I used to build acrylic aquariums. For the best bond, you want really smooth edges, then, as you show, hold your joints together dry, then apply the solvent while the joints are held tight. The solvent gets pulled into the joint using capillary action. If the edges aren't nearly glass smooth, you risk having a slopping joint. To get things glossy smooth, you can sand through grits up to about 600. Then you take a propane torch and just "kiss" the rough edge. Just long enough to knot down any scratches.
Great video! One tip I learned from a master acrylic fabricator was to squeeze some air out of the needle bottle before you invert it, then it will draw in air slowly until you squeeze it, keeps the solvent from going everywhere every time you invert the bottle and helps you get the solvent only where you need it!
Thank you for showing three different ways of making these boxes. I never want to make an acrylic box before today. Now I want to, thanks for giving me the confidence and the skill…
When I first started working with acrylics about 40 years ago, we of course didn’t have laser cutters! After cutting and mostly smoothing edges, I’d use a propane torch to final smooth edges, especially on clear. Love Weldon solvents. So many viscosities to pick from.
Finally somebody who can show the different glues. I cut acrylic with a laser, and many glues cause small cracks (creases) in the heat affected zone. Only one glue did not do that, a uv activated very liquid glue by Ruplo. Do you have experience with glueing laser cut plexiglass?
Plexiglass is polycarbonate, much different properties than acrylic, I really only have experience laser cutting acrylic and then using acrylic solvent to bond the material together. I'm not familiar with the adhesive that you're talking about. Experimentation is really the way to go. Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience.
That buzz of disapproval at poorer methods of joining acrylics nearly put me off this video. By the third buzz I was ready to exit and would have had not the subject seemed important. Otherwise, this was good, useful information and I thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to make another awesome video! I recently made a large acrylic box using box jointed ends (the joys of having access to a laser cutter!). But then I ruined the insides flooding it with CA. Wish I'd known about your luer lock bottles a couple of weeks ago lol. The whole thing got vinyl wrapped so not a big deal in the end, but just like ironing underpants... I know it's not right underneath ;) Thanks again
Router... Omg, I totally forgot about this tool. This is going to solve a problem I've been putting off with some flat acrylic bases I needed fir my minerals. Thank you! Btw, hope the bandages didn't come from working that table saw!
Nice video. It was VERY informative and answered several questions that I had regarding methods of cutting. I'm glad I found your video. I am going to make some display cases and I need to put "shelves" inside the case (basically a large box). What type of a router bit would you recommend to clean up the edges of the shelves (or all of the pieces) where there will be a butt joint onto the inner walls of the "box"? Spiral upcut bit?
Another way is to make a template of the parts and then use the template and double stick tape to flush trim your parts. Cut your blanks bigger by about an 1/8 of an inch then route.
Love your tutorials! Any chance you could remove the background music while you are talking? I would much rather concentrate on your excellent speaking voice, and the useful info being spoken.
Hello Eric, I have a question about acrylic. If I made a box just like you, but with only five sides ( So a box with an open top.) and placed it into an aquarium, will is warp and break? I'm looking for a box made of a material that can hold it's seal in water for years. Is acrylic my answer? Thank you for this video.
Great tutorial expertise at high level...much apreciated but the music not so much ...during your explanation is how can i say this politely humm....? got it ! Not neccesary cause concentration gets shambleld in this type of ( got to focus) tutorial or else your get distracted and loose most of it...anyway just saying 👍 Tks
Hmmm... for some Reason TH-cam ate my previous Comment... so refraised another try Perfect Video for a Beginner, as always. Dichlor is the best Glue ever for Acryl and some other Plastics But Talking Safety! Wear Gloves! Preferebly Nitril or Vinyl DCM goes through Latex as most Chemicals do. Skin absorbs DCM and worst case you can get CO-Poisoning. Only work Outside, in a VERY well-Ventelated Area or with a Mask with the right Filter Cartrige... Do not under estimate DCM
You are correct! DCM is super nasty stuff, it melts plastic on contact, imagine what the vapor can do to your lungs! Don’t be fooled just because it doesn’t have a super strong chemical smell.
