Handy tools for smoothing and shaping

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue May 01, 2018 4:49 am

OK, so that little ripple will need an oil soaked ball tip, heating both the tip and the area with the heat gun, so tacky, and the lightest of smoothing touches will an hot oily tip.

Once done, use the sand paper trick (again very lightly) and once the tpe is solid apply snow white jelly or Vaseline and let soak in for a day.

Then have a look.

Anung

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Tue May 01, 2018 9:35 am

Anung Un Rama wrote:OK, so that little ripple will need an oil soaked ball tip, heating both the tip and the area with the heat gun, so tacky, and the lightest of smoothing touches will an hot oily tip.

Once done, use the sand paper trick (again very lightly) and once the tpe is solid apply snow white jelly or Vaseline and let soak in for a day.

Then have a look.

Anung

The best temperature I've found with this hot air gun is 155 to 160. Celcius. The only real problem I've had, is my left hand is the clumsy one

My right is the precise one. They rarely work well together on delicate jobs. LOL
All will be ok.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue May 01, 2018 6:24 pm

I recommend using the gun in your non master hand and the tool in your master hand (or which ever is the steadiest) as the feathering of the heat from the gun does not need to be as subtle and precise as the tool work. I know right...the opposite to tig and oxy welding

A red hot tip is ensure you have dolly positioned in such a way to afford you the most stable, accessible and comfortable access to the repair, as you also want gravity to assist you not generate unwanted flow or tpe sagging.

Anung

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Tue May 01, 2018 10:49 pm

Looks-Ok.jpg

This is her legs open. Does not look too bad to me. Looks blended in decent. Just have to texture with some 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
(I know I have some somewhere)

Car Tip: It's a lot of work but 600 wet/dry sandpaper with soap and water will get all the grunge out of weathered plastic head lights...

Go 600 to 1200 - 1500 - 2000... between each grit you can use a plastic polish if you wish. Maguirs PlastX I use. make those lights almost new....

worked good for my old beater!!

Fantastic Plastic · Post by **Fantastic Plastic** » Tue May 01, 2018 10:57 pm

There you go!
I just powder with talcum right after it cools down and still sticky, after that it’s nice and smooth with no gloss.
Looks great though, you definitely got it.
Great job!

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Tue May 01, 2018 11:07 pm

Fantastic Plastic wrote:There you go!
I just powder with talcum right after it cools down and still sticky, after that it’s nice and smooth with no gloss.
Looks great though, you definitely got it.
Great job!

I still have to do the bottom as it rounds to the back of thigh. I should be able to do that with her legs closed & up in air.
You do not use any sort of textured piece? sand paper or cloth?

Fantastic Plastic · Post by **Fantastic Plastic** » Tue May 01, 2018 11:42 pm

No, but it’s just the way I do it. I’m not saying it’s wrong though.

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Wed May 02, 2018 7:25 am

Fantastic Plastic wrote:No, but it’s just the way I do it. I’m not saying it’s wrong though.

Did try some sandpaper a few nights ago. Had put a nick in a spot had just gotten smooth. LOL. I'll try the powder first. As I ALWAYS say to myself: "Keep it simple stupid"

If I do not like results of that, then can always try something else. I'm just thankful did not screw it up.

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Thu May 03, 2018 6:45 pm

Anung Un Rama wrote:OK, so that little ripple will need an oil soaked ball tip, heating both the tip and the area with the heat gun, so tacky, and the lightest of smoothing touches will an hot oily tip.

Once done, use the sand paper trick (again very lightly) and once the tpe is solid apply snow white jelly or Vaseline and let soak in for a day.

Then have a look.

Anung

Just so you know, That is exactly how I was able to handle that ripple. I barely grazed it with the heated ball and heated TPE with oil. To my surprise it worked excellent.

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:04 pm

Air-Gun-Tip-2mm.jpg

The smallest tip that came with the hot air rework station was 7mm round. (kinda big I thought) So... Just cut an inch or so of steel brake line tubing, pinched the end some, and inserted into the tip. Taped it in with foil duct tape. Was able to be more precise, and was able to feather areas a little better. It give me a 2mm flow of air.
Heat deflection was not as wide either.
Have ordered more tips for this gun.

To do this job, this tip and the smallest ball tool I had, did the trick!! and of course patience with thy self

Thank you for all the tips and tricks from everyone.!!!

justintime · Post by **justintime** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:25 pm

Very interesting, great job !
RGC_0767
Your like the TPE Whisperer

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:30 pm

RGC_0767 wrote:
Anung Un Rama wrote:OK, so that little ripple will need an oil soaked ball tip, heating both the tip and the area with the heat gun, so tacky, and the lightest of smoothing touches will an hot oily tip.

Once done, use the sand paper trick (again very lightly) and once the tpe is solid apply snow white jelly or Vaseline and let soak in for a day.

Then have a look.

Anung
Just so you know, That is exactly how I was able to handle that ripple. I barely grazed it with the heated ball and heated TPE with oil. To my surprise it worked excellent.

No worries, happy to help out.

It gets easier with practice, and when you get advice from people that have done these repairs alot.

It is good posting for the others who may need to know how to do this as well, and you may also come up with some techniques and innovations that FP and I had not considered.

Anung

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:37 pm

justintime wrote:Very interesting, great job !
RGC_0767
Your like the TPE Whisperer

I doubt that

TPE Screamer!!! LOL I had visions of seeing it part like Moses and the sea... then I'd be FaaaWWWWKKKKKK!!!!

I will say I'd rather do this sort of stuff than makeup

mala78 · Post by **mala78** » Fri May 04, 2018 11:48 am

I ve also just placed an order for a hot air rework station and 5 extra nozzles to help me with the repairs.

RGC_0767 · Post by **RGC_0767** » Fri May 04, 2018 12:42 pm

mala78 wrote:I ve also just placed an order for a hot air rework station and 5 extra nozzles to help me with the repairs.

Good show!! looks like a nice unit. It was suggested to me by Fantastic Plastic to start airflow on lowest and heat at 100c, and take it from there. I never put fan higher than 1.
For my lady 150c was just about right.