Hi all,
I finally found an applicator I fell in love with for my extra thin Tamya solvent cement I like using. I bought a touch-n-flow and really liked it - My question is though, is it OK to store it with unused solvent in the tube, or should it be emptied after each use? - Also, what is the best way to unclog it when the inevitable clog happens? - any hints would be welcome - thanks in advance
Thanks!
You can leave it lie on your workbench with left-over solvent in it, and it will evaporate before long.
If it clogs, let it sit tip-down in the bottle of solvent - this will eventually dissolve the plastic goop on the tip. You may need to blow it out from the open end, just be sure it is wiped clean before you stick it in your mouth. I had a couple I swore would never work again, but I was able to fix them this way.
Very helpful, Many thanks. I have some touch and flow applicators as well but always they clog after a bit of use. I like the idea of storing them nose-down in a bit of liquid solvent.
I spoke too soon. I just threw out three of them that I could not clear. They would let a tiny bit of solvent come out of tip when blowing into it, but would never open compeletely. I spent a lot of time working on them and no luck. I am wondering if there could be some debris that gets in the needle from the manufacturing process. You can see some kind of adhesive or something that holds the needle in the tube. I’m tihnking maybe it is possible for tiny bits of this stuff to break loose and partially clog the needle.
Anyhow, it’s a great tool when it’s working. I guess we have to realize that they have a finite life and won’t last forever.
i only use mek / plastiweld in mine and always empty it after use. i just suck it in and then blow it out after. (DO NOT INHALE THIS STUFF, it will rot your lungs!!!) There is a filler bottle for it if you wish to keep your mouth away from it.
I does pick up a bit of molten plastic occasionally, if i dont keep it moving fast enough, that blocks the end. i just poke some 0.010" wire up it and blow some mek thought it till it clears.
For clogging I always try to blow the blockage out. If that does the work… Try to soak the tip in solvent to loosen the plastic debris. If you’re still clogged take a lighter to the end of it. While letting solvent try to escape. You should hear a slight pop and see a bit of flame extending from the radiated fumes igniting st the end. Once this happensyou should be set.
I found tiny pieces of crud floating around in my solvent bottle, and assumed they were getting into the tube when I filled it, clogging the needle forever. I poured the solvent through a coffee filter several times and this got the crud out of it, and I got a new T’NF tube.
So beware of junk in the solvent supply. Hold it up to the light and if you see any cloudiness or particles in there, either filter it or buy a new bottle.
Chuck, I have one that currently has a small crescent-shaped piece of gray matter (same color of the material they use to secure the needle to the tube) in one I have. It’s never dissolved like I would expect a sliver of styrene to do, so I suspect it’s trash from the production process. I am just waiting for it to migrate to the needle and render this one unusable, too. [bnghead]
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
Gene- Yes, I have seen that problem too. These things do not seem to be well designed. They’re great when they’re working right, but they seem to have a finite life. I’ve gone through five of them now. I have found you can use a tiny paint brush to apply solvent to the joint and it works just as well.
I thought I was the only one who couldn’t get the TNF to live up to it’s advertising. I was a big fan at first, until constant plugging problems took the bloom off the rose; soaking in MEK, blowing out, and so on over and over, combined with the tendency of the tool to flow mass quantities (when working) has relegated it to the bottom of the drawer. Good idea, not so good in practice. Like CC said above, I’m having a lot more success with a fine brush.
mike
That grey sliver is from the stuff that secures the needle to the glass tube. I had two that acumilated so much of that junk in them that they became useless. In short order I went back to using the trusty brush. I consider them a waste of money. I used Tamiya extra thin in both.
Mike, I have another post on this list on my trials with my first TNF that I got to use exactly once, then it quit working. My second one I’ve had more luck with, but I seem to spend more time cleaning the thing than using it. I’ve used a fine brush, but the glue they use to secure the bristles, or the clearcoat they put on the metal bristle holder is dissolved by the adhesive and runs down to the bristles where it solidifies, making even the fine brush an annoyance to use.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
Try microbrushes. They are not normal paint brushes. They have a small ball of…erm. ?.bristles at the end made from a material that mek etc doesnt seem to affect.
Talent, I have a couple of those! I’ll try them. Thank you.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas