Moldable Glue - supplier of?

I have a use for a product called moldable glue, such as Sugru Moldable Glue & disappointed to see that Bunnings don't supply it. Does anyone know where I can get it, or something similar in Australia, particularly Western Australia?

I want it to reinforce the connection points where fine wires are subject to movement, such as earphone wires. Any suggestions please?

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Craft and Hobbies

Repairing

Lighting and Electrical

Comments

EricL

Hi @TedBear

Just letting you know that there is an equivalent product in the store. It's called Loctite 3 x 5g Kintsuglue - White, it also comes in a dark colour as well. Loctite Kintsuglue is a flexible paste created to fix almost any broken object. Shapeable, strong and flexible after curing, it can be applied to all the things you want to repair, reconstruct, protect or enhance. It is an air-activated product and can be moulded into any shape.

If you need more information, please let me know.

Eric

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/19642#Comment_19642

Thanks @EricL . That looks like it should do the trick.

I did a search for flexible putty on the Products App but that didn't come up as a result, so I am glad that I asked here.

DeeDeeBee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/19642#Comment_19642

Hi Eric, what could be used to colour this putty please? Grateful for your advice.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/72497#Comment_72497

Hi @DeeDeeBee,

Kintsuglue is not designed to have colours mixed into it. If you wanted to change its colour, you'd need to experiment. Since it's a silicone-based product, I can't imagine any paint coating you put onto it would be exceptionally hard wearing.

I have painted Selley's Knead-It before with enamel paint, which held up well. Knead-It is an epoxy putty that sets hard, unlike the Kintsuglue, which remains flexible.

I trust @EricL will add his thoughts, too, if he can think of any colourant options.

Mitchell

DeeDeeBee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99643#Comment_99643

Thanks Mitchell. Good to know about the Selleys epoxy product too as the silicon putty did not hold up as a chair foot.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116638#Comment_116638

@DeeDeeBee,

Due to the chair leg ends experiencing a fair bit of abuse, you might like to replace the tip with a nail on slide instead of the putty. They would be a more robust option.

Mitchell

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126412#Comment_126412

Certainly an interesting looking product (Kintsuglue) - never heard of it before, but just bought a packet from Bunnings and gonna try it on this cord...

Why do they make this area so weak?

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132910#Comment_132910

Hi @Noyade , my cynical response to that question is - so they can keep selling products. Don't want them lasting forever.

But, less cynically, the interface between any material types, or even a significant change of thickness of the same material, is inherently a mechanical weak spot.

I always reinforce those places on cords wherever possible from the start. It's ok when I make the cord myself - I can slip on some heat shrink and taper the interface so it is a gentle change in thickness at each point, but trickier when it is an already made object, such as earphone cords.

I have had limited success by splitting some heat-shrink (that will fit over the thicker part), applying a thin strip of soft glue at the join and wrapping the heat-shrink onto that. I then shrink it to fit at the thinner part of the cord.

But it doesn't last all that long and also is a bit messy looking. Hopefully the malleable glue will be a more successful answer - for both of us.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136920#Comment_136920

Hi Ted.

Yeah, being cynical myself and as president of the Australian Skeptics Society I too am sure Samsung wants those areas to self-destruct after minimal use.

My wife laughed at my efforts to repair the cord with this mouldable plastic saying for a dollar more I could have bought a new cable. Probably right and my result looks aesthetically poor - I failed plastiscine class in Kindergarten. I noticed it also marks things easy - note the paper background.

Nevertheless it feels sturdy, well adhered and flexible. See how we go.

Incidentally, I know you can buy reasonably priced cords that are thicker (more durable?) from Kmart - seen on the left.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139667#Comment_139667

Hi @Noyade

Thanks for posting that update on the USB cord repair. Please keep us updated on its performance, I'm sure our members will be keen to know if the repair will last.

Eric

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139667#Comment_139667

@Noyade, there's something satisfying in fixing it yourself sometimes, even if you can buy a replacement for little. For me it's the learning experience, getting ready for those items that you can't replace so easily and getting to know what options are present for new uses.

I have set of small Bluetooth headphones that I love, because they are lightweight and can live around my neck without me even noticing them and are ready when I need to to take or make a phone call. (I even wore them to bed one night by accident, until my wife asked what the occasional blue flashing light was about.)

Being lightweight they have thin cords to the earpieces which I reinforced, but now, after 2 years, need redoing. So I'll try this product.

