Building Clear Resavor

[zoopa_man]

I'm trying to make plans for a new resavor for my watercooling system in my pc. I have some 3/8 plexi glass that i'm going to chop up to the correct dimensions. Just going to make a basic rectangle shape and put my submersable pump inside.

The advice I need though is what kind of glue to use to hold the plexi together. Should I use a epoxy or would silicone work well enough ? What ever I use it has to be clear and not very messy. I want to do a clean job and have this look very sharp. What can I use that's going to be waterproof and give a good tight hold on plexi glass ?

*edit*
better yet does anyone sell clear resavors with or without pump dosn't matter ???

[Diggrr]

Have any pet supply stores nearby? That silicone sealant/glue stuff from aquariums would work very well.
Marine Goop would work well also, but dries too fast to get a chance to smooth it out.
I've use Devcon clear two-part epoxy. It holds well, but tends to be brittle and can pick up dyes from the coolant. If you jar it, it can break free of the surface.(bad)

There, one to look for, and two to stay away from.
I think chip at www.overclock-watercool.com sold some clear reserviors.
*edit* just checked, and yes he does. Round with a gasketed lid. Your choice of internal pump or external.

[zoopa_man]

Great idea. Never thought that fishie store would be my computer suplier. Might have to pick up a new beta while i'm there !!!

Thanks for mentioning the point about picking up the dye colors too. Never thought of that. I want this thing to stay clear. And you also made a good point about the cureing time too. Got to keep an eye out for that.

Thanks very much. I'll let you all know how it comes out...maybe some day you all can see a pic of my mad pc. Iv'e done a lot of mods since I last posted here way back in june. LOL Thanks again

[SeigeAkicksass]

you could epoxy it a little to get a baisic holde ans use the fishy tank stuff for sealing and some stickyness (i.e. hold toghether-ness) or just some clear stuff for water proofing showers &stuff- liek from a hardware store (home depote)
some thoughts:eh?:

[The Overclocker]

Originally posted by zoopa_man
Great idea. Never thought that fishie store would be my computer suplier. Might have to pick up a new beta while i'm there !!!

Thanks for mentioning the point about picking up the dye colors too. Never thought of that. I want this thing to stay clear. And you also made a good point about the cureing time too. Got to keep an eye out for that.

Thanks very much. I'll let you all know how it comes out...maybe some day you all can see a pic of my mad pc. Iv'e done a lot of mods since I last posted here way back in june. LOL Thanks again

ha, i think that is the same with all of us, i have had 3 cases since june

[zoopa_man]

Well...after some strange looks form the fishie store workers I got what I need. Felt like being in radio shack almost..."Your making what? With this ? How ? Huh ? " Poor fishies. LOL I'll remember next time to just say where's the stuff and not tell what i'm doing with it. They told me water and electricity don't mix well...That's when I said...yah, thus the need for a good tight selant and waterproof too :D

I got Jan 1st off so i'll start my projct. Cut out the pieces with a small toothed saw and clean them up with my dremel. Then start glueing the pieces together. Give it a good day to cure and dry. Add watter and let it sit in the sink to check for any leaks....Put the pump in and let it run overnight....Then...when i'm feeling brave enough...I'll put it in my case !!!!! Ofcourse all of this pending everything goes to plann.(yah right) I got my rubber chicken handy incase I need to smack any gremlins away. Thanks again for the help. If I can afford it i'll take pictures of the process and try to post them some day. Then we all can start playing with fishie glue and plexi glass and OH my favorite DREMEL TOOLS !!!

[trey_w]

you can heat the edges of the plexi and bond the sides of the plexi

or if you have a big enough piece, you can heat up plexi with a special heat iron and fold a box together out of one piece

[mw521]

A table saw works grat for cutting plexi if you got access to one. It makes the edges nice and square too.:beer:

[FizzledFiend]

umm dang dude I wish I had of seen this sooner but the only difference between aquarium silicone and regular automotive or household silicone is the packaging....and the price of course...oh well now we know aye? Also when makeing your cube remember the seal your trying to get is between the edges of the glass use very very...I will say it again VERY thin amount on the edges...close to the amount you use with AS II paste maybe just a tick more let that cure 24 hours then make your beads of silicone on the inside (do your top last) smooth with finger, let dry 24 hours and avoid smelling the vinager smell (YUK!) Sense your trying to make a cube I would use ample amounts on the top edges (hopefully getting a good amount on the inside edges to finish the seal off. Don't think you will be able to get your fingers in there to smooth it out so ya want to get enough inside the cube to finish the seal unaidded) and then place the top piece on and excert ALOT of presure to it while it dries, maybe a few phone books will work...silicone will dry in an airtight enviroment, but it takes alot longer, so I would predrill my nipple holes first to allow for air exchange....you could also drill pilot holes and use screws on all edges for security sake (don't think you will really need them though) you'll want the bottom piece to suport the edges, so make the bottom peice as large as you want your cube then attach one of the front pieces with one of the side pieces on top of the bottom piece (things are going to be a bit squirmy on ya till the silicone starts to set. be paitent and hold still! .... this shouldn't be real hard to do with such small pieces....These are just a few things I picked up while I was building my 150 gallon reef aquarium. I hope it works out for ya!

