View Full Version : Glass siliconed to ______?
Does anyone know what silicone will bond to?
I dont think I can find a piece of glass that measures 7' x 7' (within my price range anyways).
I have four pieces of glass that measure 33" x 85" x 1/2" and I'd like to find an alternative to glass that I can use as my bottom piece.
this is what i'm thinking:
jtburf
09-07-2007, 8:24 PM
what about sheet metal? I don't know its bonding proreties though...
J double R
09-07-2007, 8:30 PM
as far as i know, silicone will bond to just about anything BUT already cured silicone.
redswi
09-07-2007, 9:25 PM
Corian would be my first choice, but you would need a lip around the bottom edge to seal the glass to..
jtburf
09-07-2007, 9:49 PM
Sheet metal woud work well ,though just would have to be stainless or sealled.
mcox3
09-07-2007, 10:18 PM
Would a piece 7'x7' need to be special ordered? Or do you think I could pick something like this up at HD or Lowes????
Would plywood/epoxy work?
jtburf
09-07-2007, 10:23 PM
Do you have welding skills?
mcox3
09-07-2007, 10:47 PM
None. But my gf's father does. what do you have in mind?
canucksfan1
09-08-2007, 12:39 AM
the silicone i use will bond best to wood, metal, masonry,glass,vinyl siding, drywall, and plastic i have a steel bottom on my 518 gallon tank, it is 7 feet by 3 and a half feet, and i coated it in epoxy to make sure that rust dosen't get into the water i will let you know on sunday how well the silicone stuck to the epoxied steel
alright... drywall... now thats one I would've never thought of.
What silicone are you using?
canucksfan1
09-08-2007, 11:41 AM
GE silicone II
jtburf
09-08-2007, 12:18 PM
well I'm saying you could welld three section together, that are big enough and maybe 3\16 of an inch thick with renfourcing bands on the bottom.
I have two thin pieces of glass at home (used to be sliding doors). If they're placed on a flat surface could I use them as the bottom of the aquarium?
Would supporting the four walls still put too much stress on the glass?
jtburf
09-10-2007, 4:03 PM
those would be way, way too thin...
yeah i thought so too. But i wasnt sure if the bottom peice gets any pressure.
So far it looks like plywood + epoxy is the most practical route.
jtburf
09-10-2007, 5:16 PM
it supports ALL weight as it is the part that goes onto the strucural support, but otherwise it has no outward pressure.
red devil
09-10-2007, 11:37 PM
Plywood and epoxy would be an option. It is probably something you can work with yourself with simple tools. It sounds like you are making a pond? Another consideration would be to look for a pond liner, even though you might have to cut the sides of your glasses a bit to match the dimensions of your pond liner.
glass is tempered, so no cutting. :/
I guess you could call it a pond... it probably will be outside.