I just recently purchased the Glue Looper v2. I’ve watched videos of it being used, and have read as much as I can find about it, but I am having difficulty getting it to work like it’s reportedly supposed to. The technique seems very simple and straightforward, but for some reason I can’t get the glue to flow into the seam
I have a modified sewing needle that I made, and it works fine - except it leaves a larger bead of glue than I would like
I am using Loctite Professional Liquid Super Glue. I’m wondering if maybe it’s not thin enough? It’s certainly not thick, but maybe it’s of medium viscosity, and I need to use extra thin. It did say on the instructions that it only works with “very thin” glue
I’m new to using CA - I didn’t even know there were different types - so any shared knowledge would be most helpful
My guess is your locktite is too viscous…viskuss… I need spell check… too thick.
I just bought a looper after watching a nice lady demo it at the Nats. She explained that extra thin glue is a must, and was even selling a very thin glue.
I’ve been using it quite a bit already and it works just fine. I’d try a hobby brand extra thin, such as BSI.
Use a smaller needle. I made two needle plus handle pieces, one for the CA itself, a second for daubs of accelerator.
Do not use the same unit for both- you contaminate the CA application unit with the accelerator and then it speeds the setting of successive applications.
Locktite makes two viscosities. I keep both on my bench, the thin for good fitting joints, the thick for seams where I need the slow set and for poorer fitting joints. The needle eye applicator does only work with the thin stuff, but the thick (gel) type is indispensible for the joints that need it.
Thanks Don. I’ve discovered my technique with using the thick stuff. I like to use a drop of that in locator holes. I just haven’t got the technique for using capillary action with CA. I can do it with plastic cement just fine, but, for some reason, CA trips me up. I do like the sewing needle thing. I’m actually thinking about getting the Flex-I-File applicator, which is pretty much the exact same thing. I wish I could get the looper to work. I’ll just keep practicing
I use toothpicks for the gel (thick, slow) stuff, the needle eye for the thin stuff. I should have mentioned, I cut half the eye on my homemade needle applicators, turning them from loops into forks. I find that works much better.
That’s what I use for the thick stuff too. I squeeze just enough for a little bulb of CA to peek out, then I cut it with the end of the toothpick, then place the little bulb of CA at the location where the part will go, then place the part. Works like a charm
The thin stuff I’m still finding my way with. I’m sure I’ll get it eventually. Thanks for the help, Don
Too great a flow suggests using a smaller loop. One advantage of homemade tools of this type is that they are inexpensive so you can make and keep on hand a range of sizes.
I use a sewing needle and carefully open up the eye to get sort of a Y which will hold a drop of thin ca . I lock it into my pin vise that works as a handle. To clean it I wipe it on some tissue and any residue is quickly removed by using a candle or lighter flame.
I use my pin vises a lot, so to avoid swapping out the glue needles I cut lengths of quarter inch dowel. I drll a hole in end just a skosh smaller than needle and ram needle into dowel. A drop of gel CA seems to hold them well, and they are always ready to use.
I actually have a spare cheap pin vise that I could use. That’s a good idea. I do have one that I imbedded and super-glued in sprue, and it works very well
Best home-made tool to use for miniscule, and I really do mean miniscule amounts of thin CA is to load a 0-1mm pin chcuk with … an eyebrow hair!
Honestly - you try it!!
A drop of thin CA on, I use an old CD, dip the hair in it and then just touch at a seam. Immediate hold, its flexible so doesn’t move the parts, carries enough to tack the parts together, and best of all its free! You can then flood the joint with more CA picked up on the hair, simples!
I can use the same hair for three sessions its that good!!
For a good palette for CA, I use the cardboard advertising flyers I receive daily. Recently advertisers have gone to a coated cardboard that will not readily absorb the thin CA like regular cardboard. Most of these flyers are about five by twelve or so. I cut them into about credit-card sized pieces.
I used to use regular cardboard flyers for gel CA, since the gel stuff doesn’t wick into regular cardboard, but I am getting so many of the glossy (coated) flyers lately, that now I can use pieces for both the thin and thick CA. My stock of the stuff has grown so large lately I have stopped collecting more until the stash depletes a lot
