Plastic Grille Repair

[DavidDru]

In trying to fix the cracked plastic grille on my AR3's I came across thi, what may be the product we all have been waiting for when it comes to fixing these often broken parts. Check this out:

http://notaglue.com/

I don't have it....yet but it sure as heck looks promising, and not only for this application.

[JKent]

Looks like an interesting product and I'm tempted to get some but I read the FAQs and it is not an adhesive. It will only hold parts together if they are rough because it gets into the crevices and holds on mechanically. If applied to a smooth surface it can be peeled off.

I've mentioned Plas-T-Pair, which consists of a liquid solvent similar to acetone and a jar of powdered plastic. You can use the liquid alone on many (not all) plastics because it softens the plastic and allows the 2 pieces to flow together forming a weld. If there are any voids you mix the liquid and powder to make a slurry and apply that. It hardens within hours but may take up to a month to fully cure.

I don't think there is any one glue that will work in all cases. In my glue stash I have the Plas-T-Pair, J-B Weld, J-B Wood Weld, other liquid epoxies, the epoxy "tootsie roll" sticks, cyanoacrylate, Elmer's white glue, Aleene's Tacky Glue, fabric glue, model airplane cement, Duco cement, Hide glue, waterproof wood glue, Aleene's 7800, Goop, Q-Bond and a few others. I use them all, depending on the task. There's no "one size fits all". I also have a variety of fillers and dyes: sawdust, powdered aluminum, micro balloons and Mixol.

Having the right tool for the job always helps

-Kent

[dxho]

The one exception might be automotive panel glue :-)

[genek]

My biggest concern would be whether it's worth the effort. After all these years, the plastic in AR3 grill frames has probably become quite brittle with age and they're likely to just break again somewhere else. I'd probably just replace them with hardboard cutout panels like the ones used in later model classics.

[der]

My biggest concern would be whether it's worth the effort. After all these years, the plastic in AR3 grill frames has probably become quite brittle with age and they're likely to just break again somewhere else. I'd probably just replace them with hardboard cutout panels like the ones used in later model classics.

That is exactly what I did. My frames were in terrible shape, as was the grill cloth. Replaced both and they looked like new.

der

[DavidDru]

Other than the sagging one end, mine look pretty good. Each are cracked on the one end - the usual spot it seems where someone tried to pry them off at some point to no avail. Would love to be able to save them and for sure the Saran fabric if possible.

I think I could remove the staples and heat the glue up a little to get the Saran off if I was sure I was going to be able to get it back on. I am afraid it is stretched just enough that there won't be enough slack to get it back on.

Here is one of them slid back on the speaker. The unglued frayed edges not pushed in.

[DavidR]

Looking good.