Cell-Cast Acrylic sheets 4X8

[AquaponicJim]

Any one know of a vendor who sells sheets of Acrylic for a good price? Any where in South East Mich is cool with me. Im planning on making a few tanks....

[Bremmon]

You do not need Cell cast acrylic, Many years ago cast acrylic was held to tighter tolerances than extruded acrylic...  It also had fewer flaws. In the last 10 years huge strides have been made in extruded acrylic.  The only downfall is extruded acrylic is only seen it available in thicknesses up to 3/4 or so.  I have been building with acrylic for over 15yrs in my sign shop, I have made many tanks with both cast and extruded. If you are still set on cast acrylic you are going to pay more for it. Wensco sign supply sells cast acrylic in 100" sheets and many thicknesses.. Any sign shop in your area should be able to get it for you. 51x100 sheet of 1/2" cost me about $255. 3/8" cost about 190 a 51x100 sheet. If you can't find someone that will order it for you let me know and I can arrange it for you.

[Ron]

If you are still set on cast acrylic you are going to pay more for it.

Why does it cost more if it's not superior? If extruded is just as good up to 3/4", why is there any cell cast acrylic available at thicknesses 3/4" or less? I'm naive on the topic, but looking at it from an economic perspective, a cheaper alternative that is just as good should eliminate the more costly, yet equal, alternative from the market.

[danielratti]

Acrylic Specialties and Plastics is a good place to start I'd say look them up and give them a call and see what Ron can do for you.

[Bremmon]

cast acrylic can come in any thickness... extruded is limited to 3/4 maximum or so... Once upon a time extruded was very low quality.. I had bubbles and imperfections in it... Now the process has changed and you cant tell the difference between the two by looking at it.

[Bremmon]

If you were building a huge aquarium and needed say 2" thick acrylic its only available in cast.

[Marty]

How about Laird Plastics?  I know they have acrylic, don't know the details on size, price, etc.

[danielratti]

The one Marty mentioned is a option also but I think they stop at a certain size in could be wrong.

[AquaponicJim]

So let me ask, does one scratch easier than the other? I had heard acrylic scratches easily.

[danielratti]

Acrylic scratches easy yes but if you are careful you will have minimal scratches.  Also plecos and an acrylic tank you will be seeing scratches for sure.

[Ron]

Acrylic scratches easy yes but if you are careful you will have minimal scratches.  Also plecos and an acrylic tank you will be seeing scratches for sure.

I believe he was asking if one type of acrylic scratches more easily than the other (extruded vs cast).

[danielratti]

its about the same

[Bremmon]

It's exactly the same... scratch wise.  Same exact material, just formed 2 different ways.