@@getdirecti0ns its less the 'Melting Plastic' Problem Our Body Metabolizes DCM similar to Choroform. It causes dizziness to unconsciousness, nausea and headaches. And Prolonged skin contact dissolves the Fatty Tissues under your Skin and in a worst Case causes Chemical Burnes
Hi Eric, thanks for the videos, very informative and I keep looking out for when "Motorhead" will appear and on what 🙂. I'm try to build a box using the 45 degree router method but am struggling to get a good clean 45 degrees along the length of the acrylic. Any tips?
I love your channel. I think it can be even better. Keep in mind when you do your mixing the sound that the rest of us haven't heard or read the script. The background music makes it hard to understand what you're saying at times. I can usually make out what you're saying but it sure makes the video less enjoyable while attempting to mentally filter your soft spoken voice from the background music. This video is one where I had to exert extra mental effort in order to understand what you were saying. Thanks for all the great content.
@@EricStrebel You video after this one titled "Acrylic Advanced Basics model making for Designers, Architects & Makers" has great sound balance. I didn't have any trouble hearing your fantastic narration.
Dude! Build a little slide for you table saw for cutting small pieces. That's the biggest danger in the shop. A sled will hold the piece better for not just safety, but more consistent sized pieces.
Hi sir, is Solvent and melted Acrylic aquarium safe? What is recommended to used for Acrylic and PETE? And for Acrylic and PVC? Is Acrylic good with Silicone? Probably is my bad skills..Thanks and appreciated your kind advices.
The cube is an exercise as a basic standard of building something to a specific dimension with an acceptable level of quality and craft. Basic building blocks so to speak.
I want to build a gerbil cage for my gerbils that is larger than what they have now. I want to use acrylic sheets for the cage. But the frame, I don't think I can use wood. If you know gerbils, and I guess only people who had them as pets know gerbils.... They are major chew monsters. Anything made out of plastic, cardboard, wood, etc can be chewed into tiny little shreds very quickly by these little creatures. You could buy a bunch of gerbils instead of a paper shredder and you get the job done. Or even one gerbil and they would get the job done. Does anyone have any suggestions for what to frame my gerbil cage with? I mean metal would be ideal, but I can't cut metal so easily with my equipment.
just use melamine saw blade and a plate with zero clearance for the table saw add on your cut 1/32'' or .79375mm on each side and use a jointer to reamove the extra material and you will have a prestine edge for gluing.
@@EricStrebel you can put many sheet of acrylic hold with C clamp and if you are able to handle the weight of your stack ( depend of the dimension of the part minimum length 8'' or 203.2mm ). for the capacity of the jointer 6'' up to 16''. The planer you are limited in the width of your piece because a planer opening are 6'' or 152.4 mm up to 8'' or 203.2 mm minimum length 12'' or 305 mm and you need a jig. With a router table your can too like a jointer but you need a guide with a difference 1/32'' or .79375 mm between in and the out. You can cool the part with a blast of air and help the bearing to stay cool and at the same clear the chip. the acrylic cast give a better result than extruded because it's more dry (less moisture). If you want to reduce the thickness of a piece of acrylic less than 1/4'' or 6.35 mm i don't recommand because the material bounce a lot 3/8'' or 9.5 mm to 5/16'' or 7.9 mm at this point you need to adjust the jointer 1/64'' or .396875 mm by pass the maerial bounce less and you need to feed slowly. if you feed your material to fast your will not achieve smooth cut at all. For the tickness available on the market may vary 1/16'' or 1.5875 mm to 2'' or 50.8mm nominal size and up but cost by sheet is high. use a caliper to mesure the thickness of your material for a project because the tickness vary a lot with acrylic cast for acrylic extruded it vary less.
Fixed quite some time ago, the earlier TH-cam algorithm did not work as well as the new one does, so sometimes on my old videos the audio is not that amazing, if your referring to the loud buzzer then.... that's supposed to be that way.
