A
AJ
Guest
Just posted this in response to a request over on the Busa forum. Thought folks might be interested here as well....
I have been making my own "ABS cement" for a long time, as the pre-mixed stuff is hard to find on the East Coast.
Find some old ABS plastic (most of the black plastic on a motorcycle). Shave a pile of it with a knife and mix it in a jar with some acetone (available at Home Depot). It will take awhile to fully dissolve, depending on how big the slivers of plastic are. Easiest to let it sit overnight if you're not in a hurry. I mix it up the consistency of honey or window caulk.
For cracks, sand the back of the panel to clean off any dirt or paint. Wipe down with acetone. Spread the ABS cement over the crack and let a little soak into the crack. Add a layer of fiberglass for reinforcement and then brush on a little more of the ABS cement. Wipe any ABS off the front side of the fairing part and you'll be left with a small hairline crack if you don't want to repaint.
You can layer this stuff up pretty thick and it doesn't shrink a lot as it dries. It can be sanded back smooth if you are fixing gouged material. The best thing is that it is exactly the same stuff your fairing is made out of, so it makes a very nice repair.
I keep a jar of this on my shelf. The acetone fumes will eat through the plastic liner the lid on most glass jars, so I put a piece of Saran wrap over the jar and then screw on the lid. Put this inside a ziplock bag and it will last for months. If it gets too thick, add a little acetone to thin it out.
I have been making my own "ABS cement" for a long time, as the pre-mixed stuff is hard to find on the East Coast.
Find some old ABS plastic (most of the black plastic on a motorcycle). Shave a pile of it with a knife and mix it in a jar with some acetone (available at Home Depot). It will take awhile to fully dissolve, depending on how big the slivers of plastic are. Easiest to let it sit overnight if you're not in a hurry. I mix it up the consistency of honey or window caulk.
For cracks, sand the back of the panel to clean off any dirt or paint. Wipe down with acetone. Spread the ABS cement over the crack and let a little soak into the crack. Add a layer of fiberglass for reinforcement and then brush on a little more of the ABS cement. Wipe any ABS off the front side of the fairing part and you'll be left with a small hairline crack if you don't want to repaint.
You can layer this stuff up pretty thick and it doesn't shrink a lot as it dries. It can be sanded back smooth if you are fixing gouged material. The best thing is that it is exactly the same stuff your fairing is made out of, so it makes a very nice repair.
I keep a jar of this on my shelf. The acetone fumes will eat through the plastic liner the lid on most glass jars, so I put a piece of Saran wrap over the jar and then screw on the lid. Put this inside a ziplock bag and it will last for months. If it gets too thick, add a little acetone to thin it out.
