Solvent adhesives... why don't more people use them?

**yonu** · 06-19-2005, 11:53 PM

I though i would interject in to this thread abit here if you are going to use ABS materials and need to bond them together or to other plastics the best do it yourself adhesive and filler is Methelethel Keytone(MEK) and ABS pellets/shavings it forms a nice paste like subtance that fuses the to materials together and is virtualy indestructable even on high tention items we just the same substance to repair the ABS Panels on our 25yr old apache popup it even works on nylon panels in cars it can be used like a glue or used to rebuild msing places and it sands out and accepts paint very well once it has hardened

**Snootch** · 06-21-2005, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by WxGuy1

How "malleable" would a sheet of ABS plastic be if heated up with a heat gun? I mean, if I need to make a 12" long curved piece, would it be easiest to but an ABS sheet, heat it with a heat gun, and bend it that way? Or would this not work? What aboutl mold from a material other than plaster?

I used that technique when creating the curved corners for my hood. If you need to create a 12" curved piece, cut yourself a 12" flat piece, then run up and down it with a heat gun. After a minute or so (depending on your heat gun) it should start to get soft. Be careful because it can crease on you. I would recommend you find something with that curve (the side of a 5 gal. bucket maybe?) and use it to help you create the gradual curve you need.

**Skraggy_uk** · 06-21-2005, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by coachreed

Well, the last few afternoons/evenings, I spent a little time sanding, priming, sanding priming, sanding, priming... you get the picture... well, I got so tired of sanding and priming that I threw a quick coat of paint on my dash and called it quits... now I'm sick! During my SEVERAL steps of sanding and priming, I made a HUGE mistake... I kept lightly sanding the edge where the screen shows through the dash/bezel... well, I managed to take enough out that the upper edge now has a slight arc to it... and... well... look at the pictures below... you can see the upper edge of the touchscreen! Honestly, at this point, I have 4-6 hours of time invested (few minutes here and there for the last SEVERAL weeks! lol)... what should I do? Scrap the work and start over, or just live with it... in one of the pictures, it shows the dash at an angle that is closer to what it will be viewed from... and with it being in more of a shadowed area instead of under the lights and flash... it might not be so noticable... then again, I could buy a new, replacement bezel and get off my *** and probable have it back together and RIGHT in a few days time... anyway... check it out... I'm just sick to death!

All of these thoughts and I was planning on installing my system next week since I'm off on vacation and plan to just stay home... eek!

Don't give up fella.
As someone else said, stretch some tape across the front., then fold it up to a Lip.

once you got a straight edge, flood it with ABS goop filler and away you go.

**ddn** · 06-21-2005, 03:23 PM

Anyone want to do my dash piece for me? I really don't have the time and patience to dive into this one.

Name your price.

**Scouse Monkey** · 06-21-2005, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by ddn

Anyone want to do my dash piece for me? I really don't have the time and patience to dive into this one.

Name your price.

You could give this guy a shout: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/members/xdjxklusivex.html

**dodge78** · 06-24-2005, 08:33 PM

I have found that if the mixture is put on thick, if I waited 20 minutes or so, I could use an old fork handle to squish it down to sqeeze out the air and liquid that has not cured yet. It looks like hell but you can put another layer on in less time. Or if its somewhere you wont see, it really does not matter.

**javageek** · 06-24-2005, 11:00 PM

I just started this with my dash today. Instead of using the Acetone/ABS mixture I am using the Oateys ABS Cement, it is working great!

**fonseca** · 06-25-2005, 11:01 PM

I'm going to recommend that anyone considering putting it on thick use caution. I have definitely warped my damned Xenarc bezel, as I just discovered after reassembly. I have a gap on the right edge and bottom edge. No idea how to correct it. Maybe put it in the oven.

Hmm, I think I'll cut a piece of glass to size and bolt that in, then heat the bezel up and use the glass to help correct the gaps. This happened as a result of a thick application, watch out is all I can say, my bezel warped half an inch away from where the liquid plastic was applied, and of course deformed directly underneath, as seen in the photo above.

**Altimat** · 06-26-2005, 04:02 PM

I created a "dummy" LCD screen that I use for all my installs. Its made from a couple layers of polycarbonate. You could use MDF or hardboard too. It keeps the bezel square and flat while you glue it etc.

**fonseca** · 06-27-2005, 12:42 AM

Now ya tell me.

That's a great idea though. I didn't think that the plastic solution would soften the whole bezel as much as it did, I should have practiced on some scrap section first. Today I went out and bought a 1/4 thick sheet of polycarbonate, cut a section to size and bolted it in. After some very careful heating over the exhaust port of my stove (I really need a heat gun) I was able to gradually bend the warped sections back into shape. I'll have to do some more sanding since the heat made some spots expand, but it looks this will still work out.

For future fabrications I'll definitely have this bolted in the bezel.