How to fill a small gap in a (small, fiddly) plastic part?
March 15, 2015 10:25 AM
We have two way (top-down/bottum-up) blind. Unfortunately, on one window they're only top-down because the bottom side cord has worn a hole into a plastic part it slides through.
The cord gets stuck in the hole such that the stopping mechanism can never catch, so the bottom of the blinds always rests on the sill. The gap is about 1/16th inch across. The whole part is just over half an inch across.
Pic 1 - Pic 2 - Pic 3
I think if we can fill the hole with something solid, it would allow the mechanism to work so we could pull up the blinds. Then if we don't change it too often, which we don't tend to do anyway, it will be fine for the long term. Seems previous owner was hard on this particular blind. No other blinds show any such damage.
1. Is there something I can put in there to fill the gap, which I could use without taking anything apart? Some kind of resin product? Softened plastic? Epoxy?
2. Which specific product?
Other suggestions welcome. My second-place solution would be to get a cord lock, but fixing it this way would be preferable. Replacing the part looks to be complicated and not worth it.
The cord gets stuck in the hole such that the stopping mechanism can never catch, so the bottom of the blinds always rests on the sill. The gap is about 1/16th inch across. The whole part is just over half an inch across.
Pic 1 - Pic 2 - Pic 3
I think if we can fill the hole with something solid, it would allow the mechanism to work so we could pull up the blinds. Then if we don't change it too often, which we don't tend to do anyway, it will be fine for the long term. Seems previous owner was hard on this particular blind. No other blinds show any such damage.
1. Is there something I can put in there to fill the gap, which I could use without taking anything apart? Some kind of resin product? Softened plastic? Epoxy?
2. Which specific product?
Other suggestions welcome. My second-place solution would be to get a cord lock, but fixing it this way would be preferable. Replacing the part looks to be complicated and not worth it.
You could try PCL, but I suspect the heat from the cord would wear through pretty quickly. Maybe JB Weld PlastiWeld might work, but you'd want to test for adhesion.
posted by zamboni at 10:39 AM on March 15, 2015
posted by zamboni at 10:39 AM on March 15, 2015
I suspect Sugru would get sawn through pretty quickly.
posted by zamboni at 10:40 AM on March 15, 2015
posted by zamboni at 10:40 AM on March 15, 2015
I agree that Sugru or similar would get sawed through. I would go an extra step: fashion a small metal bar to span the gap (maybe a small piece of coat hanger wire ; whatever you use would have to have smooth edges) and attach it with Sugru or PlastiWeld.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 11:17 AM on March 15, 2015
posted by Benny Andajetz at 11:17 AM on March 15, 2015
There are JB-weld / plastic weld type glue that can join the two parts and even fill in the gap, but you have to take out out of the mechanism. It can't really be done "in-place".
There are plastic that can be molded at home, but they don't stand up to heat. And I don't know how hot it gets on your window sill.
http://www.amazon.com/InstaMorph-Moldable-Plastic-6-oz/dp/B004MFLU4Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426487870&sr=8-2&keywords=thermal+plastic
In the end, it may be easier to just replace the entire blind, if you are not the "jerry-rig" type of person.
posted by kschang at 11:41 PM on March 15, 2015
There are plastic that can be molded at home, but they don't stand up to heat. And I don't know how hot it gets on your window sill.
http://www.amazon.com/InstaMorph-Moldable-Plastic-6-oz/dp/B004MFLU4Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426487870&sr=8-2&keywords=thermal+plastic
In the end, it may be easier to just replace the entire blind, if you are not the "jerry-rig" type of person.
posted by kschang at 11:41 PM on March 15, 2015
I have some two-part epoxy putty that would probably work pretty well, and I will very likely be in your neighborhood within the next week or so.
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:40 PM on March 16, 2015
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:40 PM on March 16, 2015
We went looking for the JB PlasticWeld but did not find it. Then, MrMoonPie to the rescue with a similar product!
The product that MrMoonPie brought over was Apoxie Clay, and it worked great to do what I wanted.
Repair complete! Thanks everyone!
posted by zennie at 4:55 PM on March 24, 2015
The product that MrMoonPie brought over was Apoxie Clay, and it worked great to do what I wanted.
Repair complete! Thanks everyone!
posted by zennie at 4:55 PM on March 24, 2015
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posted by clavicle at 10:38 AM on March 15, 2015