i've invented a new technique for using hot glue!

[monster]

i call it -hot glue moulding!-

1) make a mould with duct tape
2) pour copious amounts of hot glue into the mould.
3) wait for it to dry

you can make anything this way! strain relief for cables, mounded plugs anything!

 

[Tiberius]

If you have a hot air gun (useful for heatshrink tubing) then you can rework the hot melt glue to your hearts' content.
You can also reflow the surface to give a nicer finish.

I have some black hot melt that I sometimes use for potting electronics.

Nick


Edit: Just noticed I put the apostrophe in the wrong place. OK for Time Lords, though.

 

[Chalo]

You should try Shapelock. It's UHMW polyethylene pellets that can be turned into a soft putty in (very) hot water, then molded into whatever shape.

When cool, it's very hard and strong compared to hot glue, and it has no tackiness at all.

http://shapelock.com/page5.html

I have no relationship to the makers of Shapelock; I've just used it to easily make things that would have been difficult to make any other way.

 

[nicobie]

Thanx for the link Chalo.

I ordered the "free" sample pack. It looks like it could be useful

Nick

 

[Lapwing]

Take care with potting stuff with hotmelt glue. All the stuff I have used has a high shrinkage from hot to cool, which can put a lot of strain on electronic components and thin tracks. I prefer no shrink gelled epoxy these days.

Other thing is when stuff gets hot and it needs support, the stuff gets soft.