I used to build acrylic aquariums. For the best bond, you want really smooth edges, then, as you show, hold your joints together dry, then apply the solvent while the joints are held tight. The solvent gets pulled into the joint using capillary action. If the edges aren't nearly glass smooth, you risk having a slopping joint. To get things glossy smooth, you can sand through grits up to about 600. Then you take a propane torch and just "kiss" the rough edge. Just long enough to knot down any scratches.
Great video! One tip I learned from a master acrylic fabricator was to squeeze some air out of the needle bottle before you invert it, then it will draw in air slowly until you squeeze it, keeps the solvent from going everywhere every time you invert the bottle and helps you get the solvent only where you need it!
Thank you for showing three different ways of making these boxes. I never want to make an acrylic box before today. Now I want to, thanks for giving me the confidence and the skill…
Blue cube is perfect
When I first started working with acrylics about 40 years ago, we of course didn’t have laser cutters! After cutting and mostly smoothing edges, I’d use a propane torch to final smooth edges, especially on clear. Love Weldon solvents. So many viscosities to pick from.
Flame polishing is in the next video
@@EricStrebel - Started typing before the end of the video. ;)
This is such a treasure trove! Whenever I need to do something new, I will find it here! THANKS ERIC!
Really detailed. Looking forward for more complex builds on simple materials and simple builds on trickier materials.
Finally somebody who can show the different glues. I cut acrylic with a laser, and many glues cause small cracks (creases) in the heat affected zone. Only one glue did not do that, a uv activated very liquid glue by Ruplo. Do you have experience with glueing laser cut plexiglass?
Plexiglass is polycarbonate, much different properties than acrylic, I really only have experience laser cutting acrylic and then using acrylic solvent to bond the material together. I'm not familiar with the adhesive that you're talking about. Experimentation is really the way to go. Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience.
That buzz of disapproval at poorer methods of joining acrylics nearly put me off this video. By the third buzz I was ready to exit and would have had not the subject seemed important. Otherwise, this was good, useful information and I thank you.
Thanks glad you liked it 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to make another awesome video! I recently made a large acrylic box using box jointed ends (the joys of having access to a laser cutter!). But then I ruined the insides flooding it with CA. Wish I'd known about your luer lock bottles a couple of weeks ago lol. The whole thing got vinyl wrapped so not a big deal in the end, but just like ironing underpants... I know it's not right underneath ;) Thanks again
Thanks man, feel free to share on social media and let the world know, I appreciate your support and comment
This what i like about your videos: right to the point! Great great tutorial! Thanks!
Thanks, that's what I like videos to be
Router... Omg, I totally forgot about this tool. This is going to solve a problem I've been putting off with some flat acrylic bases I needed fir my minerals. Thank you! Btw, hope the bandages didn't come from working that table saw!
this is a super helpful and informative video. Thank you so much
These cubes would be a nice idea to make PERIODIC TABLE from them by drawing the symbols and other info one side before sticking them.
Nice tips and tricks!
For the last box you could use a painter/scotch tape to "preassemble" the box, unroll it and then apply the glue.
Love everything you do and always look forward to learning something new
Thanks, feel free to share with the planet on social media, that helps my channel the most. Thanks so much for the comment I really appreciate it.
I can share it Eric.👍
Thank you, much appreciated!
Nice video. It was VERY informative and answered several questions that I had regarding methods of cutting. I'm glad I found your video.
I am going to make some display cases and I need to put "shelves" inside the case (basically a large box). What type of a router bit would you recommend to clean up the edges of the shelves (or all of the pieces) where there will be a butt joint onto the inner walls of the "box"? Spiral upcut bit?
Love the details about cutting on the table saw and router, but the best most accurate way to cut acrylic is with a laser cutter.
Yes, I agree, as I mentioned in the video it assumes that you don't have access to a laser and you got to do it old school! 🤘
@@EricStrebel we're too cool for old school my friend! Keep up your amazing videos.
Thanks for making the video!
My pleasure!
