TT2: Simple Epoxy Mold - Dasher Knob Repair
Added 2025-06-08 20:33:46 +0000 UTCHello!
This is quick little video where I attempted repairing the knobs on the second Data General Dasher terminal I now have. This is a very common fault where the knobs that retain the vertical tilt crack and break off the screw mount. I repaired them using some epoxy and hot glue as an impromptu mold which turned out pretty good I would say.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/dNnGzFPXCCU
Comments
Another trick with epoxy like that is to use liquid soap as a release agent. The hot melt glue idea is a great one, but coating in liquid soap would keep the epoxy from bonding to the plastic on any surface you coat. Probably not as useful in this use case, but I've used it in cases where I wanted to have a threaded hold and tapping the hole wasn't ideal. Coat the threads of the machine screw with the liquid soap, fill your whatever with epoxy (JB weld with the metallic filler works great if it's not a visible area, place the screw into the epoxy and let it cure. The screw should come right out. Another thing is when you're putting filets of epoxy around the outside like that mixing in some glass microspheres (sometimes called microballoons) with it will thicken the epoxy up and make it more paste like, which works great for outer surfaces like that.
Patrick Moore
2025-06-12 00:18:26 +0000 UTCI am interested for sure, at the very least I could showcase them in a future update as an alternative option to this! I'm not sure if my repair will hold up or not, for all I know the plastic will just crack around the epoxy now. So a backup really wouldn't hurt.
Tech Tangents
2025-06-08 21:02:22 +0000 UTCNice! That hot glue mold idea works great! I could see the concave face layer on in the video-crazy! If you are still interested-I was going to send you a pair of my solid ones. I stopped casting more as I’m currently making a mold of the rectangular base and then I’ll move onto the Dasher Case. I’ll get back into the knobs when I’ve got the whole terminal cast.
Markintosh
2025-06-08 20:54:12 +0000 UTC
