I've devoted the past 20 months of my life to being a
student - in a skill set that I initially had very little knowledge in. I've
learned a lot, but I still have a lot yet to learn.
Many people don't realize that I am also a teacher though. I
have skills that I have acquired vocationally as well as independently through
hobbies. I have built and repaired things for almost 50 years now - which means
I started using tools even before I started kindergarten.
Being a seasoned industrial artist, one of the things that
we joke about is the use of duct tape and WD-40. I would also like to add Super
Glue to that cluster of most abused items. I've been using different types of
glues ever since I started using tools as well... and I even know full well
what the non-toxic types taste like. So, when I transitioned from eating glue
to seriously using it, I started to figure out that like every other tool or
substance, there are many different types of adhesives (glues & tape), each
having a different application.
Here's the deal - when people start seriously talking about
using duct tape, WD-40 or Super Glue to make a permanent repair, I have to step
back and scrutinize their intentions or abilities and for me it's a teaching
moment. Now, don't get me wrong, I usually bring duct tape, Super Glue and
WD-40 with me when I am traveling. They are good for getting you out of a
situation - provided you know how to use them. On the other hand, if you know
how to actually repair something, sometimes it takes about the same amount of
time (or less) to do it right and make a reliable, permanent repair.
I've seen some pretty gnarly DIY Duct Tape jobs that took me
a long time to clean up and then since the problem had been neglected for so
long, the repair took longer than it normally would have had the job been done
right in the first place.
Then there is WD-40... Many people don't realize that WD-40
actually destroys the existing lubricant, so if there was grease or oil in it
initially, it basically washes it out and the lubrication that WD-40 provides
only lasts a little while. It is not meant as a long-term lubricant, but rather
it is designed to displace water and also works to free up rusted bolts or
mechanisms. After you've loosened them up, you should clean off the WD-40 and
reapply the proper lubricant.
Super Glue has a limited application (besides permanently
gluing your appendages together or to other things). If you know what types of
materials that Super Glue works with and you understand the properties of the
glue itself, it is a great tool for fabrication or repairs. If you don't
understand those properties, you are better off leaving the cap on and letting
somebody more knowledgeable do the job. You can really mess some things up with
Super Glue. I think the same could be said for other types of glues like hot
glue, Elmer's glue, model "airplane" cement (which has a toluene
solvent), Gorilla Glue or epoxies (to include JB Weld) - or any other type of
liquid glue. Oftentimes, the best choice is none of those listed, but something
you may have never even heard about or considered. Do your research. The reason
why there are so many different types of glue has something to do with the way
they react with the substance you are gluing. In order for a glue or cement to
work properly, it has to chemically react with or form a surface bond with the
substance you are gluing. There is no "all purpose" glue. It doesn't
exist. Some substances cannot be glued, so you have to find another way to
secure them.
There are so many other methods that people skip over when
their knee-jerk reaction is to reach for tape or glue. For instance, there are
fasters like screws, rivets, nut/bolt combos, pins, clips or a multitude of
other options. There are also methods like folding, swaging, welding,
soldering, heat-shrinking, melting/reforming, and making brackets, holders,
plates or whatever. Sometimes you just have to look at the needs and be
resourceful. The hardware department is full of options that you may never have
even dreamed of. Experience with a vast variety of different materials and
processes is helpful in an industrial situation. Most often though, the best
practice is to step back, inspect, analyze and work through the repair before
just filling it with glue or layering it with tape. You might be surprised at
just how simple repairing it the proper way can be.
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