Viscous Cementing Acrylic Sheet

Use viscous cements to join parts that can't be easily cemented by the capillary or soak solvent methods-either because the joints are hard to reach or because the edges don't fit together well. Viscous cement is thick. It will fill small gaps and make strong, transparent joints where solvent cements can't.

Viscous cements are available from Vical acrylic sheet distributors. Or, make your own viscous cement by dissolving chips of clear Vical acrylic acrylic sheet in a small amount of solvent. Let the solution stand overnight in a tightly­covered container.

Remove the masking from around the joint area and carefully apply a bead of cement to one side of the joint using a brush, spatula, or the cement applicator. Then gently join the pieces together as described under 'soak cementing.'

A solvent­resistant tape (Riveter's tape from 3M Co.) may be applied to protect the area around the joint but it sohuld be removed carefully after about five minutes, while the cement is still wet. Don't touch the parts at all for the critical first three minutes, or the joint will not hold. The part may be carefully moved after ten minutes.

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