ABS plastic handles...

[Osbourn]

I just made some kitchen knives, and I've been having a pretty rough time of putting plastic handles on them. I have the ABS plastic, but my previous experience with it is making SCA armor out of it. Shaping it is no problem, the issue is getting it to bond. I've had some success with heating the areas to be bonded and then clamping them together, but I can't help but feel that there's a better way. When I made models, way back when, there was a type of glue that I used that made plastic go to a clay-like state, then back to full hardness when it evaporated. Would a modeling cement like that work on ABS or Kydex? If so, can anyone reccomend a brand for this purpose? Thanks in advance for any help.

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Oz

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
- Henry J. Kaiser

 

[maddog2020]

You need to use some Loctite 401 Surface Insensative Cyanoacrylate, or Loctite Super Bonder 414 General-Purpose Cyanacrylate.

Be sure to wipe off any extra UNCURED adhesive, it can cause stress cracks on the ABS! Use Isoproply alcohol to clean surface.

If you can't locate a place to buy it, call Contact East 1(800)225-5370 sells it. We use the 401 in 1 oz. bottles (~$15/bottle) - not cheap! Just quoting from a Loctite

.

I just read the back of a tube of TESTORS plastic model cement - it says it works for ABS plastics ( < $1/tube) - try it: lots less $.

Good luck

Ray 'md2020'

 

[Osbourn]

TESTORS!!! That's the stuff!!! Thanks, I've been going nuts over this! I tried cyanoacrilates previously, and they don't hold up to the shaping that I want to do after the bond has been made. With the Testors, it'll be pliable.
Wow, that just totally destressed me. Thanks again.

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Oz

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
- Henry J. Kaiser