[zoopa_man]

Thanks a million dude. Wish you had seen this post earlyier too...had to buy the little bottle of Rum insted of the big one for New Years. LOL oh well...saved me form a hang-over. LOL Thank You very much for the pointers. I will follow them.

[Warlord2]

I read somewhere that you can put drops of super glue on each end to hold all the sides in place. thin use the silicon to waterpoof it after the super glue dries

I was going to do this same project but I couldnt get my hands on any plexiglass that is thick enough:(

[Blue Jester_2112]

Did you try Lowes or Home Depot? They usually carry sheets of varying thickness and size.

[zoopa_man]

Warlord2 if your still thinking about doing this projct Just go to your local lumber yard or Home depot what ever. and ask the guys behind the desk if they have any scrap pieces of Plexiglass. You will be suprised at the amnount they have laying around waiting to be thrown away because customers pay extra money to get a piece cut and never take the scraps. They just leave them there....one mans junk is another mans treasure...it's how i got mine !!!

[Krusty]

Heh, I had actually thought of the clear reservior idea too and was planning on implementing it. My plan was to use super glue to bond the edges and finish it with silicone. To ensure that the cube won't fall apart on me, I was going to use something like metal clamps to hold it all together. You know, two sticks on parallel sides screwed tight onto two flat pieces on the other parallel sides. Do that in all three directions and I think you got something that won't fall apart even if you drop the thing.

Let us know how it turns out. I'm planning on starting up some water cooling pretty soon here.

[zoopa_man]

Ok, attempt number one is in the garbage can. LOL

I used a small amnount of epoxy to stick the edges good (I can stand on it and it dosn't break) Problem with that was the epoxy turned yellow and the edges look like their held together with boogers LOL That's the only way I can think of describing it. So it looks like junk.

Other problem is that the edjes don't match up perfectly. I used my dremel to cut the pieces...The dremel cut fast but isn't very accurate and left rouch edjes on the plexi. My dremel has failed me :mad: I still got a ton of plexi that I got form the scrap bin at the home depot here...I think i'll have to go through the agany of sawing each piece with a small tooth saw. My dad has a mider box...maybe i'll start off with that so i'm going in a streight line.

*sigh*

I may just save my self the agrivation of sawing all those pieces and buy a Tupperware thingie form Wal-Mart. Unless someone knows where I can get Plexiglass containers. My dad said some type of medical store online may have plexi containers that they use in hospitals for different things; but i havn't been able to find any yet.

Well....after work tonight i'm hiting the saw until my arm falls off. Then i'm going for the smirnoff :beer:

[Diggrr]

To get a perfect edge, I cut on the outside of the line and use the dremmel to get it closer. I then wrap some 80 grit sandpaper around a wooden block and sand the sides to the line. You can then change grit to 200, then 600 wet sand. The plexi glass can be polished also but the 600 grit roughness works better for gluing.
When dry sanding, I like to make 8 to 10 passes with the sanding block, then rotate the work to sand another edge...working my way around the piece several times. This keeps the plastic from overheating and turning to 'gum'. It results in perfect edges, but takes some time to do.

Another trick is to clamp a straight edge onto the top of the plexi glass and do the dremmel cutting against it..a 2x4 works well. I use a mill type bit, not the disks. (it looks like a short drill bit with a flat tip, and cuts with the sides.)

Hope these can inspire ya a little.

[Diggrr]

Here's an illustration. It makes a pretty straight cut in the first place.

[zoopa_man]

Home Depot here I come !!!! Got to find one of those bits.

I'm thinking if I take the pieces I have now and just shave away a small amount the new edges will be perfect. I'll just the setup you showed me (with the dremel and block of wood, clamp setup).

I'm not going to give up just yet....DREMEL AWAY BAZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
:eek:

[zoopa_man]

I got perfect pieces !!!! WHoooooo Thanks Diggrr

I found a kit at the home depot that contained two drywall bits and a multi purpose bit and the attachment that goes on the end of the dremel to use them. By doing the setup you showed me with the 2x4 and the clamp I got near perfect edges and a very clean cut through the plexi with the multi purpose bit.

Thanks again....I got some clear epoxy to glue the pieces together with and already have the two end pieces drying to the bottom piece. I'll see how it looks when I get home. This epoxy claims to dry clear and looked clear when I was applying it ..... we'll see how it goes. Thank you..my dremel has a new toy now Hehehehehehe think of all the things I can cut with this BBBbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzz