Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

914World.com _ 914World Garage _ What type of plastic are the headlight motor covers

Posted by: Geezer914 Jul 7 2015, 03:09 PM

I have a cracked headlight motor cover I want to repair. What type of plastic are they made of so I can get the correct type of cement for a permanent repair? Thanks

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 7 2015, 09:17 PM

I would guess polystyrene, or possibly ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).

Maybe get an old broken one and experiment on it first.

Posted by: PanelBilly Jul 7 2015, 09:29 PM

Figure out who your 3M rep is in your city. They make all kinds of glues and can recommend the best thing for you and tell you where to buy it

Posted by: Chris914n6 Jul 7 2015, 11:43 PM

The hobby store will have glue that works on both styrene and abs, assuming Jeff is right...

Most of the injected stuff is abs.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 8 2015, 04:20 PM

ABS is the common black plastic plumbing pipe, ABS 'cement' would work well. Its really a solvent not an adhesive.

Model car kits are styrene, so model cement should work.

I am sure there are others glues/adhesives/solvents that would work, why I suggested experimenting on a broken one.

Posted by: Geezer914 Jul 8 2015, 04:34 PM

Thanks for the replies. I used Testors Model cement. It did the trick.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 8 2015, 04:38 PM

Ah...its in the styrene family of plastics then. Good to know.

Posted by: Chris914n6 Jul 8 2015, 11:51 PM

Not necessarily Jeff. I've used this on almost everywhere.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDJ94

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jul 9 2015, 08:27 AM

"Styrene and ABS Plastic Solvent Cement"

ABS = "Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene"

Further proof that the are styrene. What am I not understanding fro your post?