Ever try to bond polyethylene or polypropylene? Impossible. Many have tried and many have failed. But yesterday at Ace Hardware, I discovered Loctite Super Glue, which brags that it can glue ALL plastics (also metal, lether, china, wood, rubber, ceramic).
Recall the “exploding truck” post I did a few days ago? Well, this super glue bonded the plastic and that fixed that problem! As an extreme experiment on the impossible bond, I cut apart and then glued back together the lid pictured here (similar to all the lids on peanut butter and other things). It bonded!
It’s a 2-part process. First, you smear on both surfaces the primer (it has a built-in sponge). Let dry 30 seconds. Then put a very tiny bit of the glue on only one surface and clamp or hold together for 30 seconds. That’s it! The only downside is that you need to work fast. I nearly didn’t make it putting the wheels together and the truck frame, but I made it.
This discovered will now enable me to use all types of plastics for model making, not just the expensive styrene. I don’t know how waterproof this stuff is.
Protractor. I have an angle but this makes measuring angles much much easier; inside and outside angles; obtuse and acute. Wish I had it when I was building my basement!
A 2" nickel cutoff wheel with diamonds embedded. Also 2 grinders. You don’t want to know how many dremel wheels I busted. This should last a long time. However, it likely will need to be fitted in a drill b/c the shaft is too big for dremel. As I see it, the drawback will be the awkwardness to handle and less ability to get into tight areas.
All in all, a good day.
(I do have to return a fog maker to Michael’s, however. The box didn’t say you need special fluid. I thought it worked with water)
David, did you try the fiberglass re-enforced cut off wheels? I’ve never broken one of these, worn them down, but never brokn them. Only caveat on jewel based abbrasives is to keep them well lubricated/cooled down. I wore down several diamond grinding bits on my glass grinder because the coolant dropped out for only a few seconds.
Hello FJ&G,
I completely agree on the handiness of the nickel-diamond cut off wheels. I am very pleased with it: it cuts Lionel rails, brass plates, etc. with great ease. I use a single cutoff wheel for over 3 years now, whereas these nasty brown dremel wheel never lasted 1 day.
How good is the wonder glue? How strong is the bond when you glue to plastics together? Is it likely to survive a derailing crash?
Just out of curiousity, where do measure angles for in railroading? Do you have slopes?
Egbert, The bond will definitely survive a crash. But after I spoke to the Garden RR guys, it is NOT waterproof and should only be used for indoor layouts. But still it would work for all of you and I can still use it to repair my trucks as I don’t expect to keep them outside in a beating rain.
The protractor I could have used for measuring studs for angles in basement construction. Now, I can use it for scratchbuilding structures.
Zit,
The outside of the package made NO mention of needed fluids (not supplied). I had assumed U just put water in it. I returned it today to Michaels and got back my $29. You can visit your local store or online. I was mostly peeved that there was no mention on the box so I was upset.
Synthetic jewel based cutting tools often require liquid coolant to prevent premature failure. Primary ingredient is water with an oil based emulsion “booster”. Newer formulas use vegetable (aka biodegradeable) oils.