Acrylic fabrication questions? I can help! - Page 18

RyanBrucks · #**426** 01/09/2008, 02:41 AM

So I've used my dewalt portable table saw with a few different metal blades to cut some acrylic, and a few of the blades have a good amount of melted acrylic that is baked on pretty hard.

anybody have a recommendation for cleaning it off?

Acrylics · #**427** 01/09/2008, 08:54 AM

Ryan,
IME once they start melting - get them resharpened. When the saw blade guy resharpens them, they'll clean them up.

I'll try a pic of one of the router tables at some point.

James

H20ENG · #**428** 01/09/2008, 07:23 PM

What kind of teeth, and how many? You could try using a solvent like MEK to dissolve the plastic. I would say heat it and scrape it off, but then you may warp the blade.

I have found that with most blades, the acrylic seems to cut cleaner if the blade is raised 1-1.5" above the acrylic being cut.

James, whats your take on blade height? Been meaning to ask you..

Acrylics · #**429** 01/09/2008, 07:53 PM

I don't worry much about blade height to be honest. If the pieces being cut are <1.5", I tend to keep the blade height relatively low just to save fingers. Other than that - no worries either way really.

James

H20ENG · #**430** 01/09/2008, 07:59 PM

I have played with different heights (angles of attack by the blade) and it just seems to cut nicer- no melting on my homeowner style tablesaw.

The 3HP Powermatic at work has no problem

Acrylics · #**431** 01/09/2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H20ENG
The 3HP Powermatic at work has no problem

I've got the 5hp, maybe that's why I don't worry about it

The big panel saw is not exactly easily adjustable in that manner and it seem to cut pretty much anything rather well. Me likes power feed.

James

H20ENG · #**432** 01/09/2008, 08:16 PM

So James, you dont get melting on the blade of your Dremel?

Power feed. Sheesh. Rub it in whydontcha...

Man, you need to give us a video tour of your shop!

FlamesFan · #**433** 01/11/2008, 06:48 PM

Ok so im about to start to build my first acrylic refugium. I baught a 4x8 sheet of acrylic and cut up all my outside panels, but before I started assembling them I cut a couple test pieces to make sure the weldon #4 was good to go.

So I filled up a syringe and filed down the raw edge of the test peice to smooth it out. I clamped both pieces together then began to slowly apply the weldon into the seam of the two pieces.

What happend was it seeped through and went onto the back side of the test piece and melted the face of it. I just dont think my methods are correct.

I've tried sifting through this topic but there are sooo many pages and a ton of splits making it very difficult. I was wondering if someone out there would be kind enough to give me a run down on what steps I should be taking.

For more information on my build you can check out my thread HERE

RyanBrucks · #**434** 01/11/2008, 07:01 PM

Welcome to the thread

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article...c_aquarium.php

This page lists alot of what is described on these pages out in pretty good detail. You may want to skim this thread again after reading that. it's more concise, but you can learn much more if you go back and read this thread from the beginning. Alot of work, I know

search that article for 'pins' and youll see why your method isn't working so well.

Hope that helps!
Ryan