Fixing cracks on old Stardusts

[Briar]

Hey, guys,

My horde of Stardusts is cracking up on me. Most of them were ordered at about the same time, and so now they are wearing out, I guess - mind you, most of these are a couple of months old or more, and all of them are used every day. I'm not at all complaining, I got good service out of them, but now they are leaking a bit, while the coils are still working great.

So - how do you recommend fixing the cracks - *other* than replacing the tubes?

I think it was Keelalagirl that recommended taping them up with the packing tape - was that the yellowish/transparent tape with fibers in it? Does it work with the juice still inside, or do you have to empty it, wash it, etc. for good stickage?

I also read someplace that folks use Gorilla Glue? How do you do that, exactly?

Are there any other methods? I'd really love to save them, they are my buddies.

 

[keelalagirl55]

Hey Briar....the packing tape, is the cheaper, completely clear tape. It's thin like scotch tape, but stickier and a little more sturdy The thick stuff with the fibers running through it is, IMO, way too gummy. The tape I use was a buck at walmart.

 

[BonnyC]

Can't go wrong with Duct tape!! That stuff fixes everything!

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I haven't fixed any cracks on Stardusts because mine cracked within a week or two. Getting months out of them is really impressive, that's an excellent lifespan for a carto!

 

[tinajfreeman]

I just put nail polish on one of mine...not sure yet if it will hold up.

 

[Briar]

Can't go wrong with Duct tape!! That stuff fixes everything!

Heh, I might just try it, at that, since I have some of buried some place. I was also actually thinking of trying that blue painter's tape, out of desperation, since I have that in abundance.

I decided that I'm not going to worry about gluishness from the tape getting into the juice - it's on the outside, after all...

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I haven't fixed any cracks on Stardusts because mine cracked within a week or two. Getting months out of them is really impressive, that's an excellent lifespan for a carto!

Yeah, these guys have been good to me. I actually have one from the very first batch that still works fine - and no cracks on it either. I really think the cracking issue stems from the tubes being too tight on the base. The first batch was looser, you could actually remove the tube with reasonable effort, and those haven't cracked on me.

I think out of 30 or so I bought altogether, only five blew the coil, and two of those were knock-offs.

Hey Briar....the packing tape, is the cheaper, completely clear tape. It's thin like scotch tape, but stickier and a little more sturdy The thick stuff with the fibers running through it is, IMO, way too gummy. The tape I use was a buck at walmart.

Thanks, I'll see if I can find it - closest Walmart is, like, an hour away, I really live in the boonies, and driving is a bit of a problem for me, but, maybe, they have something like that in the local hardware store...

 

[classwife]

Can't go wrong with Duct tape!! That stuff fixes everything!

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I haven't fixed any cracks on Stardusts because mine cracked within a week or two. Getting months out of them is really impressive, that's an excellent lifespan for a carto!

Duct Tape ??
Printed Duck Tape® - Tie Dye, Zebra, Camo, Flames and More

 

[keelalagirl55]

I love those duct tapes Classwife!!! My kid got the flames to deck out his computer chair

As for the clear packing tape, you can even get it at the dollar stores, almost anywhere anymore. Even our grocery stores have it (of course the grocery is a bit more expensive). Drug Stores will have it as well.

 

[Briar]

I had *no* idea duct tape comes in colors like that! Cuuuuute. I am going to get me some. Meanwhile going to go to the grocery store (need to get some food anyways) and see about that packing tape. Thanks, guys!

 

[harmonic]

i dont recall where i saw it but somebody posted somewhere about using some kind of plastic solvent on the tubes that basically fused the cracks back together. don't remember what it was though guess some homework is in order lol

 

[harleydiva]

i dont recall where i saw it but somebody posted somewhere about using some kind of plastic solvent on the tubes that basically fused the cracks back together. don't remember what it was though guess some homework is in order lol

I saw that too. It was something he got at Michaels.....some kind of plastic soldering substance

 

[keelalagirl55]

i dont recall where i saw it but somebody posted somewhere about using some kind of plastic solvent on the tubes that basically fused the cracks back together. don't remember what it was though guess some homework is in order lol

I saw that too. It was something he got at Michaels.....some kind of plastic soldering substance

oooo I missed that. That would be awesome!

 

[tinajfreeman]

Why not clear nail polish?

 

[kritter]

Super glue works fer me!

 

[Cookster]

Gorilla Glue Super Glue.....the best! I just"paint" the cracks with a small makeup brush

 

[tinajfreeman]

Cool, I have gorilla glue.

 

[yiddleboge6]

Okay everyone, I went on the search and found the post for fixing those cracks so here ya go

"The plastic cracking at the base is easily solved.

1.Get a bottle of Ambroid. Ambroid is a plastic solvent that, in effect, welds shut the cracks. The bottle came with a built-in application brush. I got mine at a hobby shop for about six bucks. That bottle has enough Ambroid in it to baste Stardust cracks until I'm about 347 years old.
2.Use your favorite method to clean the Stardust (mine is using 91% isopropyl alcohol in an ultrasonic cleaner).
3.Let dry completely.
4.When the Stardust is totally dry, baste the cracks with Ambroid.
5.Let dry completely. I let my repaired Stardusts sit for several hours, but that may be overkill.
6.Dry-burn the gradoo off the coil, fill with e-liquid and vape away.

When you baste the cracks, baste a couple of millimeters above the crack just to be sure. The Ambroid melts the plastic and literally welds together the sides of the crack. There's no noxious residue from the Ambroid: once it evaporates, it's 100% gone into the air. The welded plastic dries clear.

I've found that Ambroided cracks don't subsequently lengthen. And after several repair sessions with the Ambroid, the pressure on the plastic is relieved and the tank won't develop any new cracks"

Don't know if Michaels would have it, but any hobby shop that caters to RC car, planes, etc. should have it. I haven't looked online

 

[harleydiva]

From hobby lobby: Deprecated Browser Error

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Edit: Weird titles, but the links work.

 

[yiddleboge6]

Here's another

Amazon.com: Ambroid Pro Weld: Home Improvement

 

[harleydiva]

Here's another

Amazon.com: Ambroid Pro Weld: Home Improvement

I saw that one....but $20 is a bit steep!

 

[Maestro]

Most products that weld plastic use methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). It's just a solvent and it will evaporate and leave nothing behind once it's dried. I have a small can of primer/cleaner for abs and pvc pipes which is mostly MEK. I picked it up at the hardware store and it works just fine.