pictures of my g breaks

[cruiserlover]

This may not be the right section but I have pictures.I bought abs glue,selfadhesive metal patches to bend into the curved shapes,fiberglass resin and self adhesive fiberglass tape, do all the repairs inside, then bondo and paint outside are my plans.Is that right? So far my photos havent made it into my computer from my phone.

[Prairiehammer]

This may not be the right section but I have pictures.I bought abs glue,selfadhesive metal patches to bend into the curved shapes,fiberglass resin and self adhesive fiberglass tape, do all the repairs inside, then bondo and paint outside are my plans.Is that right? So far my photos havent made it into my computer from my phone.

 

While some will maintain the fiberglass resin (polyester resin) can be used to repair ABS, many others have shown that fiberglass resin is not a long term fix to cracked ABS components. It just doesn't stay stuck.

Use the ABS cement, the self adhesive metal mesh patches and the fiberglass mesh, but forego the fiberglass resin. Embed the various reinforcements in ABS cement, not resin. And use MEK solvent as a primer for the ABS cement. Straight MEK solvent will wick into tight cracks and actually solvent weld the ABS cracks without the use of ABS cement.

[cruiserlover]

While some will maintain the fiberglass resin (polyester resin) can be used to repair ABS, many others have shown that fiberglass resin is not a long term fix to cracked ABS components. It just doesn't stay stuck.

Use the ABS cement, the self adhesive metal mesh patches and the fiberglass mesh, but forego the fiberglass resin. Embed the various reinforcements in ABS cement, not resin. And use MEK solvent as a primer for the ABS cement. Straight MEK solvent will wick into tight cracks and actually solvent weld the ABS cracks without the use of ABS cement.

 

Great information.mek? Would that likely be in the section where i bought the abs cement?

[Prairiehammer]

Great information.mek? Would that likely be in the section where i bought the abs cement?

 

It might be in the plumbing section with the ABS cement, but I found a quart can of MEK (Methyl ethyl ketone) in the paint section of the local Menards.

BTW, make sure the ABS cement is for ABS only and not for ABS/PVC. And no, PVC cement doesn't work well on ABS.

MEK is a powerful solvent. Be careful using it around any plastic and painted surfaces. It will melt ABS and strip paint.

[cruiserlover]

What I bought is abs cement only.I will look in the paint section.If it melts abs, how do I keep it from melting good stuff too? I am an RN,I work in ICU.Male by the way.My wife is a retired nurse.I bet I could take some 10 cc syringes, use one of our 18 gauge blunt canulas, and direct it right where I want it.

[Prairiehammer]

What I bought is abs cement only.I will look in the paint section.If it melts abs, how do I keep it from melting good stuff too? I am an RN,I work in ICU.Male by the way.My wife is a retired nurse.I bet I could take some 10 cc syringes, use one of our 18 gauge blunt canulas, and direct it right where I want it.

 

If you let a puddle of the MEK sit on the ABS it will melt it. But just wiping the MEK will clean and prime the ABS. It will soften the surface of the ABS but the MEK will evaporate before hurting the ABS. Just use a little at time on a corner of a rag.

I used a syringe once to apply MEK to a crack in my trunk. Worked ok, but the MEK melted the syringe and the plunger. A drop of MEK from a teeny, tiny natural hair artists brush will allow you to apply just what you need where you need it. The MEK will wick all the way to the end of a TIGHT crack just by capillary action. Hold the crack together for a minute and the crack will be welded closed.

On large cracks and edges where the ABS is missing, use the MEK to prep the crack and edges for the ABS cement.

[cruiserlover]

That is amazing information.Thank you so much.

[mrsteve]

MEK is getting harder to find out west because of it's toxicity and environmental concerns. Be cautious with it and be sure to rear gloves, it is one of those chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. Long term exposure causes kidney and liver failure. That kind of stuff scares me but I still use it for aircraft covering.

[camos]

Be careful using it around any plastic and painted surfaces. It will melt ABS and strip paint.

My experience is that MEK will not strip the paint on an 89 and 90 Venture although, perhaps other paints are affected. I've used MEK as a crack patcher and solvent bonder on hairline cracks and clean breaks and as a primer before applying a putty made with MEK and ABS. Never had an issue with paint being affected ever.

 

Methyl Ethyl Keytone should be available at any fiberglass supply outlet. Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide is a very different product that acts a a catalyst for the polyester resins commonly used in fiberglass products. They are quite different so don't mix the two up. Fiberglass suppliers also should have a small hypodermic needle type squeeze bottle that is perfect for dribbling MEK into fine cracks which is very useful partly because MEK evaporates quite quickly.

[Prairiehammer]

My experience is that MEK will not strip the paint on an 89 and 90 Venture although, perhaps other paints are affected. I've used MEK as a crack patcher and solvent bonder on hairline cracks and clean breaks and as a primer before applying a putty made with MEK and ABS. Never had an issue with paint being affected ever.

 

 

I wiped down the tar speckled lowest cowling on my 1990 with MEK in an attempt to quickly remove tar. It dulled the paint a good deal and the paint was tacky until the MEK evaporated. You could see the streaks left by the rag; like brush marks.

On the 1991, I applied a drop of MEK to a crack in the trunk lid. I applied the MEK from the interior of the lid. As expected, the MEK wicked the length of the crack and solvent welded the fissure. But it also bubbled the paint on the exterior of the crack. The welded crack was now quite visible, whereas it was almost invisible before. The bubbled paint made the crack obvious.

So, I am going to stand by my assertion that MEK will harm the paint on the Venture.

[camos]

So, I am going to stand by my assertion that MEK will harm the paint on the Venture.

I've done around 15 repairs to both my VR's with absolutely no affect on the paint what-so-ever when using straight MEK and/or a putty made with ABS and MEK. All I can say is "Huh??" In any case, I don't want to change your mind as its better to be safe than sorry.