Monday, February 17, 2014

Fixing broken plastic parts.

Hello, I'm back...

I'm sure everyboddy allready had to fix some platic parts on a radio or on any other equipment.

Normally I use resin type glue or cyanocrylate one if very small parts. This time and because of a new addition to the shack decided to try a new method. And that is because some plastic bits were missing as you can see:

I have to recreate the missing plastic part from the battery holder compartment lock of my new radio equipment:




...new for me that is. Fresh buy from an online auction in unknown working state.

The idea of this glueing method is to use cyanocrylate glue with some agglomerating particles making a stronger part and filling the voids. The particles are basically baking soda, my guess the original inventor used it because it's a very fine powder.

Got the idea from this well documented video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alyzGrgL6So


Here's the outcome of the fix, it works, and I was carried away and fixed also some small screw bindings posts to hold the front panel (no pictures of that sorry):
 

 First I made a small holding form from plastic tape to hold the first layers, then was just a matter of adding more glue and more baking soda.

Honestly I got surprised with the quality. It's not perfect but works quite good.

I still have the rest of baking soda pack to make some cake.....


Have a nice week!

2 comments:

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Intereseting method. I will keep it in mind. 73, Bas

Ricardo - CT2GQV said...

Thanks Bas!
I will try also the baking soda for contact cleaning.