What adhesive to connect PVC and acrylic?

widmer · 09/15/2009, 09:21 PM

I'm about to begin constructing my new gravity-fed protein skimming and filtration apparatus. I need to make a lot of PVC:acrylic connections. I just need to know what adhesive I should use? Weld-on? Super glue? PVC cement? That "PVC, ABS ___insert other random acronyms here____" cement in the plumbing section?

I feel like I just read this somewhere though, wouldn't it be great if the site had a super well-organized quick Q&A section?

Cuby2k · 09/15/2009, 09:28 PM

Tried it once, went thru a whole stretch of tests and I could never get it to work.

widmer · 09/15/2009, 09:46 PM

I know someone on here had a good product to use. They even posted a picture of it...

kvmn · 09/15/2009, 10:00 PM

weldon #16

MarkS · 09/16/2009, 01:01 AM

I've used Weldon #16 and thick PVC cement with success. The key is to use a thick cement. Thin cements like the clear kind you get at Home Depot will not work well and Weldon #3 and #4 wont work at all.

lecher · 09/16/2009, 05:50 AM

Weld on #16 and #40 will both work.

kentrob11 · 09/16/2009, 05:57 AM

Weldon #40 is designed to bond PVC and acrylic. They won't "weld" together per se but they will bond adequately with it. I would highly recommend roughing up both gluing surfaces with sand paper before gluing, especially the acrylic side. I wouldn't use #16 for this application...

troylee · 09/16/2009, 06:45 AM

Weldon 40 is what you wanna use, no need for scuffing or sanding just make sure your pieces are nice and clean..denatured alcohol is a good cleaner/prep....

kentrob11 · 09/16/2009, 06:51 AM

I tend to err on the cautious side when gluing up PVC to acrylic. Acrylic has such a smooth surface and I do know that the bond is a little better in this particular application when the polished surface of the acrylic is roughed a bit.

EnderG60 · 09/16/2009, 10:30 AM

Weldon 16 works, but Household goop works better. That stuff will stick anything to anything with a water tight seal. And yes its reef safe.

RegalAngel · 09/16/2009, 12:18 PM

What about Epoxy Putty? Anyone try that?

RegalAngel · 09/16/2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RegalAngel
What about Epoxy Putty? Anyone try that?

Well, I tried some Epoxy Hold Fast (MarineLand), and it was solid on a piece of acrylic!

troylee · 09/16/2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kentrob11
I tend to err on the cautious side when gluing up PVC to acrylic. Acrylic has such a smooth surface and I do know that the bond is a little better in this particular application when the polished surface of the acrylic is roughed a bit.

i hear ya but really no need to scuff the acrylic...weldon 40/42 is made for acrylic i build displays with it all the time and have done numerous test's with it...scuffed or not it really seams to bond the same imo.

kentrob11 · 09/16/2009, 02:23 PM

Gotcha...I typically scuffed mine up a little only on acrylic-PVC joints...I obviously didn't need to on the acrylic-acrylic joints. Then again, I have only joined PVC fittings to acrylic, not sheeting. I'm doing the same with some modified unions like the ones I made for the skimmers below that will be mounted to the sides of a sump system and I went ahead and scuffed up the acrylic around the mounting holes hoping for a better bond...Prolly just me being overly-anal :-P

09/15/2009, 09:28 PM	#2
Cuby2k Cuby2k Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 982	Tried it once, went thru a whole stretch of tests and I could never get it to work. __________________ Rod "Cuby" Current Tank Info: 180 display, 100 gal DIY fuge/sump, DIY skimmer.

09/15/2009, 09:21 PM	#1
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	What adhesive to connect PVC and acrylic? I'm about to begin constructing my new gravity-fed protein skimming and filtration apparatus. I need to make a lot of PVC:acrylic connections. I just need to know what adhesive I should use? Weld-on? Super glue? PVC cement? That "PVC, ABS ___insert other random acronyms here____" cement in the plumbing section? I feel like I just read this somewhere though, wouldn't it be great if the site had a super well-organized quick Q&A section?

09/15/2009, 09:46 PM	#3
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	I know someone on here had a good product to use. They even posted a picture of it...

09/15/2009, 10:00 PM	#4
kvmn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Minnesnowta Posts: 237	weldon #16

09/16/2009, 01:01 AM	#5
MarkS Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 3,256	I've used Weldon #16 and thick PVC cement with success. The key is to use a thick cement. Thin cements like the clear kind you get at Home Depot will not work well and Weldon #3 and #4 wont work at all.

09/16/2009, 05:50 AM	#6
lecher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 676	Weld on #16 and #40 will both work.

09/16/2009, 05:57 AM	#7
kentrob11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: O'Fallon, IL Posts: 4,520	Weldon #40 is designed to bond PVC and acrylic. They won't "weld" together per se but they will bond adequately with it. I would highly recommend roughing up both gluing surfaces with sand paper before gluing, especially the acrylic side. I wouldn't use #16 for this application...

09/16/2009, 06:45 AM	#8
troylee Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: here. Posts: 2,509	Weldon 40 is what you wanna use, no need for scuffing or sanding just make sure your pieces are nice and clean..denatured alcohol is a good cleaner/prep....

09/16/2009, 06:51 AM	#9
kentrob11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: O'Fallon, IL Posts: 4,520	I tend to err on the cautious side when gluing up PVC to acrylic. Acrylic has such a smooth surface and I do know that the bond is a little better in this particular application when the polished surface of the acrylic is roughed a bit.

09/16/2009, 10:30 AM	#10
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Weldon 16 works, but Household goop works better. That stuff will stick anything to anything with a water tight seal. And yes its reef safe.

09/16/2009, 12:18 PM	#11
RegalAngel Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Redwood Reef Posts: 908	What about Epoxy Putty? Anyone try that?

09/16/2009, 02:23 PM	#14
kentrob11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: O'Fallon, IL Posts: 4,520	Gotcha...I typically scuffed mine up a little only on acrylic-PVC joints...I obviously didn't need to on the acrylic-acrylic joints. Then again, I have only joined PVC fittings to acrylic, not sheeting. I'm doing the same with some modified unions like the ones I made for the skimmers below that will be mounted to the sides of a sump system and I went ahead and scuffed up the acrylic around the mounting holes hoping for a better bond...Prolly just me being overly-anal :-P