Gluing phenolic zero clearance insert

[Dan Mitchell]

Even though I have a SIGN I printed WARNING ME NOT to crank the blade on my TS out of vertical with the zero clearance insert in place, I DID IT ANYWAY, and cracked the damned thing :mad: The fact that it's about 25 degrees out there probably didn't help. Supposed to warm up tomorrow, but could I wait? NOOOOOOO. So, I'm wondering if epoxy or something else might be suitable for gluing phenolic. Anyone know? At least it only broke at one end.

I bet I'm not the first guy in this position :o

TIA

Dan

[glenn bradley]

I would imagine epoxy would work. I'd be more tempted to use double stick tape . . . to stick it to some 1/2" BB ply and use a pattern bit on the router table to make a new one (or 6) ;-)

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=61069&d=1174839697

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=61070&d=1174839708

[george wilson]

I'd GUESS that epoxy would do it,but someone might know better. 8 hour epoxy dries harder than the 5 minute stuff.

Next time,lower the blade below the insert,tilt it,and crank it running through the insert. I'd place the locked down fence over the insert where the blade won't hit it. You may not have a zero clearance insert anymore,though.

[Dan Mitchell]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't trying to cut the insert, I forgot to remove it & replace it with the one I use for angled cuts. In some searching, others have suggested contact cement as well, saying epoxy doesn't stick too well to the slick phenolic. Their talking mostly for surface bonding though, in the case of this crack, the 2 areas are fairly rough. Sure hate to toss a $60 insert. If there's clearance, I may also be able to pop rivet a bit of thin steel to the underside, have to check that.

Dan

BTW Glenn I have made several inserts as you describe, but I'd still like to fix this one. It was my 1st Zero Clearance. So it has a SPECIAL PLACE in my heart ;-)

[Myk Rian]

Tech-Bond.
http://www.tech-bond.net/

[glenn bradley]

It was my 1st Zero Clearance. So it has a SPECIAL PLACE in my heart ;-)

Well spoken. I have items like that ;-) Good info on the contact cement too.

[keith ouellette]

I have used epoxy on phenolic. I seem to remember the epoxy making the phenolic a little soft and gummy as if it desolved some but it all hardened later. Try is on a small spot and see if it softens it.

[Dan Mitchell]

After hearing people rave about it for years, I glued the insert with JB Weld, which I gather is epoxy based, but with some added metallic properties. Seems quite strong and should serve well, if I can remember not to crank the blade over when the zero clearance is in place.

Dan