What to use to bond fiber optic sight to metal?
Sentry
September 30, 2003, 02:03 PM
I had some fiber optic sight leftover from a repair job and used it to make a new sight on the wife's P22. Guy I know liked it and wanted one made for his Marlin model 60. Problem is, there's not a lot you can drill on the sight to attach it. What is the best form of bonding fiber optic plastic to the painted(or stripped if necessary) metal? I tried some blue loctite in a feeble attempt but it was easily knocked off. I would try superglue but that would probably melt the plastic, and I only have one chance as this is my last piece of site pipe. For anyone with suggestions, please remember that this is Iowa, at best we have Home Depot so it has to be something you could find in there or a small hardware store.
If you enjoyed reading about "What to use to bond fiber optic sight to metal?" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join
TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!
gun-fucious
September 30, 2003, 02:23 PM
JB Weld or PC-7
laynlow
September 30, 2003, 02:24 PM
Epoxy
Sentry
September 30, 2003, 02:53 PM
What exactly is PC-7? Can't find any info on it. Also, are you sure JB weld would work on the plastic part of it? i was looking at their site and it iddn't mention plastic at all, but just about everything else.
MagKnightX
September 30, 2003, 03:07 PM
A cyanoacrylate (superglue, Krazy Glue, etc.) shouldn't melt plastic. You're probably thinking of plastic cement.
If you want to retain full optical quality, might I suggest Milbond (http://www.edmundoptics.com/IOD/DisplayProduct.cfm?productid=1292)? It says for use in metal-to-glass and metal-to-plastic bonding, and is sold by an industrial optics company for optics use, so...
But Edmund is expensive, so try to find it elsewhere.
gun-fucious
September 30, 2003, 03:10 PM
http://www.right-tool.com/pc7epoxypaste.html
they sell it at home depot
2 film canisters
one grey one black
mix 50/50 till medium grey and apply like putty
Gunhamr
September 30, 2003, 03:13 PM
Loctite Black Max as sold by Brownell. It is made for attaching rifle sights
and vent ribs to shotgun barrels so should work for you. I have used it to attach front sights on 1911 slides and it has held them OK.
keederdag
September 30, 2003, 03:14 PM
Brownell's bedding compound; I recomend the gel. You can choose color's as long as you like brown or black!:)
Sentry
September 30, 2003, 03:19 PM
Pc-7 doesn't look like something that would work. Preferably a liquid as there is not a lot of space to put the glue at, only along the sides and bottom of a very small pipe. As to the Milbond or anything sold by Brownells, the shipping and cost would be 10 bucks alone most likely, I'm just looking for a cheap solution to bond it. He wants it done within a day or two also, so I needed to know something that would work locally
noklue3
September 30, 2003, 03:20 PM
I used super glue with no problems and when I wanted to change the element was able to still drift it out with a punch. Be sure to not get it on the top - visable- part of the element as it dulls it.
Art
HankB
September 30, 2003, 03:23 PM
Blue loctite is an anaerobic adhesive which is meant to be removable - it's not nearly as strong as some varieties of red loctite. And being anaerobic, it really won't set up properly unless air is excluded, as in a threaded hole.
Superglue is good stuff, but you've got to have some actual surface-to-surface contact with a close fit - it's not good at filling gaps.
Epoxy sounds like the best bet. Hmmm . . . typically, epoxy will have a refractive index on the order of 1.4 - 1.5 or so, which means if you cover a lot of the surface of a plastic rod, you may well impair the TIR (total internal reflection) properties of the rod. I'd suggest you try not to cover the whole rod with this stuff, and just use enough to anchor it.
Sentry
September 30, 2003, 04:17 PM
I think I might try some super glue brand epoxy...maybe the tackyness would help it to stick. Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll take a picture when I'm done.
zahc
September 30, 2003, 06:03 PM
GOOP!
Any variety they are all the same. Clear, flexible, strong removeable.
Sentry
September 30, 2003, 06:59 PM
I got exactly goop, actually. Home Depot employees said most other brands would melt hte plastic, and wouldn't bond right. Planning on trying it out in a few minutes. Only problem is, it's over 72 hours dry time in my weather, most likely.
Standing Wolf
September 30, 2003, 09:34 PM
Loctite Black Max as sold by Brownell. It is made for attaching rifle sights
That was the only way I could get the rear sight to stay on my pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 41. It's nasty stuff to get on your fingers, but it works.
If you enjoyed reading about "What to use to bond fiber optic sight to metal?" here in TheHighRoad.org archive, you'll LOVE our community. Come join
TheHighRoad.org today for the full version!
vBulletin® v3.8.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.