Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Goggles on October 15, 2003, 01:30:28 pm
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I was wondering what kind of glue they use to hold certain wires when they are soldered to from ripping out on most PCB boards, especially the Console ones.
The glue usally found on the PCB board looks to be the rubbery glue that comes in the hourglass like shapped bottle of that brown/yellowish type of glue. ie. the old skool horse glue, with the pink rubber stub you use when your in kindergarten :D
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I worked at a pcb manufacturer. They used either a two part superglue or hot glue (clear or amber).
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Pretty sure it's hot glue. Thanx.
-See Ya!!!
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heh, yea that makes sense hot glue.
Oh another question: I've soldered my wires to my PSX pads, can I just apply the hot glue over the soldered points to keep them from tearing off? I know that sounds stupid, but I mean massive application of the hot glue to pretty much all over the board.
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yes, I did that before...
but make sure you triple check before applying... cos once you applied... that's it... no turning back....
and if someone you still manage to rip any connections... it'll be next to impossible to resolder....
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k, I figured that much out ;)
just wanted to know if by doing so it'll F'up everything or that it's not recommended.
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well.. when you're glueing... unplug the thing....
(hot glue should settle very quickly....)
once its dried and hard... then you can test....
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Hot glue is basically melted plastic, not water- or solvent-based. Unlike regular glue (which is conductive until the solvent evaporates) It's exactly the same stuff when solid as it is when liquid, so it should be nonconductive whether it's hot or cold. I've tested circuits immediately after applying it, with no problems.
Also, if you don't go too crazy with it, you should be able to pick it off if you mess up, or need to make any changes. (Just enough to cover the end of your wire and adhere it to the board should be enough.) You'll want to remove as much as possible though, around the area you're re-soldering, as any remaining will melt quickly under the heat of a soldering iron, and could make a big mess, not to mention ruining your solder... Once you've got things working again, just re-apply the glue and you're all set.
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If you can get a dremel or drill with a really tiny drillbit, you'd get your wires in there much more securely by drilling a little hole through the PCB where the pad is. (just have to make sure there isn't anything on the reverse side. A white LED pen light is good for checking that out - it shines through the PCB but not the copper traces.)
It would probably help to glue the wire along an edge of the PCB too, leaving a loose loop of it between that and your solder points. (That is, long as you aren't trying to put the PCB back into its original plastic case)