Holding things together while glue sets? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: e100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 04:15:14 am
content: Recently I needed to build a small box within a larger polycarbonate box where a cable entered and needed to be sealed with potting compound. To keep things simple I picked a corner location so I only needed to add two sides at 90 degrees. I cut 2 pieces of fiberglass sheet to size taking into account the slight slope of the container walls and then spent 20 minutes struggling to arrange the two pieces so they were at 90 degrees to everything with minimal gaps as this had to be liquid tight for the 5 minutes it took the potting compound to cure.The outcome wasn't pretty. Things moved slightly as the glue cured and I ended up with a piece of geometric art instead of a box.So, how do you hold things in place when you are dealing with thin materials and cannot just bang in a few nails in like you would do with a woodworking project?

author: peteru
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 04:22:53 am
content: Work in thin layers and use masking tape with bracing. For example, if using epoxy resin, put masking tape on the outside and attach the entire construction to a few squared blocks that act as bracing. Put a thin layer of epoxy on the inside section and wait for it to cure. After that, you should be able to carefully remove the masking tape and finish the job.

author: Lowkus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 04:51:25 am
content: Aren't there corner vices to help with that?https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=corner+vice&ia=web

author: e100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 05:42:24 am
content: Quote from: Lowkus on March 20, 2021, 04:51:25 amInteresting, however they mostly seem to be designed for the large bits of wood used in furniture construction.I couldn't find anything that could comfortably clamp a 30 mm sized panel.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 06:12:51 am
content: As a long time Balsa basher and modeler use whatever you can that worksRubber bands, masking tape (as already mentioned), tack things in place with Superglue dots then epoxy..... Bulldog clips or assorted 90 degree cut wooden angles and jig bits can also be useful.Of more recent times 3D printing of small alignment jigs or even Laser cut ones as I have both available also help keep the job nice.

author: Lowkus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 06:17:52 am
content: Would something like this work, or still the wrong size?https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-K-reg-Jigs-90-Corner-Miter-Clamp-Wooden-T-Joints-Pro-Multifunctional/402304943648?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5dab3e4620:g:5RUAAOSwmd1dMGjB&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkTboA95HSvGa1O5UmCCGJLiMrCXjPMFdKMF2uZK5LIEoC6iKbVIa0CXf0V7FM8BRTHKZUnCdNbM2O1FT9zmyhDVSPjGRNxYHuTdHDGh2GXWlME84TPHwZ75VVItZHV%252BuBDt%252BtG8cCW7YNR7ZX%252B8rQ%252FA1To4ZYI5Y3OezjwP3ay%252BiSWgEsLJeuUJvd9OG4fZhowQbzD4uOTS%252FAurrav3uJbnfbEijMQWZU08JIp7x5IWFdxTXsTOHgsXUUFc7l2WU%252FlY0GGUzp9FUas0mk0YxS6vhJ03sYq3W1O%252Fp3RqMkwRfE05IaibYJ4WaB%252BNUfUaqzq6CP9G%252BrEP9zBRK0mtYitY9sn%252FKxVLR8Ro9IrE32NbtD%252FWUy23o3sVvrr8ZTDxKHp7NyPrM%252FsQE0FEBSEiUMsNnLRDbz8MYcqrRjdl5v7C1LQwyLAmtDMeLr8oY47%252FmwcDDRmfbM78rTvUFFcHcVP2bUGEsiFdeBKXETW7hED915zH1jxXWVOLbwBGkc8t9G%252F6DPA2udpt8Lw%252F87wJDzBH0cWhOd25FS7ZOinFpDOphnx6Qz9fF2XNyna173YPPKS1tn30VP%252FGWMSDtPPwigFQD5TVan%252BFLVZZS51pAmT9R1AYk1Xs%252BbEKDiPpPaFxE4q6t1CYgDMwspGQFmFw8JcqfHkkUyfEwRg9TMHn8qChZ0sZJATrZvxNdle6wU0JgHHa9vzV7VfOEm22%252Br%252F0k%252FGfG%252BjbrP%252F8TkAMRF7zUufk5e7Zsy9kYgKlfH1GLxo0dxbkYpqlIkHJ%252FirpRctZpxtg%253D%253D%7Ccksum%3A4023049436484b782102d2d84cba8d74502ffa21e08b%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 06:21:41 am
content: Likely you would do better with something like this in combination with masking tape at the joints. "Picture Frame Clamp" will find you plenty of hits.

author: e100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2021, 06:56:01 am
content: Quote from: Lowkus on March 20, 2021, 06:17:52 amSame problem as it's not really designed for holding small bits of material.I saw this plastic clamp which looks like it could do the job, but the cam locks don't look like they would be able to apply much holding pressure.https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/90-Degrees-Corner-Right-Angle-Clamp-90-Degree-Woodwork-Carpenter-Picture-BM/392533669608?_trkparms=aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111452%26meid%3D6ed59c4d81a242e78aef0167cdd22cec%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D193618910452%26itm%3D392533669608%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DItemStripV101HighAdFee&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219