Hello makers,
Any advice on how to best joint acrylic or recommendations on plastic weld cements?
Thanks
Sandro
Plumber’s solvent glue works quite well, but won’t ensure transparency…
Tensol cement is what I’ve always used. There’s a thin version that wicks into small gaps by capillary action and a thicker version you can slap on with a brush.
From experience, the thin stuff is only good for flat face to flat face. Any edge-face or edge-edge joins either need very thorough preparation to get a really tight fit, or thicker glue.
Theres a place in Norwood which sells Plastic Solvent Glue (EMA). It’s really good and much cheaper than tensol.
Liquid solvent cement / Plastic solvent cement is dichloromethane; suitable for ‘solvent welding’ most hard plastics but is water thin and has no gap filling properties so you need a close fit on your parts. Tensol 12 is dichloromethane with acrylic dissolved into it, giving it gap-filling properties. Tensol 70 is a two pack product which is sometimes better for laminating larger areas of acrylic. Lots of other manufacturers versions available.
Good ventilation while these using is essential.
Acrylic sheet comes as cast or extruded. Extruded can suffer stress cracking (crazing) when gluing.
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We have some tensol in the snug CoSH, help yourself but go easy and avoid the fumes, it’s strong stuff!
Gluing in the screen wash booth with the extract running would be a good precaution
Thanks for all the advise everyone, lots for me to go on here
I’ve used tensol to good effect too. Need a ventilated area if you want avoid the headaches.