Cutting Acrylic Triangles for Edge Reinforcement

[jmcarson3]

I have been constructing my first-ever acrylic sump, and like a newbie to acrylic I have ended up with a couple of seams that have excessive bubbles.

I have read all the posts about DIY acrylic construction, and they all suggest inserting triangular acrylic pieces into the suspect corners to provide additional bonding strength. Can someone offer some suggestions on how best to make these triangular blocks... I would actually like to make trapezoidal ones because my corners have a bead of #16 down them. I also would appreciate any advise that people can give on how to best install the blocks so that I get solid seams. Do I use a similar pin-process to ensure uniform seams?

Also, if anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears. I tried cutting a tiny groove into the seam from the outside edge in hopes that I could then force in #4... but that did not work...

[prafferty]

Why not just get some square rod and put that in there?

[jmcarson3]

That is a great suggestion. I will check with the plastics place to see what I can find. I would still like suggestions on how to glue it in... I imagine that I can just use pins as with the base assembly.

My base went together perfectly, but when I glued the sides together I was not sure how to do this since I couldn't fit pins into the seams. So, I just used tape to tightly hold them together (got this idea from garf.org) while I ran the #4 down the seam... this ended up having lots of bubble gaps. I finished the edges with a router (1/32 final pass), and I sanded them lightly with 400 grit sandpaper... oh well... next time will be better.

[orlenz]

you dont need pins, just secure them in place and use some #3 or #4 and a needle aplicator, it will flow right in there.

[jmcarson3]

Thanks for the tip, I will use #4. I may also pour in some #40 around the gussets to make sure I have a solid, sealed seam. This is a sump, so I really don't care if it is a sight for sore eyes.

I have done a lot more reading and have figured out where I went wrong in my assembly... I shouldn't have glued the sides while they were sitting in a vertical position. Tow of the side edges came out fine, but that must have been luck. I'll know for next time.