Another way is to make a template of the parts and then use the template and double stick tape to flush trim your parts. Cut your blanks bigger by about an 1/8 of an inch then route.
Good stuff!
Interesting.
Awesome video. Full of tips. Did not know about paper vs plastic classifier. Mahalo for sharing! : )
Not always but very often!
@@EricStrebel 👍
Wow amazing!!😍😍😍👍
Nice!
Thanks
amazing
Love your tutorials! Any chance you could remove the background music while you are talking? I would much rather concentrate on your excellent speaking voice, and the useful info being spoken.
Is there any way to create custom molds for acrylic?
That's the one thing that always bothered me, the fact that it only comes in sheets.
Metal molds are required for that
Hello Eric, I have a question about acrylic. If I made a box just like you, but with only five sides ( So a box with an open top.) and placed it into an aquarium, will is warp and break? I'm looking for a box made of a material that can hold it's seal in water for years. Is acrylic my answer? Thank you for this video.
Should work, try it and find out.
Your weight is a sample part, either blade or vane from a turbine engine. Interesting
Great tutorial expertise at high level...much apreciated but the music not so much ...during your explanation is how can i say this politely humm....? got it ! Not neccesary cause concentration gets shambleld in this type of ( got to focus) tutorial or else your get distracted and loose most of it...anyway just saying 👍 Tks
Hmmm... for some Reason TH-cam ate my previous Comment... so refraised another try
Perfect Video for a Beginner, as always.
Dichlor is the best Glue ever for Acryl and some other Plastics
But Talking Safety! Wear Gloves! Preferebly Nitril or Vinyl
DCM goes through Latex as most Chemicals do.
Skin absorbs DCM and worst case you can get CO-Poisoning.
Only work Outside, in a VERY well-Ventelated Area or with a Mask with the right Filter Cartrige...
Do not under estimate DCM
Thanks, good tips
You are correct! DCM is super nasty stuff, it melts plastic on contact, imagine what the vapor can do to your lungs! Don’t be fooled just because it doesn’t have a super strong chemical smell.
@@getdirecti0ns its less the 'Melting Plastic' Problem
Our Body Metabolizes DCM similar to Choroform.
It causes dizziness to unconsciousness, nausea and headaches. And Prolonged skin contact dissolves the Fatty Tissues under your Skin and in a worst Case causes Chemical Burnes
Hi Eric, thanks for the videos, very informative and I keep looking out for when "Motorhead" will appear and on what 🙂. I'm try to build a box using the 45 degree router method but am struggling to get a good clean 45 degrees along the length of the acrylic. Any tips?
Table saw works well
I build with a makita track saw and Perspex cutting blade
Hi, the link to the solvent is dead.. what are you using. Looks like a wonderfull product
Fixed. Thanks!
I love your channel. I think it can be even better. Keep in mind when you do your mixing the sound that the rest of us haven't heard or read the script. The background music makes it hard to understand what you're saying at times. I can usually make out what you're saying but it sure makes the video less enjoyable while attempting to mentally filter your soft spoken voice from the background music.
This video is one where I had to exert extra mental effort in order to understand what you were saying.
Thanks for all the great content.
Thanks
@@EricStrebel You video after this one titled "Acrylic Advanced Basics model making for Designers, Architects & Makers" has great sound balance. I didn't have any trouble hearing your fantastic narration.
Sometimes I think the TH-cam compression is not so great, we test it when we have time but it doesn't always seem to be consistent.
That was really interesting .... there are so many bad videos out there regarding acrylic.
Thanks, trying to keep it factual and useful
What about solvent dripping surface protection? Would PVC masking tape work?
Don't know
Could you help me with a life size tree sculpture I'm trying to build?
Dude! Build a little slide for you table saw for cutting small pieces. That's the biggest danger in the shop. A sled will hold the piece better for not just safety, but more consistent sized pieces.
Actually I have one it's a big one building a small one would probably be a good idea
Hi sir, is Solvent and melted Acrylic aquarium safe? What is recommended to used for Acrylic and PETE? And for Acrylic and PVC? Is Acrylic good with Silicone? Probably is my bad skills..Thanks and appreciated your kind advices.
Each material will require a specific solvent, but once the solvent has evaporated it should be inert and okay for your tank
Do you think it's OK to blast that buzzer sound at full volume while your voice track almost inaudible?
Yup
Great video! Which router bit would you recommend for a V groove and for chamfered edge?
Hmmm, I would see if they are special bits for acrylics, otherwise a good wood working bit and so.e testing is in order
SUPERB👍
What do we do with that square? Just asking.
The cube is an exercise as a basic standard of building something to a specific dimension with an acceptable level of quality and craft. Basic building blocks so to speak.
I want to build a gerbil cage for my gerbils that is larger than what they have now. I want to use acrylic sheets for the cage. But the frame, I don't think I can use wood. If you know gerbils, and I guess only people who had them as pets know gerbils.... They are major chew monsters. Anything made out of plastic, cardboard, wood, etc can be chewed into tiny little shreds very quickly by these little creatures. You could buy a bunch of gerbils instead of a paper shredder and you get the job done. Or even one gerbil and they would get the job done. Does anyone have any suggestions for what to frame my gerbil cage with? I mean metal would be ideal, but I can't cut metal so easily with my equipment.
What glue was in the applicator bottle for the acrylic please?
Acrylic solvent cement
I had a Freud 80 tooth triple chip blade that was 10" blade and the blade left a polished edge One the plastic
would the solvent work with rigid polyurethane plastics?
No
@@EricStrebel Thanks. The quality of content in your videos are top tier 👌
Highth...
What kind of Glue or what is the name of the glue used to Apply on the Acrylic to stick it? Tnx
Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue
@@davebacknolaliki1452 thank you
No, that is not what I used and it is not the correct glue for acrylic. You need acrylic cement or acrylic solvent. Link in the description
just use melamine saw blade and a plate with zero clearance for the table saw add on your cut 1/32'' or .79375mm on each side and use a jointer to reamove the extra material and you will have a prestine edge for gluing.
Hmmm, interesting, so a planer is needed, what would the min or max thickness of the acrylic for that?
@@EricStrebel you can put many sheet of acrylic hold with C clamp and if you are able to handle the weight of your stack ( depend of the dimension of the part minimum length 8'' or 203.2mm ). for the capacity of the jointer 6'' up to 16''. The planer you are limited in the width of your piece because a planer opening are 6'' or 152.4 mm up to 8'' or 203.2 mm minimum length 12'' or 305 mm and you need a jig. With a router table your can too like a jointer but you need a guide with a difference 1/32'' or .79375 mm between in and the out. You can cool the part with a blast of air and help the bearing to stay cool and at the same clear the chip. the acrylic cast give a better result than extruded because it's more dry (less moisture). If you want to reduce the thickness of a piece of acrylic less than 1/4'' or 6.35 mm i don't recommand because the material bounce a lot 3/8'' or 9.5 mm to 5/16'' or 7.9 mm at this point you need to adjust the jointer 1/64'' or .396875 mm by pass the maerial bounce less and you need to feed slowly. if you feed your material to fast your will not achieve smooth cut at all. For the tickness available on the market may vary 1/16'' or 1.5875 mm to 2'' or 50.8mm nominal size and up but cost by sheet is high. use a caliper to mesure the thickness of your material for a project because the tickness vary a lot with acrylic cast for acrylic extruded it vary less.
PS that was on table saw
oky....
Just make sure not to get your hands too close to that table saw blade!
It's not "heighth"
Lol
no gloves ?
It's probably a good idea.
its heigHT, not heigTH
Yup, could be
@@EricStrebel i actually love this response, well done
He just crumbled and threw away my plans
fic your audio mixing. you voice and noises are so dam loud and everything else can barely hear. constantly turning volume up and down
Fixed quite some time ago, the earlier TH-cam algorithm did not work as well as the new one does, so sometimes on my old videos the audio is not that amazing, if your referring to the loud buzzer then.... that's supposed to be that way.