Emergency Help Needed!

DaveMartell

DaveMartell

Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
235
I broke my copper plug (on the lead wire) going to the carbon hand piece on my Personalizer Plus etching machine!

I can find replacement hand pieces (which I do need as well) but the little copper plug in (that unscrews from the black wire) is nowhere to be found. Maybe the replacement hand piece comes with the connector attached? I doubt it.

Can anyone offer a source or any help at all here? I'm down and need help bad.

Thanks!

Dave
 
I made my own hand piece so sorry to say I'm not familiar with your hand piece. With that said it is LOW voltage either dc or ac so any way you can connect the wire to the hand piece should work temporarily. A alligator clip, clothes pin any thing that will electrically connect the wire to the hand piece should work. Even if you hold it on with your fingers you wont' get shocked. Atleast might get you by till you get a replacement.
 
I just use an alligator clip and a q-tip soaked in etching solution. Honestly I mostly make small pocket knives to I found it gives me better results than using a big etching block anyway.

As far as fixing your block, rig anything that'll fit in there that is conductive, and you'll be fine. You may need to use a conductive epoxy to glue it back in if you can't make a physical connection. I made a one by drilling and tapping and putting a machine screw (bolt) in there however, and didn't use any adhesive.
 
Got a picture of what you're referring to? I made mine out of a motor brush. If it's a carbon block, you really just need some kind of mechanical means of holding the wire to the carbon block. Drilling a hole and shoving the wire in could work. Maybe back fill it with solder if it's a little loose.
 
Ah, now I understand.

Stacy nailed it. Radio shack used to sell both soldered male banana plugs, as well as solderless (screw terminal). If you have a soldering iron, I must prefer the solder on type, but both will work.
 
Why didn't you say 'banana plug'? Radio Shack used to have all kinds of things for HAMs but now we HAMs don't even think of the place since they changed so much.
 
mete said:
Why didn't you say 'banana plug'? Radio Shack used to have all kinds of things for HAMs but now we HAMs don't even think of the place since they changed so much.
Click to expand...

I rarely bother with Radio Shack, as they're little more than a glorified cell phone kiosk anymore. That said, they are ok for SOME occasional "emergency parts". Granted, a lot of them have been closing around here, and I have a dedicated electronical/electronics supply down the road, not to mention Amazon Prime.

I remember while I was in college getting my BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, I went into a Radio Shack for some project parts for a class project. I asked the guy for a couple of fairly basic components, and he looked at me like I was asking him to build me a nuclear reactor. I'm not convinced he knew what a AA battery was, to be honest.
 
Rat Shack went out of business. I can find 1\4" banana plugs at my hardware store by the rest of the connectors. If you cant find it there they are also used for speaker connectors.
 
Rat Shack went out of business. I can find 1\4" banana plugs at my hardware store by the rest of the connectors. If you cant find it there they are also used for speaker connectors.
 
Mine broke off flush with the carbon block. I looked at new hand pieces and how much they cost and decided to fix mine. I drilled the old plug out, soldered a brass rod to the wire, brass rod was a snug fit to the carbon block, wrapped the end with electrical tape and put a couple coats of liquid electrical tape over it and it's been working good for a couple years now.
 
Liquid electrical tape? Hope did I not know of this? I'm getting some because I almost always forget o slip the heat shrink tubing on until too late and have to redo whatever I'm soldering. This way I'll feel smart for having a solution instead of stupid for needing one :)
 
There is also a new UV cured liquid repair material. You apply it with a special applicator pen and cure it with a UV light in the pen tip. I use a similar material for watch crystals, and know dentists who use another type of UV cured resin. The stuff should hold up pretty good.
 
This happened on my anodizer and etcher... I got tired of fixing it and just balled up the metal and stuck it in. Works great!
 
Follow up>

I contacted Electro-Etch, the company who makes the Personalizer Plus, and was able to order a new carbon handpiece and banana plug. The total cost (with shipping) was just over $35. They were very nice and helpful and shipped quickly, however, they were somewhat perplexed by my situation acting like this has never been brought to their attention before. There's no way this hasn't happened to others (as evidenced in this thread alone) but maybe knifemakers (being as frugal as they are) simply do the repairs themselves? Anyway, it's all good now.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Dave
 
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