hot melt and stuffing...

Message

fender3x · #1 Post by **fender3x** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:28 pm

I am at the point in my DR250 build where I have about to seal up the PVC reflectors, and have a questions about how others do this.

Stuffing qestion: I know that I need to add some stuffing now. How tightly do you pack this in? I know I saw something on this, but can't remember what the wisdom of the group was.

Hot melt question: I haven't used this much but it seems to me that it hardens quickly, so my question is about how people apply it.

Do I coat the edges the edges of the PVC that will mate with the wood before they are in place, and just try to get it stuck on there in time before the glue hardens. Or, do I put the PVC reflector in place, and then put a bead of hot melt around the edges to hold it in place.

If the former, do you have any advice for how to get these babies in place before the glue begins to harden?

DJ Big Ronn · #2 Post by **DJ Big Ronn** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:37 pm

Fender3x, In my expierience with hot glue, you need to put the reflectors in place first. If you try to coat the edges the glue will harden before you can finish. I personally didn't use hot glue to fasten the reflectors, because i have found in some circumstances that i will unseal. I installed my relectors with PL adhesive and trimmed when dry. Now I'll never have to wonder if they have come loose. Hope this helps.

#3 Post by **Bill Fitzmaurice** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:53 pm

Fill them, place them, glue them. A loose fill is sufficient.

fender3x · #4 Post by **fender3x** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:30 pm

Thanks!

fender3x · #5 Post by **fender3x** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:53 pm

OK, I did a little experiment using PL and hot melt. The latter did a little better in my "hit it with a hammer" test... So I went with that. The PL dries very hard, and formed a good seal, but does not stick too well to the PVC, I noticed. Of course, I think it does much better if you don't hit it with a hammer, like I did. I ended up using a thick bead of hot melt since it stuck a bit better to the PVC.

But moving on... I am about to try to install the ports. Any advice about this. I take it they have been problematic for some folks...

Also, is this another job for hotmelt?...and should I do anything to shore up the 1/4" plywood. That does not seem like much of a lip to glue the port to...

#6 Post by **Bill Fitzmaurice** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:12 pm

I like to use hot melt on the ducts, since it sets so fast, applying most of it from the inside, filling the gaps on the outside with bondo.

AntonZ · #7 Post by **AntonZ** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:08 pm

fender3x wrote:hot melt did a little better <snip> PL dries very hard, and formed a good seal, but does not stick too well to the PVC <snip> hot melt stuck a bit better to the PVC

Since you have the right equipment for the precision measuring readily available (hammer), you could also try what it does if you roughen the PVC surface with sand paper (large grit) before applying PL. Might give the PL a better structure to attach to.