Best way to secure fiber strands

Ask and answer questions, share tips and resources for installing lighting and other electronics in your models.

Moderators: Sparky, Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
chiver
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Trenton

Best way to secure fiber strands

Post by chiver »

I've tried useing white glue, and I've just found it to be messy, it shrinks too much when it dries and the strands just fall out, I've heard that superglue melts the strands. So would expoy work?
KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON!!!
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Expoy works. I use Gorilla rubber impregnated CA myself.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
Joseph Osborn
Posts: 1323
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:22 pm
Location: Alabamastan
Contact:

Post by Joseph Osborn »

I wouldn't say there is any one best way to secure the fiber strands. I do know that regular old super glue does damage the typical plastic fibers we use for model lighting. I have used 5-minute epoxy and it works extremely well, and I have heard of guys using a hot glue gun but I have not tried that yet. The hot glue gun seems to be a good solution, since you don't have to mix up a batch of epoxy every few minutes. You can even get black hot glue sticks in case the regular clear versions are not suitable for the application.
User avatar
chiver
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Trenton

Post by chiver »

Question about hot glue, is it ok to use to encase a flasher circuit? I built one not on a board and want to glue all the parts so none get bent and short the circuit
KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON!!!
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Depends on the hot glue. Electrical components get hot, hot glue can act act an insulator making parts overheat.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
chiver
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Trenton

Post by chiver »

I was going to use cheap dollar store glue
KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON!!!
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Then expect a burn out.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
chiver
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Trenton

Post by chiver »

Any better idea?
KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON!!!
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

Heat shrink tubing.
Abolish Alliteration
User avatar
admiralcag
Posts: 975
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2003 6:46 am
Location: Arvada, CO

Post by admiralcag »

Kylwell wrote:Heat shrink tubing.
Seconded.

Vern
It's a great day for America, everybody!
User avatar
chiver
Posts: 645
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Trenton

Post by chiver »

I mean securing the fibres to the edge of the model, in the holes for the windows
KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON!!!
User avatar
Kylwell
Moderator
Posts: 29643
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 9:25 pm
Location: Lakewood, CO
Contact:

Post by Kylwell »

It just dawned on me that no one has gone into the whole mushrooming the head.

A lot of times you'll leave excess fiber hanging out of the model. This speeds paint as you aren't masking all those tiny fibers. Then trim somewhat close and take a gentle head source to flare the ends out a bit, not much but enough that they won't slide back through the hole. Then a dab of epoxy, or Gorilla rubber CA if you're me and hate epoxy, smush into place and let cure.
Abolish Alliteration
Post Reply