Bigjohnwoody Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 So I bought a Level Loc ATO and it arrived today. My problem is my acrylic eurobracing is to wide for it to hang on so I need to cut it. Of course the sump is in use so I don't want to have acrylic flakes all throughout my system. I have a router and a bit but it is really messy. Is there any cleaner way to cut it or do I need to pull everything out and go cut it and bring it back? I have my fuge, skimmer and all my equpment in it so it is no small task. If that is the best way though that is what I will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonH Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hopefully someone will chime in with another idea, but if you do have to cut with a router, have someone holding a vacuum nozzle right next to the cut and that should capture most of the flakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Just curious, is there enough room to get a router in the stand and route a small area back , since you have all that equipment in there and and the stand in the way? make a "dental dam" use a plastic bag, stretched out and tape it to all the sides, then route and then slowly take up the tape and fold the plastic into itself, your gonna to get flakes but not that much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjohnwoody Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 I was just gonna free hand it since it's not in a stand it's in my fish room. Would not look perfect but good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 +1 on the "dental dam". Might not be too bad if you can get a trim router back in there. I'd hate to try and get a 3 1/2hp Milwaukee to fit. Maybe a Dremel or Roto-Zip since you don't have that much material to cut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelhead77 Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Can you cover everything with a big plastic garbage bag while cutting? If so, you could duct tape it to the sides of your sumpa nd whatnot and this would keep the vast majority out of the system. Any little bit that got in would do no harm. You could also use a Coping saw with a fine tooth blade to cut it by hand. This will cut down on the mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 hacksaw or dremel is what i'd use. You could also drill a bunch of small holes real close to each other then whack it with a hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr S Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Dremel and shop vac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I would use a plasma torch or a high end laser I like the idea of a dremel with the router attachment and blade with a plastic bag dam to catch the shavings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold B Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 If you can't use a dremel use a detached hack saw blade its not to hard to cut through acrylic, drilling holes would make it eaiser. Been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algae Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I would use a plasma torch or a high end laser .. See what happens when you are a great customer with Garrett, John! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjohnwoody Posted March 10, 2011 Author Share Posted March 10, 2011 Well I used a plasma torch high end laser combo!!! My sump started melting so I had to stop. Thanks Garrett that was not very good advice(laugh). On a serious note I covered it with trash bag and duct tape and used a Rotozip. Couple flecks in the water I scooped out and all went smooth. I got it hanging now and will be testing for awhile before I let it go. Seems like a good product. I will hook the solenoid to my Apex to only allow it to run a short amount of time, this way no floods happen. Thanks everyone for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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