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Thread: Fixing acrylic

  1. #1
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Fixing acrylic

    Has anyone successfully fixed acrylic? I just made a 1" crack on one of my bubble doors at the rear. Do I drill stop the crack and then repair? Or just use the acrylic repair stuff without drill stopping the crack.
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    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    Josh, I'd recommend stop drill the end of the crack. Probably 1/8" (minimum) drill size should be ok. Use the very end of the crack as centrepoint for the hole. Maybe use a magnifier to make sure you identify the crack end point.
    David
    SS7 Builder

  3. #3
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    Sounds good. Then I'm going to try my hand at injection methyl chloride into the joint which should fix it up
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    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  4. #4
    Senior Member jmodguy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    I used to fix acrylic avionics faceplates when I was in the Navy.
    This is what we would do.
    Stop drill it, grind some scrap into a powder and stuff in the hole and apply your fusing chemical. Don't use sandpaper, you could end up with silicon bits in your powder.
    Jeff
    KF 5
    340KF

  5. #5
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    Thanks for the tip Jeff, you think if I use a file to make the powder it will work? Will tape be good enough to stop the shavings from dropping through? Or do I need something more substantial with the chemicals involved?
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    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  6. #6
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    I see you glueing the tape to the acrylic if you do that. Think youll need to find something thats not going to adhere to your chemical. Maybe silicone or wax paper or something.

  7. #7
    Senior Member jmodguy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    Teflon tape or glass. Sticky side away from the repair. Easy on the chemical. Use a natural hair bristle small paintbrush and dab it on. Test the brush first to make sure it doesn't melt!
    A file is good. Make sure it is clean is all you need to do. The size of the 'teeth" will determine the size of your filings.
    Jeff
    KF 5
    340KF

  8. #8
    Guy Buchanan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    The glider guys at my field stop drill then adhere an interior patch over the entire crack, It looks to be about .06" thick. It is usually 1" outside the crack.

    But here's a much more elaborate repair:

    http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/Co..._%20Repair.htm
    Guy Buchanan
    San Diego, CA
    Deceased K-IV 1200 / 912uls / 70" Warp 3cs

    gebuchanan@cox.net

  9. #9
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    So I fixed it. Definitely not a pro job as I spilled a little and clouded the acrylic a bit, I tried to fill the hole as you can see. Not great but beats a new $500 door! I may try to buy some thin acrylic to put a small patch on the inside to hold everything together. The drill stop is probably enough though
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    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  10. #10
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fixing acrylic

    Well I think I could live with that as well vs $500 replacement. I actually have two cracks straight out from the screw holes to the edge. hoping the screw hole was deburred well enough to not allow it through.

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