The process of gluing acrylic is slightly different from the process used to glue other substances, such as paper or wood. Joining together 2 pieces of acrylic will bond the particles of each edge together. Acrylic cement will not work on substances other than acrylic. You can buy acrylic and acrylic cement at a home improvement store or hardware store. Use these tips to glue acrylic.
1Select your work surface. Your surface should be concrete, metal or wood. Do not glue acrylic on a surface containing glass or paper.Ad
2Examine the edges of the acrylic.
- Ensure that the edges of the acrylic that you want to join are flat and free of bumps or cuts. Acrylic cement will not sink into holes in the acrylic, as regular glue does with wood or paper.
- Use a router or light sandpaper along the edges to be joined to ensure that the edges are perfectly smooth and square. Do not sand the edges so that they become round. Try using fine sandpaper on a flat surface to ensure a flat, square result.
3Clean the acrylic. Wipe the edges of the acrylic with a clean cloth and alcohol.
4Fill the applicator bottle. Use a funnel to pour the acrylic cement into the bottle. Stop pouring the cement when the bottle is 75% full.
5Join the acrylic pieces. Place the pieces of acrylic together as you want them to be joined. The pieces should come together at a 90-degree angle. Use a combination square to ensure that the pieces meet at a 90-degree angle.
6Squeeze the applicator bottle. Squeeze the bottle gently to allow some of the air inside the bottle to escape.
7Turn the bottle upside down.
- Position the bottle above the area where the 2 pieces of acrylic meet.
- Ease the pressure on the bottle gradually as you turn it upside down.
8Press the pieces of acrylic together. Maintain pressure on the acrylic to be joined. Use your hands or a clamp to hold the pieces together.
9Apply the acrylic cement.
- Position the tip of the applicator bottle at one end of the joined edges of the acrylic.
- Draw the applicator along the joined edges.
- Squeeze the bottle with mild pressure as you move along the joined edges. The acrylic cement should run in between the joined edges.
10Allow the acrylic cement to set.
- Use your hands or a clamp to hold the edges together for a few minutes.
- Set the joined pieces aside for 24 to 48 hours before using the acrylic. If the pieces have been adhered well, the dried acrylic cement will be clear.
11Trim the acrylic. Trim any excess or overlapping pieces of acrylic with a router. Be careful of heat generation, which could melt the acrylic.Ad
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- Do not allow the acrylic cement to touch any piece of the acrylic you do not want glued. Acrylic cement will permanently damage any surface it touches. If you do drip acrylic cement onto the acrylic, allow the cement to evaporate. Do not wipe off the acrylic cement.
- It helps to assemble the object together with adhesive tape. Then the adhesive can be placed accurately without juggling the parts.
- Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when handling acrylic cement.
- Make sure that any surfaces being bonded together are lightly sanded and not shiny. A very smooth surface is tough to bond together. A sanded surface will also help wick the adhesive into the joint.
Things You'll Need
- Acrylic cement
- Applicator bottle
- Clean cloth
- Concrete, metal or wood work surface
- Combination square
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
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