Thread: What are you working on?

turned out nice! you can bet that isn't going anywhere!

Nice splint and repair Montgomery.

nice repair job. solid as a rock I bet.

Nice repair.!

Thanks for the comments chaps!

But could this be done with celluloid?

Ive tried glueing the stuff and couldnt get it to stick. You would just have to try and see what happens.

I thought that was what you repaired.!

I've only had one successful repair of celluloid, using epoxy. CA doesn't seem to stick to plastics very well.

very well done repair job thanx for the ideas

Originally Posted by outback

I thought that was what you repaired.!

I've only had one successful repair of celluloid, using epoxy. CA doesn't seem to stick to plastics very well.

I believe these are brown bakelite. No burnt rubber smell when I started cutting them, and brown as opposed to black, on the inside and outside.

Originally Posted by Montgomery

I would have a go at repairing those Chabaz scales, especially as you seem to want to keep it as original as possible. I would guess they are celluloid, and the others will have to chip in on how well different adhesives stick to celluloid, but that apart it is perfectly doable. I did these the other day, I believe they are bakelite:

Attachment 320309

I know the damage doesn't extend quite as far as the pivot, but I don't think that need make a big difference. The basic idea is to use a liner, but I wanted a liner that would be invisible. So, I made the liner smaller than the profile of the scales. Also, because it was close to the pivot, I put right angles on the edges of the insert for stiffness. The liner is made from 0.3mm brass sheet. Then I drilled the insert to give an extra mechanical lock with the adhesive:

Attachment 320310Attachment 320311

Next stage was to cut into the scales so that the insert could be glued in flush:

Attachment 320312

Then the insert was glued in, and the missing section re-built with filled epoxy resin:

Attachment 320314Attachment 320313Attachment 320315Attachment 320316

I have had success gluing small sections of celluloid with CA (superglue), I'd be curious what the board says about gluing celluloid. Other than that, I think it is very doable, it took me about two hours with basic hand tools. The great thing about having the insert/liner going through the pivot is that the pivot should to some extent clamp it all together.

What say the board about gluing celluloid?

Nice work!
I actually have a set of felt lined set scales with a break at the pin. Fortunately the previous owner kept the piece that broke off in the box so that will make things easier. I'll probably need to add something though to strengthen it.