Gluing laser-cut acrylic

[Sam Kelly]

I have a need to glue some clear colourless laser-cut pieces together, face to face, with an invisible bond - do any of you know the best way to do this, preferably without releasing any solvent fumes?

(If that's the only way to do it, I'll ask someone else to carry out the actual operation, since an industrial accident left me sensitised to most solvents.)

Cheers,

Sam

--

Sam Kelly, http://www.eithin.co.uk/

That's it.  We're not messing around anymore, we're buying a bigger dictionary.  -  Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang.

[social justice flash gordon]

I use plasweld (dichloromehane): http://www.artway.co.uk/ema-plasweld-57ml-plastic-solvent/

It produces a very nice finish. But it's a solvent and will release fumes.

[Froggy]

UHU make a cold weld plastic adhesive that's fairly clear as well, not quite as hardcore solvent as some others if that's an issue.

That said, anything that gives good grab on perspex will likely have some solvent in it.

[Arthur Moore]

Have you tried model aircraft canopy glue (try Gee Dee model shop for supply)?  That is designed to glue clear plastic without discolouring it.

Arthur

On Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 9:07:43 PM UTC, Somhairle Kelly wrote:

[Sam Kelly]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I've used dichloromethane before in other contexts, and it's truly horrible stuff, but it might still be the best solution for this problem, with a facemask and a table outdoors in a strong wing.

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[Arthur Moore]

Hi Sam,

Does dichloromethane fog the plastic,or does it leave a clear joint?

Arthur

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[Mellchie]

In my experience dichloromethane does not fog clear acrylic, but air bubbles can become trapped if pressure is not applied to the joint during the bonding process.

[Mellchie]

I should have added that the solvent is colourless and did not discolour the clear acrylic in any way during or after the bonding has occurred, and have not seen any discolouration in the few coloured applications I have seen. I don't know what will happen if different coloured acrylics are bonded; I assume they would be fine but would recommend testing offcuts.

[Sam Kelly]

Hm, that's a potential problem for my application - I need to encapsulate a paint or thin paper layer, so very small air bubbles are likely. I've heard about people using an adhesive made from dissolving acrylic chips in chloroform, so maybe that would work (with DCM) as a more gap-filling adhesive.

On Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 11:48 AM, Mellchie <missmichell...@gmail.com> wrote:

I should have added that the solvent is colourless and did not discolour the clear acrylic in any way during or after the bonding has occurred, and have not seen any discolouration in the few coloured applications I have seen. I don't know what will happen if different coloured acrylics are bonded; I assume they would be fine but would recommend testing offcuts.

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[Lionel]

Maybe the UV cured Resin used for fixing Mobile phone screens would do the job. Does anyone have any experience of them?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Activated-Liquid-Plastic-Bonding-Self-Adhesive/dp/B01GHWBJMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478716964&sr=8-1&keywords=resin+uv
I am sure other kits aree availabe on your favourite auction site.