Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

I often find early(ish) solid state Hi-Fi units with the various control buttons & knobs secured to their shafts with a dab of some kind of soft, barely setting, adhesive, that's strong enough to retain them in position for years, but easily 'broken' when they need to be removed.

Anyone know what this type of 'glue' is called ? or where I might find some ? Is there maybe a loctite product that's suitable ?

I know I could use Blue-Tac, or wedge them on with a thin piece of paper, or similar, but I'd prefer to use a correct product if possible.

Thanks,
Alan

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

I stopped the buttons pinging off my Quad 33 using blu tac! It works although it feels like a bodge...
Glyn

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

I use 732 RTV Sealant

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

copydex

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

Didn't some American astronauts use chewing gum to fix a leak? Might work, seems to stick to most things without setting.

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

I'm surprised, I thought there'd be a well known product for it.

I'm not sure about the 732 RTV Sealant - have you been using it for a while / checked after a few months or years ? It's an acetoxy-cure silicone, so it liberates acetic acid as it cures, which in a confined space with a steel potentiometer shaft, could well be corrosive. A neutral-cure silicone might be a better option - I'll have a look.

I'm afraid I'm not keen on the Blue-Tac or chewing gum options... I've come across both in the past, and personally I think they go more in the 'bodge' thread, no offence. Copydex does look like it might be another option though.

Thanks for the ideas so far...
Alan

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

A couple of offerings...
UHU - it seems to be a close relation to polystyrene model cement.
PVA - Wood Glue. Used neat it might be too fierce but you can add water to tone it down.

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

In 1965 I used some plasticene to temporarily fix the retaining ring of a camera shutter to my enlarging lens, which I was using in a plate camera I had made from Mecanno and card from corn flake packets (it did work). It is still there, still securely attached, and the plasticene has not gone hard.

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

Glue gun hot melt? Fills gaps nicely and is easily removed if the desired result can’t be obtained.

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

When faced with this problem involving the traditional 1970s/80s plastic knobs-with-a-spindle-flat and an encircling springy-metal thing intended to provide clamping pressure, I've cut a few strips of shim-brass and installed them along the spindle-flat.

It doesn't need more than a few thou to pack things out to the point where there's a good grip, and this method doesn't involve any risk of enduring disassembly-issues.

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

As long as the Buttons or Knobs are a snug fit to start with,
Silicon Sealent is ideal for this type of Job.

Just a very thin wipe of Sealant should be enough to stick
closely fitting items together and pull apart if needed.




Ian

Re: Glue for loose buttons / knobs ?
 

Evo stik gets my vote, I have gone through tubes of the stuff