Re: Spud plastic

[E R Swanson <ers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A few other things re bakelite repair... 

You can buy superglues over a wide range of viscoscity at hobby shops, and
also spray accelerators that immediately harden it into a rigid plastic
that can be polished. For polishing I generally use fingernail files from
the beauty supply store, the 4-grit combination type with foam backing and
a rigid plastic center. Final polish is with Mothers Mag Polish from the
auto store. The key problem with a superglue repair is little shear
strength. So depending on where the damage is, you sometimes have to mill
out the material and attach a reinforcing patch-- thin metal, also
available from hobby shops. I've inserted thin angle stock in red button
viewer corners (working on the inside). For reinforcing, you do use epoxy
cement, because the work will be hidden, and you want the superior shear
strength from an epoxy for a reinforcement. Among epoxies there is also a
large range of glue. Some, designed for lens attachment, will get very
hard. 5 minute epoxy will always remain somewhat rubbery. Each has it's
place in a repair job... 

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experimented with
colorants in cyanoacrylates (I think Fargo may sell a black
cyanoacrylate). Of course, for epoxies, there are lots of colorants
available...

--Elliott