3 great tools I discovered

[FJ and G]

Total cost for all 3 was about $13.

1. 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.

2. 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!

3. 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)

[chuck]

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.

[FJ and G]

Chuck;

Wasn't aware of any type but those dremel ones and the metal sawtooth ones for wood and soft metals (depending on # of teeth)

[chuck]

House of Balsa makes a 2" "Tough Grind" and  GyrosGaurd has a 2.5" disk.  They make a nice 5 pack with two mandrel's.

[More to restore]

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?

Greetings,
Egbert

[Poppa_Zit]

(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)

What kind of fluid does it use? Where to get it? How much?

[FJ and G]

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.

[chuck]

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.

[ChiefEagles]

Dave, while you were at ACE, did you see a plastic epoxy?  They have it now.  Works great on plastics.  Its a two part epoxy.