no relief.
                          2. The hole should be round and smooth. Burnished is best.

                          Good luck with it.

                          MichaelG.

                          #107695
                          Ian S C
                          Participant
                            @iansc

                            About 15 years ago I donated a turret from an Avro Anson to the Airforce Museum in Christchurch, don'tknow if it was the one used for the resoration aircraft in the museum. The Perspex on it had a number of repaired cracks, all stop drilled 1/16", then a patch fitted over the crack, bolted in place with what looked like 4ba bolts, and fiber/nylon lock nuts, don't think any glue was involved in the repair. Ian S C

                            #107705
                            johnp10
                            Participant
                              @johnp10

                              When I was at school during the war we used glacial acetic acid to produce clear joints.

                              Most of the other chemicals were unobtainable then.

                              It should capillery into the crack easily.

                              John.

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