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What adhesive to connect lexan to MDF?
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_Iz-:
use silicone.
Sylentwulf:
Liquid Nails.
Witchboard:

--- Quote from: Buddabing on May 07, 2004, 02:21:12 pm ---This guy did something like that. He used bolts for fastening the layers together.

--- End quote ---

Damn.. that's a smooth case.  You have to give props for somebody who makes a case from scratch like that instead of just modding a pre-built one.  I'm not sure if this is what Drew is looking for though.  When I was talking about that, I was just presuming that's what he was going to do.  He hasn't come out and said exactly what the project was.  I just don't want to inadvertently take this thread in a different direction than what Drew was wanting.
Lance:
why not route out a rabbet in each piece of mdf for the lexan to float in and then you are just gluing MDF to MDF..  normal yellow glue and clamps would work fine then.
DrewKaree:
CRIPES!

I didn't expect this many replies!  I posted and went to bed and BLAMMO!  OK.  

To reply...firstly, what I'm doing with it:  Like witchboard said, it's a sandwich to light it, and the lexan will let the light through as a thin line around my CP.  Each layer will be 1/4" thick (or it's close equivalent) but the botton layer will be more for thickness.  It will be routed to be almost an "outline" to the rest of the CP, mainly to give some "body" to it.  

I'll be using a convex edge bit (I found out today it'll work on the lexan.  I asked about this in another thread) to shape the edge of the CP because T-molding will not work in this case.  Because of this, I need to attach the MDF & Lexan in this "sandwich" so the three pieces aren't flapping in the breeze at the edges where (my kids, most likely) some fidgety person will be constantly picking at it.  I want my CP to have a smooth top with no bolts showing, just a nice clean look, AND I want the light to shine through with no obstructions, therefore, I have ruled out bolting it together.  

I'll try the primer route and the contact cement on Monday.  I'll let you know how that works out.  I can't find a spray adhesive stronger than the stuff I have (3M something-77) around by me.  Liquid nails was addressed in the original post.  Silicone has the same problem as the liquid nails.  I did a mock-up using epoxy.  It heats up as it cures and melts the lexan a bit and screws up the light transmission.  Does someone use an epoxy that cold-cures?  Thanks for all the replies and possible solutions so far.  I've got a full plate this weekend, but if I have any spare time, I'll be giving these a shot sooner than Monday and let you know how it works out.  


As an aside, here's a tip for anyone looking to spread glue evenly and thin....pick up one of those cheap crappy foam paint brushes.  Tear off all the foam.  Take a nibbler and notch it so it looks like a tile trowel (go to HD and look for a "notched trowel" to see what I mean) or some other implement to cut evenly spaced notched in it.  Viola!  A notched, handled glue spreader.  It will evenly spread and remove excess glue from whatever you need.  

Ya know, all your replies and the posts around here made me realize....Bob Vila ain't got $#!7 on us!  We could show HIM a thing or two, ain'a?!
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