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Grex > Cars > #81: A prosaic automotive problem |  |
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| Author |
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popcorn
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A prosaic automotive problem
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Jul 23 02:02 UTC 1995 |
This item has been erased.
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| 110 responses total. |
gull
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response 1 of 110:
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Jul 23 02:41 UTC 1995 |
My suggestion would be to glue the thing right *next to* the spot you've
been gluing it to...that would avoid all the buildup, and the extra inch
or so to one side shouldn't matter.
Admittedly, this is a kludge, but at least you aren't risking
cracking the windshield by taking a chisel to that glue! :-)
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scg
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response 2 of 110:
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Jul 23 02:49 UTC 1995 |
OTOH, if the chip is big enough that you're worried about the windshield
cracking, it might be time to replace the windshield.
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omni
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response 3 of 110:
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Jul 23 03:03 UTC 1995 |
You could go to a glass shop, Henderson comes to mind, but having never
dealt with them, I cannot say if they are good or bad. .
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gregc
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response 4 of 110:
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Jul 23 03:25 UTC 1995 |
Valerie, first off, you need to make sure you get the special glue that
is designed specifically for attaching rear-view mirrors to windows, not
just generic superglues. I'm going to assume you got the right glue, it
sounds like it from your message.
Second, this glue is a type of superglue. It cures in an an-aerobic fashion,
the *thinner* the layer of glue, the better. Even a small spec left on the
glass or the metal piece will increase the glue layer thickness. You need
to make sure *all* the glue is off the window, *and* off the metal piece
that is being glued to the window.
Hacking at the old glue won't do it, becuase it will still leave small bits
behind. This glue does desolve in acetone. Get a bottle of that and a rag and
scrub the window and soak the metal piece in a bowl of it for a few hours.
*DO THIS OUTSIDE* Acetone is highly flamable and has a high rate of
evaporation.
Also, most mirrors I've seen that mount this way, have a little flat piece of
metal at the end of the arm that is glued to the glass. The mirror assembly
then slips onto this piece of metal and is held by a set screw. If you can
avoid it, don't try to glue the whole mirror assembly to the window at once,
becuase you are then subjecting the uncured glue joint to added stress. Glue
just the little metal piece on and wait 6 hours. Then attach the rest of
the mirror.
Also, both the glass and the metal piece have to be *real* clean. No dirt,
skin oil, etc. The acetone will clean them up fine, but don't *touch* the
surfaces to be glued with your fingers or you'll leave skin oil and that
will weaken the joint.
Also, some of the adhesives used for this, come as 2 parts: The adhesive
and an "activator" in a separate tube that is applied to both surfaces
before the adhesive. Look for a kit that uses this 2 part system.
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srw
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response 5 of 110:
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Jul 23 06:35 UTC 1995 |
By the way, acetone is also known as "Nail polish remover". It's very nasty.
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aaron
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response 6 of 110:
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Jul 23 07:05 UTC 1995 |
Do not get acetone on any surfaces of your car, as it will likely mar them.
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gregc
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response 7 of 110:
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Jul 23 08:06 UTC 1995 |
"Nail polish remover" also has all kinds of other crap mixed in with it,
you would not want to use it for this purpose. Acetone is an aromatic
hydrocarbon and will eat-into/dissolve alot of plastics. Polyethylenes and
polypropylenes are safe, but it will really go after polystyrenes.
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popcorn
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response 8 of 110:
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Jul 23 10:30 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
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gregc
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response 9 of 110:
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Jul 23 11:10 UTC 1995 |
You can find pure acetone in most any hardware store. HQ and Builder's sqr
most definately, probably the ACE and Stadium hardware too. It will be in
the painting supplies. A 16oz can is ussually about $1.50 to $2.00.
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mcpoz
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response 10 of 110:
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Jul 23 11:14 UTC 1995 |
Store it in your garage, not your house or basement.
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sbj
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response 11 of 110:
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Jul 23 13:36 UTC 1995 |
Be sure to put the rear view mirror on the inside of the car.
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dadroc
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response 12 of 110:
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Jul 23 14:03 UTC 1995 |
Get everything super clean, hydrogen-peroxide and cotton balls. Look
around for different kits, the ones from the dealership are less of a
pain than one from Murry's. A $1.95 kit has about 1 cc of stuff, a
$3.95 has about 1.7 cc of stuff. You can use the same place twice.
For the truely frustrated, any place that does auto glass will have
the skill.
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drew
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response 13 of 110:
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Jul 23 16:50 UTC 1995 |
Meijers has acetone.
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popcorn
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response 14 of 110:
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Jul 23 17:35 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
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omni
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response 15 of 110:
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Jul 23 19:13 UTC 1995 |
Nail Polish remover will work, and very well I might add.
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scott
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response 16 of 110:
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Jul 23 20:29 UTC 1995 |
You could also try trichlorethane-1,1,1 which is a non-flammable (but very
toxic) solvent. You can buy it at Meijers as "Energine Cleaning Fluid", but
you could probably borrow mine and avoid bringing another 8 oz. of scary stuff
into the general public. (It might not be available any more - OSHA hates
the stuff, it's terrible for the environment, etc.) I've used it for all
sorts of nasty removal jobs.
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rcurl
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response 17 of 110:
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Jul 23 21:53 UTC 1995 |
Re #7: acetone is not an "aromatic hydrocarbon". It is either aromatic, nor
a hydrocarbon, for that matter. It is "dimethy ketone", (CH3)CO(CH3).
It is a good solvent for acryilic and styrene polymers - but not good
for poly-hydrocarbons. It is TOXIC and FLAMMABLE. It will also take the
oils out of your skin so fast they will hurt.
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popcorn
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response 18 of 110:
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Jul 23 23:09 UTC 1995 |
This response has been erased.
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gregc
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response 19 of 110:
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Jul 24 00:16 UTC 1995 |
Rane's right(caught me on that one :-) ), acetone isn't an "aromatic"
hydrocarbon. It would need to be based on the benzene ring to be "aromatic".
However, it is most definately a "hydrocarbon". Unless you're using some
definition for "hydrocarbon" that I've never heard of before.
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mcpoz
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response 20 of 110:
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Jul 24 01:19 UTC 1995 |
I believe the term "hydrocarbon" refers to molecules which have a carbon
backbone and primarily hydrogen attached, which Acetone does. (However, I have
not consulted the text definition.)
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mcpoz
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response 21 of 110:
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Jul 24 02:37 UTC 1995 |
Oops - Rane is right - Websters defines "Hydrocarbon" as having ONLY hydrogen
and carbon.
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omni
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response 22 of 110:
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Jul 24 03:04 UTC 1995 |
This is all way above my head. All I know is, it works, and works well ;)
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srw
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response 23 of 110:
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Jul 24 05:08 UTC 1995 |
Yup. Like Rane said. It is a ketone. Ketones end in "one" like acetone.
They are not hydrocarbons because the "O" disqualifies them.
They are organic, though.
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rcurl
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response 24 of 110:
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Jul 24 05:43 UTC 1995 |
Yup. My chemistry is usually OK, but my typing stinks. They should have
been "neither aromatic...", "dimethyl ketone", and "acrylic". Nail polish
remover used to be mostly ethyl acetate. Acetone evaporates so quickly
that it is hard to catch the softened polish at just the right instant.
Mixed solvents are usually used anyway, as they can be tailored to be
better solvents for selected polymers than any single solvent. (I've
looked up an old polish remover formula, which is made from equal weights
of amyl acetate ("banana oil") and acetone.) Now, what was it we are
trying to remove??
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