Best glue for fixing metal to PC-ABS Plastic

Puzzled · 7 Jun 2017 at 20:16

Wasn't sure which forum was best for this but its more of a glue question than a laptop one.

Hinge screws have broken out of the plastic mounts on the screen and I'm trying to find the best adhesive to fix it back. I was going to use a 2 part epoxy but then read that it doesn't work well with ABS plastic, not sure if thats true so figured you guys might know.

This is the issue, HP hinges are notorious for breaking and I can see why when you have a tiny bit of plastic holding it all together.

Final resort will be to drill the lid and bolt (like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZfUGAgX6M8) but I'd rather keep it neat.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

jpaul · 7 Jun 2017 at 22:20

Have used
B3294B Plastic Weld High Strength 28ml by Bondloc
on abs kitchen appliances, providing it is not going to be at high temp.
may want to try and re-enforce in the vicinity, since if it is typical of laptop screen hinges they are stiff and there is a lot of torque....
but purchasing a for parts same model laptop off of ebay maybe a better time investment.

Puzzled · 8 Jun 2017 at 00:47

Thanks for that, yeah the hinges are incredibly stiff. No wonder it broke really considering how little holds it to the frame, screen has a dead spot as well now due to being pulled out so got a new one on the way.

First choice would be to buy a replacement lid but can only find it from buyers in the US and they want over £115 so its going to have to be a bodge, hopefully that glue will hold. The other hinge is still working so I might slacken the broken one off a bit.

Abyss · 8 Jun 2017 at 08:38

Given the amount of torque involved and the potential flex in the plastic I think you will struggle with any glue unless it is further reinforced. It will likely just crack away over time. The ideal glues for plastic will melt/weld the plastic but aren't that good at fixing to metal.

The ideal would be as you describe bolting from behind.

Could you potentially cut out the damaged plastic and insert a new plate to fix into. Could even use a plate of sheet metal?

Puzzled · 8 Jun 2017 at 15:14

I could use a malleable thin metal plate so it will fit to the curve on the outside laptop lid, drill and bolt externally. Definitely the strongest way but it won't look great, that said I don't want the glue to break in a few weeks possibly taking out the new screen.

New screen will be here tomorrow so I'l check the clearance and see what else can be done. Seems most of the hinges break in the laptop base rather than on the lid which is a bit easier to fix but I find it quite staggering that all that holds these hinges in is a thin plastic surround.

Puzzled · 13 Jun 2017 at 20:41

Not surprised that so many laptop hinges break, even after lubricating they are still incredibly stiff and should have had metal fixings from factory. Screen weight feels fine now its fixed so the torque is correct but it's all focused on a weak point in the frame. Still might as well show you what I did:

Quickly realised glue wasn't going to be enough so got the dremel out and drilled through the shell for a couple of bolts to replace the hinge screws. Used a bit of epoxy to add strength to the side fixings.

Trusty Dremel again to cut off the spare thread and tidy up.

Job done, probably could have got away with 1 nut to make it look a bit neater but you don't really notice it. Feels a lot sturdier so hopefully will hold up for the rest of the laptops life, while it was in bits changed the thermal paste as it had gone hard so running nice and cool now.

jpaul · 13 Jun 2017 at 20:58

looks good - ingenious
- you had plastic of the right thickness to put between hinge and lid to keep it at the right level
- you added a locknut
- did you pay delta to get an exact oem screen ?
[ I upgraded a dell one to fhd and was surprised that (in small print) most of ebay vendors could not guarantee screen manufacturer so I could check out is specification ]

Puzzled · 13 Jun 2017 at 23:50

Luckily after a bit of tidying up the remaining plastic mount held it in the right position and as the lid is metal it has enough rigidity to keep it all in place.
Just went with an eBay seller offering the same model no for the screen, the original wasn't great anyway and for £35 the replacement is actually very good.

If you guys need small quantities of fixings I highly recommend bolt base on ebay, great descriptions & very quick service.

zophiel · 15 Jun 2017 at 10:42

you should have done the other side to to make it look like it was meant to be like that.

Puzzled · 15 Jun 2017 at 11:00

zophiel said:
you should have done the other side to to make it look like it was meant to be like that.

Ha, for the proper industrial look I should have used rivets

Quite glad it wasn't the other side though as that has a LED light for the logo which gets in the way. Seems more common for the left hinge to break on this model so hopefully the other one will hold up.

zophiel · 15 Jun 2017 at 17:04

i didnt notice the led bit until you said and now i see it on the pic.

jpaul · 16 Jun 2017 at 08:01

I have some nyloc nuts/bolts from bolt-world spec'd for another repair , and hope with a single nut they will be durable.

... you may have delta questions at airline security.

Puzzled · 16 Jun 2017 at 11:42

Haha the furthest distance this one travels is from the living room to the kitchen.

Nyloc nut is a good shout, might want to add a washer if the lid shell is a bit flexible.