Usually BT earphones have lasted me a max of 3 months, so these ones are great and always at hand. (And cost less than $20.)

brendawebster44

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/19642#Comment_19642

Hello Eric the wise, I am amazed at this product. Also soo glad Ted Bear that you asked for that particular advice.. I will be putting that on my shopping list for the future. I must admit I did think you were after blue tac hahaha. I could have saved myself a fortune had I known.Well I suppose I do now so once I have tackled covid I will be back to Bunnings. I was lucky to have gone for my winter seedlings early because now I have nothing but time on my hands . brenda

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141548#Comment_141548

Hi @TedBear

I have a pair of pioneer headphones that I've had for over ten years and my family wonders why I still keep going back to this battered old set. It's held together with duct tape, super glue, copper wire and a bulldog clip. This set was my first big splurge when I got my bonus many years ago and it still sounds as good as the day I bought it. I'm hoping to learn 3D printing so I can print the head frame and speaker frames again and give my headphones a second life.

Eric

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142956#Comment_142956

@EricL a true-blue, crazy, D-I-Y'er!

I love that story.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is too limiting a saying for us. Even if an item is "broke, dead and gone" for normal people, we will resurrect it and give it a second life if at all possible.

3D printing... what a great invention to put toward rebuilding those beloved headphones. I hope that happens.

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/72483#Comment_72483

I bought some Kintsuglue and reinforced the cord connection points. It is a bit tricky to use since it tends to stick to your fingers, but I managed to get a reasonable outcome. Maybe there is something that can be put on our skin first to reduce it sticking. I will experiment when I get time. It's fairly expensive for the amount you get, but then it has limited applications and it does the job. The leftovers should do a few more jobs.

Noyade

I used latex gloves Ted.

My charger repair (above) is holding very well - I'm impressed.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/20085#Comment_20085

Today I tried it on welding leads.

I'm a lousy welder and sometimes I inadvertently lower the hot rod onto the lead...

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/72997#Comment_72997

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99917#Comment_99917

Then I covered them in heat shrink - with the internal glue...

They look like an Anaconda that swallowed a goat.

But lets see how we go and how long it lasts - and I need to be more careful. 🤔

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116799#Comment_116799

That should be a good repair... you've thrown everything at it. Probably as good as, or better than the original covering now.

I still haven't got back to experimenting with how best to work with that stuff. I didn’t explain it clearly in previous comment about it sticking to my fingers ... I meant that the stickiness made it hard to shape it properly, due to it pulling a back when you lift your fingers off it. I will try putting powder on my fingers before using it to see if that helps me shape it better, without unduly effecting the putty.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126504#Comment_126504

Totally agree @TedBear

I only use the latex or nitrile gloves to keep this gunk off my flesh - it sticks to naked fingers and is not something user friendly when it comes to shaping.

Off topic - but Liquid Nails "Ultimate Strength" polyurethane glue is another product to keep away from skin.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132971#Comment_132971

Evening @TedBear

G'day Ted!

You mentioned earlier...

"@Noyade, there's something satisfying in fixing it yourself sometimes,"

Totally agree. Recently I had a car remote controller (FOB?) fail last year so I bought a new one ($100). This failed after a couple of months so I took it back and was told the battery was flat and they replaced it - $25.

Failed again today - so I opened it up.

What they've done is glue a folded business card onto the battery holder that compresses two failed/fatigued solder joints.

You can just make them out here...

Managed to solder them back in place...

20240731_164030 - Copy.jpg

But stupidly, I used my mobile phone as 'weight' whilst soldering.

Burnt a hole in the cover.

Which brings me to this product. Amazing stuff...

Hole plugged. 😁

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137883#Comment_137883

Brilliant Repair! Thanks for sharing that @Noyade . I hadn't come across that product.

Where did you get it from please?

I did a quick web search & see that the cost varies greatly (one supplier stated $140... I hope that was a typo in their ad.)

I'll see about getting some for the Repair.Cafe that I am part of, or at least some for myself.

Maybe Bunnings will become a supplier??

I was also amused/horrified at the "battery replacement". At least by them supplying a business card you'll be reminded of where never to go to again.

Noyade

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/140284#Comment_140284

Afternoon Ted. @TedBear

"Where did you get it from please?"

Jaycar Electronics. I saw it in one of their catalogues recently, on special for $29. Dries in 5 minutes and the finish is quite rubbery and flexible. Comes in red and black and in smaller quantities - from memory.

Yes, I was disappointed in the key/battery place. Quite possibly they never even replaced the battery and just hoped to avoid a warranty claim.

Such is life.

Cheers.

Child Item