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evoracer

Trimming an Acrylic tank

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13 Comments
by
evoracer
, 04-24-2010 at 10:41 PM (1445 Views)
So I am getting a 60G tank ready for top-down view, and want to trim out the opening larger. It currently has about a 2-2.5" lip around the top, and I want to cut it back to 1". The tank is built of 1/2" acrylic. I have at my disposal a router, a jigsaw and a circular saw. My plan is to rough cut the opening oversized a bit with the jigsaw, the using a template made from MDF, route out the hole to the finished size, then follow with a 45 degree knock-down bit to finish it off. Anyone have a better idea or can see why the jigsaw won't work? I have cut lots of acrylic with my table saw and router, and built tanks in the past, but never had to cut a pre-built tank. Thanks in advance.

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Comments

  1. IronMan's Avatar
    Why not just use the template and a 1/4" staright bit in the router? This will make the cut in a single step.
  2. dread240's Avatar
    that would be my thoughts.. no sense in going back over it twice.
  3. evoracer's Avatar
    Yeah, that was my latest theory. I was worried about taking that much off ina single trip with the router, but I guess really it's the same if I rough cut it first.
  4. dread240's Avatar
    right, but most importantly during the project, one must consider 4g63 vs. 4b11t

    where do you stand? lol
  5. Alaska_Phil's Avatar
    Are you sure you want to do this? Isn't the lip (eurobrace) a structural component to keep it from bowing out?
  6. melev's Avatar
    Why are you making the opening larger? You may end up weakening the tank.
  7. evoracer's Avatar
    The opening was (I say that because the deed is done) very small. For a top-down view tank the lip was ridiculous. I am considering laminating another sheet of 1/2" on top of what is left, but really am not worried. The brace I left is 1.5" all the way around except for the back, which is about 2". It is still a solid piece of acrylic and I did not get near any of the seams where it sits on top of the sides. I have had sumps larger than this in the past with a 1" lip around the top with no problems in the long run. You all have me a bit concerned now though, I must say. I do plan on water testing it for a while in the yard though just to watch the deflection.
    Oh and dread-- I have only had 4G63's, so I am partial to the tried and true!
  8. melev's Avatar
    Let's see a few pictures of it.
  9. evoracer's Avatar
    Will post up tonight when I get home.
  10. evoracer's Avatar
    Forgot to mention the strange measurements of the tank- it is 3x2 feet and only 16" high.
  11. evoracer's Avatar
    Before:

    After:



    Leak test now for 24 hours, less than a 1/4" deflection on the long side, and the tank had a small deflection empty. Zero deflection top to bottom, zero front to back.
  12. melev's Avatar
    Wow, you cut out a lot. Let us know how that works long term.
  13. evoracer's Avatar
    I spoke with a few tank builders about this, the consensus is that it should be fine. I have a major delay on the project, my house needs to be tented for termites! So I think I will fill it back up and let it sit for the next week or so until the tenting comes and goes. But after 48 hours it did not bow at all.