firestorm Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Anyone know how much a sheet of plexi-glass is at Home Depot or Rona? I want to cut down on humidity especially for the winter. I want to make tops for my topless tanks, and rig up something for knobs. I used to work with it in shop class, so I should remember how to do it. A much cheaper alternative than acrylic or glass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkangel Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I have seen 1/4" plexi in Totem & Home Depot, $65.00 to $90.00 for a 2ftx4ft sheet. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parachromis1 Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 The only bad thing is it starts to sag after time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I have used it on a 10 gallon tank with brass hinges. Can it ever sag! It was about 5" below fluorescent light. I would flip it over for awhile to straighten it out again, worked. I much prefer glass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byte Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 (edited) Anyone know how much a sheet of plexi-glass is at Home Depot or Rona? I want to cut down on humidity especially for the winter. I want to make tops for my topless tanks, and rig up something for knobs. I used to work with it in shop class, so I should remember how to do it. A much cheaper alternative than acrylic or glass I have tried Lucite (very expensive plexiglass) that was very thick and it warped down in the first week. Find some old house windows, buy a glass cutter ($5) ,a straight edge and a pair of gloves. It is very easy to cut the glass Sand paper the edges to smooth them out and use a single sided razor blade to clean the glass... How to cut glass Edited October 26, 2008 by byte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byte Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 (edited) ... and rig up something for knobs. You can buy the plastic hinges, stick on knobs, and the cut out piece for around the back at most LFS. The hinges fit different thickness of glass so take a chunk with you or measure the thickness. I used a dice glued onto to glass with gorilla glue for knobs Edited October 31, 2008 by byte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 You can buy the plastic hinges, stick on knobs, and the cut out piece for around the back at most LFS. The hinges fit 2 sizes of glass so take a chunk with you or measure the thickness. Which LFS carry them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byte Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 You can buy the plastic hinges, stick on knobs, and the cut out piece for around the back at most LFS. The hinges fit 2 sizes of glass so take a chunk with you or measure the thickness. Which LFS carry them? I have bought the hinges at Big Al's in Edmonton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobies et al Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I have bought the hinges at Big Al's in Edmonton. I'll try there again. The person I talked with wasn't that helpful. One person told me to just buy a new tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firestorm Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I have seen 1/4" plexi in Totem & Home Depot, $65.00 to $90.00 for a 2ftx4ft sheet. Hope that helps. :boxed: I didn't think a sheet would be so expensive. In that case I will toss that idea. I know the plexi glass can sag after time, it will be used mainly for my smaller tanks like 10 gallons, and I figured the sagging wouldn't be too bad. I actually have some glass here, but thought it would be too expensive to get a glass cutter to cut it for me, I never knew it would only be $5 for a glass cutter. Don't you need to have a wet saw or something for cutting glass? or a diamond blade? I thought it would have been more difficult to do. Thanks guys, maybe I will try cutting my glass I have myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishkabod Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 If you want a lesson in cutting glass Aqua Giant will cut it for you on the spot to your specs. Basicly you score a large scratch on the glass with the glass cutter and then tap along that line to produce fractures. If the glass is very thick then score both sides. OR GOOGLE how to? Glass isn't like stone that needs a special saw to cut or else there would be no stained glass as they would never have been able to make it without that technology. Easy and Cheep Good luck L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firestorm Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 If you want a lesson in cutting glass Aqua Giant will cut it for you on the spot to your specs. Basicly you score a large scratch on the glass with the glass cutter and then tap along that line to produce fractures. If the glass is very thick then score both sides. OR GOOGLE how to? Glass isn't like stone that needs a special saw to cut or else there would be no stained glass as they would never have been able to make it without that technology.Easy and Cheep Good luck L The glass I have is about 1/4" thick, but I have a nice big sheet of it so it should be enough for all my tanks. My father might know how to cut glass, he is a handy man afterall. I think the glass is the shatter proof stuff too like the stuff they use for car windshields, will it be harder to cut if it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadh Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 If you want a lesson in cutting glass Aqua Giant will cut it for you on the spot to your specs. Basicly you score a large scratch on the glass with the glass cutter and then tap along that line to produce fractures. If the glass is very thick then score both sides. OR GOOGLE how to? Glass isn't like stone that needs a special saw to cut or else there would be no stained glass as they would never have been able to make it without that technology.Easy and Cheep Good luck L The glass I have is about 1/4" thick, but I have a nice big sheet of it so it should be enough for all my tanks. My father might know how to cut glass, he is a handy man afterall. I think the glass is the shatter proof stuff too like the stuff they use for car windshields, will it be harder to cut if it is? If this glass is the type used in car windshields, it's laminated and is difficult to cut. If it is what folks call "shatter proof", that is, the type used in the car side windows, you won't be able to cut it at all without it shattering. That type of glass is tempered and shatters into l;ittle pieces when broken or 'cut'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Windshield glass and tempered glass ca not be cut, it is what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadh Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Windshield glass and tempered glass ca not be cut, it is what it is. Not that it's relevant, but front windshield glass can be cut. I've done it several times for chopped tops on hot rods. It's just very very difficult to break both sides without getting a travelling crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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