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Acrylic / Glass
- Thread starter Hirobo
- Start date
Glass sump? then better to use glass,but with both of my sumps(glass) I used plexiglass,just a lil more silicone to get the plexi to bond with the glass.But if you have to buy plexi anyhow,then go buy glass...just my opinion ;D
I don’t think it is a matter of one being “better” than the other. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Glass: Cheaper
More difficult to cut (for the DIYer)
Bonds well with silicone
Acrylic (plexiglass) or other plastic (such as what I used; polycarbonate):
More costly
Acrylic expands when wetted – need to compensate on cutting
Easy to cut with woodworking tools
Need a little more silicone (or use glue to first glue and then silicone)
Thin sheets flex easily….need to use thicker sheets.
Again, I ended up using 3/8 inch polycarbonate that was a waste product from a plastics company in Pennsylvania. For me, being a woodworker, it was so easy to cut, especially if I had to shave a little more off. With glass, if you don’t cut it right the first time, shaving off a smidge is very difficult, if not impossible.
Glass: Cheaper
More difficult to cut (for the DIYer)
Bonds well with silicone
Acrylic (plexiglass) or other plastic (such as what I used; polycarbonate):
More costly
Acrylic expands when wetted – need to compensate on cutting
Easy to cut with woodworking tools
Need a little more silicone (or use glue to first glue and then silicone)
Thin sheets flex easily….need to use thicker sheets.
Again, I ended up using 3/8 inch polycarbonate that was a waste product from a plastics company in Pennsylvania. For me, being a woodworker, it was so easy to cut, especially if I had to shave a little more off. With glass, if you don’t cut it right the first time, shaving off a smidge is very difficult, if not impossible.
shipwrecked said:
One of my sumps has acrylic and the other has glass. One is a 20 high and the other is a 30 Long.
It was much easier to get the glass baffles to attach with the silicone then it was with the acrylic.
Next sump build I will definitely use glass baffles unless I make the whole sump out of acrylic
D
Deleted member 10862
Guest
glass is a lot less delicate..but since i dont move my sump around that much..i have an acrylic..its a lotttt lighter to carry..
most glass shops will cut it for you and just charge you for the glass. they are all set up and do it in minutes.
r2reyzer
NJRC Member
Just an FYI...last time I went to a glass shop for custom glass panel for a tank cover, I asked the guy if he had any acrylic scrap pieces. He gave me pieces that were around 2" by 3" for 5 bucks a piece. If you buy acrylic "brand new", yes it's expensive. But if you buy scrap pieces, they are super cheap. You would just need to cut them down your self. I think most glass shops have scrap peices of acrylic/plexiglass that they will sell you.