Acrylic for mash tun?

[Izzie1701]

Thinking of making a custom mash tun for my new HERMs set up. I want to do a flat false bottom with a sloped bottom draining to a drain so I have limited mash tun loss. I want to have a square and then do a built in sparge arm. Will insulate it and then wrap the insulation in acrylic as well. I know a guy that makes fish tanks using acrylic so I can get it cheaper then stainless. Also I am more comfortable bonding acrylic then I am with my stainless welding skills(would be using mug with stainless wire as I don't have or know how to tig). Anyway if the acrylic would work I think that's my path I'll go down. Will acrylic work or will it leach. I can't see it doing that as we always use plastic coolers but want to ask the question.

 

[TheGoatman]

The plastic coolers aren't made of acrylic though. Also, would the acrylic be able to take the temperature change swings without cracking?

 

[Izzie1701]

Update: it's food grade acrylic, confirmed with the owner of the shop and no it won't crack with temp changes.

 

[cantrell00]

I'd be selective with which solvent you choose to use.

I'm not sure that all of the WeldOn variants will withstand 170 degree temps.

 

[Izzie1701]

It's not a weld on. It's literally a chemical that melts the acrylic together and it actually bonds to become one piece. The only way to separate it would be to cut it or heat it so much that it melts. You would need an open flame to do it and even then it wouldn't really work.

 

[cantrell00]

WeldOn is the brand of solvent you use to bond acrylic.

That or dichloromethane.