So up to this point, I have been using a pcb swivel clamp and electrical tape to hold my components for soldering. It's worked fairly well with the occasional component slipping out some once in a while.
I am somewhat interested in using this blu-tack putty but I would like some questions answered first if possible.
Does heat ever affect the putty and make a mess?
Is Blu-tack the best and only adhesive putty that you would use? If not, what are some others?
How much (oz) do you need?
Where is the best place to order it from in the US?
Thanks!
I use Elmer's orange tac from Office depot. It's pricey, but whatever you do, DON"T buy the cheap, whitish stuff.
Another cool bonus is it acts as a heat sink and pulls some heat away from sensitive parts.
Heat does make it go soft but it hasn't turned into goo on me yet. If there's any residue left you just dab the blu-tack on the pcb and it picks any bits that are left. I use it to hold trimmers, pcb pots, switches, off board wiring and to hold down pcbs for soldering.
Been using this for years and haven't tried any other types. It does make populating boards much easier :)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
The blue tac sometimes leaves a few bits behind which as already said, can be removed easily with another bit of bluetac and the stuff I use gets softer with added heat, never had it melt to a point of problems though. Neither is really an issue for me though. Its faster and pretty much the only way I can smd solder. I use it all the time for all sorts of applications though, not only soldering. Anywhere I need things stuck down temporarily. Handy stuff!
Paul
Tried Blue Tac for the first time on Friday for another chromesphere project, worked like a charm for eight of these, used a small blob bit bigger then the pcb. Softens some while soldering and a tiny amount may stick but is easily removed.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_6127_zpsbe85300f.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_6129_zps9db4398b.jpg)
dave
dave
Dave, I gotta build me 10 of those...they are so handy when experimenting on breadboard!
Aaaahhh...
My most procrastinated project... ::) ;D
Capacitance decade would also be pretty good. Would probably only need 1 or 2 switches.
Thanks guys, well....I drove all around town looking for either Blu-Tack or the orange Elmers putty and couldn't find either. I even tried Office Depot. Eveywhere has the white stuff but based on jubal81 advice, I didn't get any of that.
I did, however, find some stuff at Lowes called BlueStik. Anyway, I wasn't sure and tried one capacitor and it left a tad bit behind on the capacitor. I didn't think about using the putty to remove it though. I just used my fingers and decided not to use anymore. Maybe I will try it again one more time to see if it works using the putty to remove any leftovers.
Probably just need to order the good stuff online. This stuff was like 2$ a pack.
All this being said, I really like using my pcb swivel clamp. I would probably only want to use the putty for sticking the component on rather than resting on the stuff.
Blue tack will grab blue tack pretty effortlessly. Im not sure what people mean by 'the white stuff'? The blue tack we have in oz is grey/blue color?
Quote from: chromesphere on March 02, 2014, 11:27:07 PM
Capacitance decade would also be pretty good. Would probably only need 1 or 2 switches.
Have two sections left to put to use plus another five sections with a switching scheme i haven't yet made heads or tail of. (Adafruit have the correct ones as well as a larger version.)
Quote from: davent on March 03, 2014, 12:35:36 AM
Quote from: chromesphere on March 02, 2014, 11:27:07 PM
Capacitance decade would also be pretty good. Would probably only need 1 or 2 switches.
Have two sections left to put to use plus another five sections with a switching scheme i haven't yet made heads or tail of. (Adafruit have the correct ones as well as a larger version.)
We have quite a few "adhesive putty" options here in the states. I couldn't find "Blu-Tack anywhere. I just found some rip off stuff called "Blue Stik"
I saw what jubal81 was referring to and I think the brand was scotch or something.
Any high end hifi shops? BluTack is a favoured product for going between speakers and speaker stands, dampening of elements within components and the like...
for example...
http://www.needledoctor.com/Bostic-BluTack
Amazon has it
Quote from: billstein on March 03, 2014, 01:05:39 AM
Amazon has it
yeah, and this is where I will end up getting it. I was just trying to find a place locally that I could go pick it up. I'll give this BluStik a try again before I do.
Walmart has it as do many craft and home improvement stores. The Elmer's brand is popular in the US. Just make sure it's blue. I've used the yellow stuff from the dollar store and it just turns into a sticky mess.
It is called Loc-Tite at my walmart. in the school supplies section beside the clips and board magnets. It leaves a bit of an oily residue behind so that is probably bad for metal over time.
