montecarlo1980 Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 So I've been tinkering with making my own chain link steering wheels for some projects. Its been easy taking the chain and making the main wheel piece, the only trouble I'm having is gluing them. What I do is the take the piece of chain I've assembled and place it over a pencil tips top to keep the round shape. Then drop some super glue over the links to keep it stiff and intact. Only thing is its hard to keep some of the pencil's wood and yellow paint from not sticking to the rest of the chain. I try to move fast and rotate the chain wheel around the pencil to keep it flowing and not sticking. It works doing that but well its messy still. I've also tried soldering the chain links, but with the size of the chain is so small, the links end up getting filled in and not open. Which is what I'm trying to get away from that cheap closed link look the molded chain steering wheels come in kits. I've seen people solder other chain material before to make these, but the chain link they were using was very big in scale so it soldered up easily. So my question is, do any of you know a material that super will not stick to and let the chain glue up on.. I can easily slide the chain off of when its dried? I was thinking teflon maybe but I don't have any to play with at the moment. I was thinking of taking some sticker backing and roll it into a cone shape to slide the chain over, not sure if that work either. Any suggestions I'd love to hear and will try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kucaba Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Try some silicone rubber. Don't know where you'll find it though except for some bakeware. Also I don't think super glue sticks to some ABS plastics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Mike has a point. Try an old piece of inner tube or maybe a model tire. Try getting the shape you want and brushing the super glue on with a old soft model paint brush.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montecarlo1980 Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Thank you Mike for the tips! I think I may have some silicone rubber candy trays laying around in the kitchen I can try a small sample on. Great idea! I'll have to look into the abs plastics. If the silicone rubber works I could probably cut and shape some into forming ring and get these made easier. Thanks again Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montecarlo1980 Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Thanks Carl! I will try that a well right now. I got some tires I can cut up and see what happens with them. Brushing on the glue as well I think will help. Thats the main problem I'm using my fingers as a brush in way to roll the glue onto each link. Great tips thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 (edited) Hi Ruben Look around and see if you can get a piece of PTFE/Teflon to do your glue ups on. In the worst cast a slight poke with a X-Acto tip will release the Crazy Glued part from it. Blush - Ok you already knew 'bout Teflon. Note to Self - READ the ENTIRE Post prior to replying................ Ruben, Given you're doin' Steering Wheels would a 1" wide piece do ya? If/so PM me. Edited August 24, 2014 by Crazy Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Try wax-paper. David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Try teflon tape wrapped around your pencil. Just use another tape around the top to hold it in place. Like the clear scotch tape. Just do not get the scotch on the bottom where you are gluing. Sometime good old vaseline rubbed around the fixture (pencil) as a release agent might work also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpier Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 see #7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 For starters, CA glues will stick to ABS plastic. Perhaps the best plastic would be anything polyethylene (the stuff that cheap plastic toys are often made from) as no glue I have ever seen will adhere to that plastic in my experience, and that includes CA glues. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Atr's right. The best source of flat polyethylene pieces is bondo spreaders. That's why they make bondo spreaders out of it...nothing readily adheres. Your CA MAY stick just slightly, but it will come loose VERY easily with no damage. Bondo spreaders are available in most auto-parts stores. They're flat, clean, cheap, and can be used over and over and over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Atr's right. The best source of flat polyethylene pieces is bondo spreaders. That's why they make bondo spreaders out of it...nothing readily adheres. Your CA MAY stick just slightly, but it will come loose VERY easily with no damage. Bondo spreaders are available in most auto-parts stores. They're flat, clean, cheap, and can be used over and over and over. Those plastic glue sticks that are used in glue guns (like women use for crafts) may well be another answer, as they are round, for starters, and I believe something on the order of either polyethylene or polypropylene plastic, neither of which is affected by any of the glues we use (they work by being melted, attaching to porous surfaces such as wood, paper and card stock. A package of those is actually quite cheap, at Walmart, Michael's etc. Worth a try I think! Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Atr's right. The best source of flat polyethylene pieces is bondo spreaders. That's why they make bondo spreaders out of it...nothing readily adheres. Your CA MAY stick just slightly, but it will come loose VERY easily with no damage. Bondo spreaders are available in most auto-parts stores. They're flat, clean, cheap, and can be used over and over and over. In addition, a quick wipe with some Vaseline Petroleum Jelly should keep the CA from sticking to the bondo spreader as well. No buildup of the stuff necessary, just a shiny surface of Vaseline. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakshow12 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I find the only thing super glue won't stick to is the part I want it to! It likes my fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelmartin Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Teflon thread sealing tape for plumbing. It's cheap and very thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Wrap the pencil with teflon tape, as Andy said... then instead of glue, paint the chain with clear enamel or acrylic and let dry... maybe 2-3 coats total, for a bit of added rigidity. The clear will act as a "glue," and the teflon tape will slide right off. The wheel won't be as strong as if you had used CA glue, so be careful when you handle it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montecarlo1980 Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thank you everyone for the tips! I'm currently trying out of the suggestions. I have some teflon tape as Andy suggested and trying this out. I'm also trying your method too Harry of using clear to brush on and see how it works out as well. I'm checking my plastics I have on hand too and seeing what won't stick to them, found a bondo spreader in in my old tool box. I also didn't think of using Vaseline as a release agent on the pencil as Andy and Art both suggested. Another great tip to employ. I'll come back and let you all know how they turned out. Now if I just had small enough fingers to work with these small chain links lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Another Plastic to look for is UHMW. It's sold in strips for use on outfeed tables and such in woodworking. MUCH les expensive than Teflon but for your application it has simular resistance to having glues stick to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham641 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Have you considered getting some solder adhesive? It is used to solder the tiny components to a circuit board. It has a slight adhesive effect with solder powder and can be applied in very small amounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham641 Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Have you considered getting some solder paste? It is used to solder the tiny components to a circuit board. It has a slight adhesive effect with solder powder and can be applied in very small amounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 I'm not sure why you would suggest using solder to bond plastic. You also just posted to thread that was last active 6 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.