Introduction
Plexiglass is made of the transparent petroleum-based products. Due to its shatter-resistant properties, it has gained popularity in the last few years as an alternative to glass. Plexiglass is also known as acrylic glass. It is sturdy and almost transparent and often is used in windowpanes and cupboard doors.
Now the question arises- how to glue plexiglass to wood? Unless Plexiglass is glued to wood, it can not be used for these purposes. Plexiglass is a thermoplastic product. It becomes plastic when heated and hardens up when cooled. A polymer of methyl methacrylate is known as Plexiglass. It can be coated with ultraviolet coatings and used for various industrial purposes.
Plexiglass is also used for light casings in vehicles, eyewear lenses, bathtubs, diffusing screens, appliances, transparent furniture, and many other objects.
Ingredients Needed to Glue/attach Plexiglass to Wood
This polymer is much stronger than glass and due to its flexibility, it can be moulded. However, in order, to use Plexiglass for these purposes, one needs to attach Plexiglass to wood. If not done properly, it will keep falling off. So, if you are thinking about how to glue plexiglass to wood, read further on.
You will need a marker pen, drill bits, a drilling machine, Araldite Rapid Strong Epoxy Adhesive along with the Plexiglass sheet, and the wooden item to complete the task.
You can attach Plexiglass either by drilling a hole in it and attaching it with screws or by using a glue stick. Let’s look at both the methodologies to secure Plexiglass to wood.
Step-by-Step Instruction to Attach Plexiglass to Wood
Step 1- Marking the edges
The first step will be placing the Plexiglass on a flat surface. Mark the four corners of the glass. Then keep a distance of one inch and put another mark using a black marker on all the four corners of the Plexiglass. These dots will be the pre-drilled holes. The gap of one inch will ensure that the drill bit will not reach the edge of the glass.
Step 2- Drilling Hole into the Plexiglass
Now you will need a 1 by 4-inch drill bit first. Attach the same to a power drill. Position the drill on all the four marks one by one on the Plexiglass. Drill in a linear way into the Plexiglass material and ensure that the hole is uniform and complete.
Step 3- Securing Plexiglass to wood
Position the Plexiglass sheet on top of the wood. You will need a Phillips head drill bit to complete the task of power drilling and positioning. Fix a wood screw through the Plexiglass. Repeat the same procedure for the other three holes and ensure that the Plexiglass is secured well to the wood. Else it will fall off and the purpose of this exercise will fail. Now your Plexiglass is ready to be used along with the wooden board.
Step-by-Step Instruction- How to Glue Plexiglass to Wood
Often Plexiglass is confused with other similar items like PVC sheets. Hence before starting the bonding process of Plexiglass with wood, you need to ensure that you have a genuine piece of Plexiglass with you. Since there are different types of glues available for different materials, you need to ensure that first.
If the Plexiglass is not glued to wood properly, then the adhesive seam may break, and the Plexiglass sheet will come off later. Since wood is porous in nature, it has different properties compared to Plexiglass which is non-porous in nature.
The glue which you are going to use should be of superior quality and after sticking it to Plexiglass, it should not cloud the edges.
Step 1- Clean the Wooden and Plexiglass Surface
Gluing Plexiglass to wood is possible, and you will not face any hassles either. All you need to do is to lightly roughen the wood first and then clean the wooden area which will be glued. Use acetone or isopropanol to clean both surfaces. If you need to glue large surfaces, then a spray adhesive is more effective.
Step 2- Using Epoxy Resin Adhesives
Epoxy resin adhesives use two components that create a reaction after mixing them thoroughly. There is a resin and a hardener which creates an extremely strong bond when mixed. Since epoxy resin adhesives can be colored easily it is the material of choice for gluing Plexiglass to wood.
You have to ensure that the mixing ratio of both the resin and hardener is the same. Achieving the perfect ratio might be a little tricky, however the strength of your bond depends on that.
However, if you are sticking Plexiglass to wood and want the bonded joint to be elastic and flexible, it is better not to use an epoxy resin adhesive. A silicone-based adhesive will give better results in such cases.
Step 3- Check the Purpose of the Finished Products
Normally Araldite manufactures such glues which will be perfect for this purpose. Rapid Strong Epoxy Adhesive is a good option for sticking glue to Plexiglass and securing it with wood. However, you need to check the purpose of the final product too. Normally the bond is quite strong and can withstand the impact of water and certain chemicals, however one needs to be sure. If the Plexiglass is going to be used to for bathtub or shower enclosures, then it will be constantly in touch with steam and hot water.
You might need to add some additives to make the bonding stronger. However, for window glasses and cupboard glasses, the conditions will not be that harsh. Hence a regular epoxy adhesive mixture should be able to suffice.
Step 4- Allow the Bond to Dry
Once you have applied the mixture of Epoxy resin adhesive between the Plexiglass and wood, allow the bond to become strong. Do not change the position of the glass once affixed. This glue dries up fast and you should not face problems in attaching it. However, allow some time for the attachment to dry up and you are all set. It normally takes about 24 hours for the surfaces to attach to each other permanently. After that, you can use this bonded pair for the final product.
Step 5- Anneal the Substrates
If you are looking for a durable, long-lasting, and stable adhesive bond, you can think about the process of annealing. This will heat the glass up and allow it to cool down slowly. Before and after the bonding process you can anneal the products. You need to place the finished product in an oven at 158° Fahrenheit (70° Celsius) and the bond will become stronger.
Usage of Plexiglass
Since Plexiglass is extremely durable and long-lasting, it is used in many items.
Multiple Items
Magnifying glasses, glazing windows, bus skylights, construction of protective screens in electrical engineering products, and many other items which are used in daily life are made of Plexiglass. Since it can withstand high temperature and pressure, it is used in shower enclosures, model making, skylight domes, aquariums too.
Medical Prosthetics
Plexiglass is also used in the medical and dental industries. It is mainly used in various kinds of prosthetics because of its strength, purity, and durability. Since the clarity of the acrylic glass is closer to the real glass, it does not give a feel of something else to the patient.
Submarines and Airplanes
You will be surprised to know; Plexiglass is even used in submarines. Since it can withstand high pressure, the windows in submarines are made of Plexiglass. Even the windows of airplanes use Plexiglass as they are shatter-proof. It is particularly useful in sports arenas as the windows there are subjected to balls and other objects which hit them at high velocity.
Greenhouses
Since the cost of Plexiglass is not high, over the years it has become a preferred material for greenhouses. Since greenhouses need complete coverage, the amount of material needed is high. And since it is often placed in gardens, children can break the glass while playing. It might be hazardous to the children, and frequent replacement of the glass will be tough on your pockets too.
Since Plexiglass is very durable, you can think of buying a greenhouse made of Plexiglass. It does not collect dirt and grime easily and cleaning it will not pose any hassles for you. At an industrial level, it is already used globally.
Solar panels
Plexiglass resists harsh weather like rain, sleets, and hailstorms better than tempered glass. If you are looking for environment-friendly options for your apartment complex and planning to install solar panels to save on the energy bills for the residents, then look no further. Plexiglass allows seepage of 90% light which is sufficient for the solar panels to work efficiently. Since it is more resistant to breakage and shattering, it is increasingly becoming a popular choice with homeowners and architects.
Conclusion
Now since you know the various uses of Plexiglass, you might think about using it in your home or business. Since the issue of how to glue Plexiglass to wood is resolved, you can even take up DIY projects for your home. You can start with replacing some of the window glasses with Plexiglass.