If you have any teacher supply stores in the area, it' sold there.
Quote from: rullywowr on March 03, 2014, 01:10:06 PM
Walmart has it as do many craft and home improvement stores. The Elmer's brand is popular in the US. Just make sure it's blue. I've used the yellow stuff from the dollar store and it just turns into a sticky mess.
I bought some stuff at Home Depot and it is pretty useless. Blu-tac is stiffer and holds up much better with heat.
Wow, it looks like true, honest to goodness Bostik Blu-Tack is unobtainium around here in the Pacific NW, US. Anyone in the Portland, OR area using the real deal? It seems like Amazon is the only option and it ain't cheap. The unavailability is driving me crazy and it's fueling my desire to get some at any cost. What have I been missing??? I bought my son some "Blue Stick" for mounting hi-fi speakers on stands not knowing I was robbing him of stereo imaging and and sound stage!
Seriously though. I really want this stuff now and nothing but the real deal is going to cut it!
The loctite and Elmer's work fine for me. I wouldn't overthink it lol.
Quote from: rullywowr on March 04, 2014, 01:57:45 AM
The loctite and Elmer's work fine for me. I wouldn't overthink it lol.
Ha! I know you're right but this is a little like GAS!! :) Maybe I can find a supplier of NOS Tack.
I cans sell you two nos hand matched packages of blu tack for 199.99. Plus $20 shipping & insurance. Lmk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
It's true, the NOS genuine blu tack has the best toan. There are so many sellers on eBay claiming they are selling the real stuff but it's just fake rebranded china putty. Maybe I can fine a blu tack tester to ensure it's verified legit. :P
I have a board I'm sharing at GoshPark for a Blu-tak tester. It's able to not only tell you if the goo is good but is able to detect NOS as well...
Well, maybe if I end up with some counterfeit BT, I can use it to goop my super secret boards!
Quote from: playpunk on March 04, 2014, 02:28:45 AM
I cans sell you two nos hand matched packages of blu tack for 199.99. Plus $20 shipping & insurance. Lmk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Matched packages for a phaser build. So tempting.
You know, I was reading this thread and thought "pfft, who needs blu-tac to keep components neat?!".
Then my first MB boards showed up. I've only made vero or Haberdasher etched boards in the past, and obviously I've never had any component issues with populating the board, flipping and soldering.
I did the pork barrel resistors first, and when I flipped it rightside up saw that half the resisters had dropped a couple of mil in the process and my board looked like junk. So, I went and grabbed the blu-tac after some squeezing and resoldering.
Dammit, populating these boards is like throwing a sausage down a hallway...
I know this thread turned into kind of a joke but....
...let me tell you, my Blu-Tack showed up last week from Amazon and it was the best $12 I ever spent. That "Blu-Stik" I bought from Lowes sucked so bad I almost didn't giv Blu-Tack a chance.
I almost don't use my swivel PBC clamp at all anymore.
Quote from: peAk on March 10, 2014, 04:24:51 PM
I almost don't use my swivel PBC clamp at all anymore.
Ditto. I have a nice Panavise JR...barely use it unless I'm soldering connectors on cables etc... Putty is faster!
No Panavise but have BluTac and clothes pins.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/davent/IMG_5935_zps4dc7fe5f.jpg)
Here we go again! Now I really want the real deal!! I'm not kidding. It's crazy that amazon is the only place for it and that it's so silly expensive. Oh well.
Quote from: Leevibe on March 10, 2014, 07:43:35 PM
Here we go again! Now I really want the real deal!! I'm not kidding. It's crazy that amazon is the only place for it and that it's so silly expensive. Oh well.
that's exactly how I felt. Especially after buying the cheap blue knock off stuff.
Then I thought to myself there can't be that many people on here using it if it isn't that good.
This stuff is great. I finished two boards and didn't have any of the putty stick to anything. The thing I like about it compared to what I was using (electrical tape and pcb swivel clamp) is that many times I would have stuff slip out just a little. Like sometimes my sockets were a little angled, or maybe capacitors were a little taller than they orginally were suppose to be.
The thing I have to be careful with the blu-tack is making sure I don't push down too hard with things like capacitors. I bent a few with it but only because I was going straight ontop of it.
It's as common as dirt over here in Australia. If anyone wants some, let me know and I'll post it over!