Plugged needle applicator

[Watchword]

What solvent will dissolve dried plastic cement in a needle applicator? I’m using Faller Expert Normal plastic cement.

[kjd]

If it has a metal tip a lighter will clear it right out. At work, we use Weldon 3 in needle bottles and sometimes the melted plastic gets sucked up into the spout and plugs it up. That is how I open it up except I use a micro torch since I don't have a lighter.

[Watchword]

Thanks Paul! I'll give it a try.

[bnsf971]

Isn't Faller cement flammabe? Maybe a heated soldering iron would be better? I would really hate to end up holding a bottle of burning glue, i don't think any good could come from that.

[NH Mike]

If you are going to heat the needle I'd remove it from the plastic bottle and hold it in a pair of needle nose pliers over a piece of non flammable material. A doubled over piece of aluminum foil will work. Not familiar with Faller cement but if they got the metal needle in it you should be able to get it back out. Alternately, soaking it in acetone will soften up the cement but don't use heat with this method!! Acetone burns.

[Watchword]

Thanks for all your suggestions. The directions on the Faller Cement carton advise using a "plastic solvent" to clear the needle, but they were not specific. Maybe acetone will work. Anyway the problem was solved at least temporarily by turning the applicator upside down for a for an hour or two so the contents dissolved the dried plug in the needle.

I tried Faller once before to assemble a couple of bridges and liked it very much but it, too, became plugged when it was not used for a few weeks and I abandoned it in favor of using a paint brush and a small bottle of solvent cement which sometimes messed up the surface detailing. I may try the heat method the next time it becomes plugged.

[Watchword]

This is a follow up to my own question...and the answer to the problem. The needle on Faller Plastic Cement got plugged again and soaking it in Acetone for 24 hours did nothing. So I tryed using a lighter to heat the needle while squeezing the bottle and got a few burning drips out the end but that was all. Also Faller did not answer my email inquiry about what sort of plastic solvent they recommend.

Then I got the idea to heat the needle with a lighter flame while the bottle was sitting upright and without squeezing it as I had done before. Some flames came out the tip as the dried cement burned and then I let it cool and PRESTO, the blockage was cleared!

By the way, the Faller needle and cap cannot be removed from the plastic container.

[Y3a]

Go to your nearby K&S metal display and buy yourself 1-2 of the smallest steel wire (30") size and you'll always have a 5" long piece to jam into the point of your faller Xpert applicator.

[Watchword]

Thanks or the tip, Y3A, but wire that small may not be available here in northern Thailand. However, the flame method works fine now that I know the proper proceedure.

[NH Mike]

Sounds like Faller has a secret formula that can only be dissolved at the gates of Haites.
At least you found a way to clear the tips.