Replacing glass

Discussion in 'Anything DIY related' started by carl leathwhite, Mar 2, 2021.

  1. carl leathwhite

    carl leathwhite

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    Good day everyone a while back I bought a second hand 300 liter tank that’s 120x65x45 and I bought it when I was very young 10 ish and jumped the gun now 8 years down the line I’m tired of looking at it’s badly scratched front panel it has a centre brace and floor braces and I had wondering if I could just buy a panel of opti white glass and simply cut the old one off and redo the seems? Or if it’s slightly more complicated then that. Bearing in mind that I have built tanks in the past.


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  3. Whoknows

    Whoknows Moderator

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    You could do that provided you get the top bracing off whole. Also you'll need to reseal the whole tank afterwards new and old slicone aren't good friends
     
  4. Nina_W

    Nina_W

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    I've done this - the glass is heavier than you expect and removing the silicone can be a mite tedious, but it's 100% doable :)
     
  5. GaryG

    GaryG Fishohollic

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    Agreed, totally doable, although may be worth while stripping and re doing the entire tank, it is not too big..
     
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  6. OP
    carl leathwhite

    carl leathwhite

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    yeah might be a strugle as the pain I will replace is 120x65cm sooo i guess I will wait for a free weekend
     
  7. Shabir

    Shabir

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    I did a 90X35x35 once. Took me a whole week while I was on leave. DIY isn't my forte but was a fun project with lots of cuts and tons more burns from acetone
     
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  8. GaryG

    GaryG Fishohollic

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    Yes it is a bit of a job...
    Jut get a nice pair of gloves (leather but not very thick), some latex gloves, some Stanley blades, a scraper for the Stanley blades, 20210303_090236.jpg, an old tape measure that you don't want to use again, some minora blades, a cloth and some acetone.

    First remove the beading of silicone on the inside and then using the old tape measure, cut the seal between the glass sheets, it helps to lubricate with a little acetone, use the Stanley blade to remove all traces of silicone, clear with acetone and glue it all together again..easy...mostly

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  9. OP
    carl leathwhite

    carl leathwhite

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    Could you use a thing wire to cut the silicone between the sheets instead of a tape measure ?


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  10. Shabir

    Shabir

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    I used fishing line. It was a pain honestly.
     
  11. GaryG

    GaryG Fishohollic

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    The only thing I have tried is the tape measure or minora blades (major pain...as in lots of cuts;)) but the main thing is thickness and the tape measure is pretty strong, even though they do sometimes break...
     
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