Making welds - Anyone tried two part epoxy?

Equipment Proton Packs
1

I’ve been thinking about how I want to do my welds.

I don’t want to use hot glue, because I’ve used it plenty of times, and know it will remain rubbery and may not stick well.

And I’m not sure I can get the totally authentic look of a real weld with epoxy putty.

So I was thinking about the epoxy that comes in tubes. But there’s so many different kinds, and who knows which ones are too runny, or if any of them will even hold their shape. I did see one which advertised itself as being a thicker “gel”, but I’m not sure “gel” will hold its shape.

So has anyone tried that two part expoxy liquid in tubes? Any luck with it? And is there anything else which I could squeeze ouyt of a tube to make the welds with? Cause that seems like the most likely method to sucessfully give me the little overlapping coins look I want.

2

2 part liquid epoxy is just an incredibley strong super glue i guess you can say and it would be to syrupy for you to try to make a weld out of it. Your best bet is Plumbers epoxy putty at Home Depot you can get for 5 bucks in the plumbing aisle. Its very very strong and holds to resin and any sort of plastic or metal very well. Only problem is you don’t have a lot of work time because this stuff sets up faassst so you have to do a section at a time.

There is also this stuff called Magic Sculpt that you can get a sample of off ebay for about 5 bucks shipped http://cgi.ebay.com/M00203-MOREZMORE-Try-Magic-Sculp-Sculpt-Epoxy-GREY-2-oz_W0QQitemZ200389783606QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea8297036, which is a 2 part epoxy material as well but the great thing about this stuff is you have about 45 min work time to get some really great welds, it sets up super strong in about an hour or 2 and you could use water as your sculpting for smooth welds. The sample pack would be more then enough for a pack.

Ive used both and have had great results. I used plumbers epoxy putty on my most recent pack, and have used magic sculpt for various other kits ive done in terms of replicating welds they are your best options!

Chris

3

Do you have any pics of your results? I’m wary of using somethng which sets super fast, but I guess I can do some test runs on scrap material to make sure I get the technique down before I attempt it on a real part.

4

Go to my profile and look at my most current Proton Pack and you could see the welds i did with plumbers Epoxy putty. For replicating metal welds they are the best and only option really, to get the most realistic looking weld but it also depends on your sculpting technique as well

Chris

5

image

6

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Squirt some into the corner of a ziplock, cut the tip off and play like you’re frosting a cake.

Here’s how it turns out.

http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1555_1349495388.jpg

Plus, the stuff is damn near indestructible. I’ve not had it crack or chip on me yet. It can be sanded, as well.

7

I like cake.

and that weld is awesome!!

8

Thats one of the best welds ive ever seen on a pack. Awesome technique to ill have to try that out on future props.

9

I think you missed the point of my post. I know about epoxy putty. I’ve never seen someone get welds that look real with it though. I’m pretty handy with clay too, so I’m fairly certain about what results I could achieve with it, and I don’t think it would be something I’d be happy with. That’s why I was looking for something to squeeze out of a tube.

10

Now that’s more like it! And the ziplock idea is genius. I don’t have to spend money on some cake decorating crap that will never get used again.

I just hope I can find the stuff. Where did you get it?

11

Didn’t see any at Home Depot. Forgot to check when I was at Lowe’s. Looks like Ace Hardware may carry it though.

12

Ive had luck with hot glue.

13

Yep, I get mine at Ace.

Also, practice a bit with it beforehand to find a technique that works for you. What’s nice about it is since it air dries, a shell starts to harden over it pretty fast-ish, so it will keep the “weld” shape and not lose detail after it sits for a minute like hot glue or bondo.

14

Well crap, I went to two different Ace hardware stores locally and neither one carries it. One said they could order it from the website, with no shipping cost, but when they went to order they found I’d have to purchase six tubes to do so, and I wasn’t gonna pay $20 for it.

15

They wanted you to buy six tubes before they’d order it? O_o

That’s b.s.

16

did you also use that stuff to make this weld?

http://www.gbfans.com/images/fans/props/1555_1160864947.jpg

if so, please share your method

17

I did. Same thing, squirted it into a bag and cut the corner off. Only did a different “pattern” with it.

18

Anyone got any suggestions for a similar material to that metal filler? I looked everywhere. Can’t find it, and don’t wanna spend a fortune to order it online.

19

All Devcon products are top-notch. I would trust their “plastic welder” and 2 part epoxy’s with my life.

I find this stuff at the local plumbers store, not at home depot or anywhere else.

20

Fiberglass resin mixed with bondo works well in the same zip lock bag method.