DJPork Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 Heya everyl3ody. I'm new here at APC and pretty much new to any form of pyrotechnics. I was just wondering, what alternatives to xylene/xylol (are they the same thing? Meh..) can l3e used to l3ind plastic shells? I have searched numerous (well, 3.. And a half ) hardware stores and all l3ut one had even heard of xylene, and the one who had l3arely knew what it was, heh. So l3asically I was just wondering what I could use that would l3e just as strong as xylene for l3inding 1" shells? Cheers, Rory. ( Sorry, my 'l3' key is l3roken... Well, it works, put you have to like, put a fully grown elephant on top of it for it to type... B )
Mumbles Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 Acetone, lacquer thinner, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), toluene/toluol, Dichloromethane, they will all work. It's rather suprising that no one has heard of xylene, it's pretty common, at least in the US. It may of course be different in the UK for you. Xylene and Xylol are the same thing by the way.
frogy Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 All the chemicals Mumbles listen work good... I have also gotten carburetor cleaner to work and Methylene Chloride works great.... Edit: Haha I feel like an idiot now... Dichloromethane (DCM) is Methylene Chloride...
Mumbles Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 Carburetor cleaner is Diethyl ether by the way.
DJPork Posted November 12, 2007 Author Posted November 12, 2007 Thanks a lot. Acetone should l3e fairly easy.. I'm thinking nail polish remover, mayl3e hard to find 100%... Aw well.
mormanman Posted November 12, 2007 Posted November 12, 2007 PVC binder works, thats what I use (the purple stuff). Its only like $4 for a bottle and you don't use that much.
FrankRizzo Posted November 14, 2007 Posted November 14, 2007 Purple PVC primer is alright to use as it contains mostly acetone, MEK, and THF...all of which will dissolve polystyrene. However, don't use PVC cement to join the shell halves. While there is a decent amount of solvent in it, it also contains dissolved PVC. Because plastic hemis are not PVC, having a dissimilar plastic mixed in at the joint will make the bond weaker. Xylene, Toluene, DCM, or Acetone all with an optional bit of dissolved polystyrene mixed in for thickener work the best.
mormanman Posted November 15, 2007 Posted November 15, 2007 Purple PVC primer is alright to use as it contains mostly acetone, MEK, and THF...all of which will dissolve polystyrene. However, don't use PVC cement to join the shell halves. While there is a decent amount of solvent in it, it also contains dissolved PVC. Because plastic hemis are not PVC, having a dissimilar plastic mixed in at the joint will make the bond weaker. Xylene, Toluene, DCM, or Acetone all with an optional bit of dissolved polystyrene mixed in for thickener work the best. So should I not use the PVC binder and jut use Acetone.
Mumbles Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 You can use PVC primer, just not PVC cement or glue. There is a big difference.
mormanman Posted November 16, 2007 Posted November 16, 2007 You can use PVC primer, just not PVC cement or glue. There is a big difference. Yeah, I'm using PVC Primer not cement. Thanks mumbles.
davis050594 Posted December 26, 2010 Posted December 26, 2010 Hey guys I've gotta close 7 plastic 3's here really soon. I have acetone. I melted a hemi in the acetone and used that as a glue on a shell a few days ago. It worked, but it was really hard to apply. It was like a bubble gum consistency. I had to apply a lot and then sand off the excess when it finished drying. Anywho, I am game for using acetone or that stuff, but I just don't know a good way to apply it. I am leaving town for this shoot tomorrow, but will not need to close the shells until thursday. I will be making a lowes/homedepot trip before the shoot. I would really prefer to use what I have, but I just don't know how to apply it well since acetone melts any plastic and I cant waste a metal knife. It's hard to get the stuff out a jar, seal it up and apply it quickly enough. I just need some help lol. I went ahead and threw some rubber cement in the supply box just in case I have to use it. I need these to cure overnight. I will be using a layer of strapping tape as well. These are salutes.Sorry for bringing this thread back, but I didn't want to start a new one since the topic hasn't really changed.
Algenco Posted December 26, 2010 Posted December 26, 2010 use a Qtip and apply the acetone at the joint, or apply a few drops and let it run around the joint
davis050594 Posted December 26, 2010 Posted December 26, 2010 Holy crap, I didn't even think of that.I now award myself with the retard of the year, excluding kewl boomer kids, award.
Algenco Posted December 26, 2010 Posted December 26, 2010 capillary action should draw enough into the joint to weld it nicely but I've never used plastic hemi's so I'm not speaking from experience
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