instead of bondo can i use liquid nails to glue an elk form back together? thanks doug
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It will do the job but it will take 24 hours to cure to full strenght. Bondo will be at full strenght in about 10 min. Thats why we use Bondo!
God Bless
Doug, I wouldnt trust an elk form assembled with Liquid Nails, or Bondo, for that matter. Thats why most of us use urethane foam. I use Liquid Nails, which is nothing more than contact cement with a heavier consistency, on many projects, and I use Bondo for many others. Small stuff or non weight-bearing parts of forms can get away with Bondo. I know, they say you can in some catologs. Im not going to take a chance on something with the weight and leverage of an elk, though.
My mentor taught me a easy way to reinforce a form. It works for shoulder mounts as well as life size.
1. Join the pieces together with bondo and long (6") drywall screws as you would with any normal alterations.
2. On a shoulder mount, drill 1 or 2 1/2" holes in the plywood reinforcement on the top of the head. These may need to be drilled at an angle as to follow the spine of the form.
3. Sharpen the end of a piece of all-thread to a point using a hand grinder or a bench grinder.
4. Chuck up the unpointed end of the all-thread into an electric drill. A cordless drill will work, but it may bog down before you're done. The size of your drill will be one of the determining factors of what size all-thread you can use. If the all-thread is too big, you may have to grind down the end until it fits in the chuck of your drill.
5. Insert the pointed end into the hole you drilled in the top of the manakin. You need to angle it so it follows the spine and will run as far through the manakin's neck as possible.
6. Squeeze the trigger on the drill, slowly at first, the all-thread will bite into the foam and start pulling itself through the neck of the manakin.
If you hit the backboard of the manakin and the all-thread didn't come out of the sides, you're successful! There will be some all-thread left sticking out of the head of the manakin. Simply cut it off with your grinder or reciprocating saw flush with the plywood plate in the head. Most of the time, one piece of 3/8" diameter all-thread is sufficient. If the head still feels a little weak, drill another piece in a different spot. Since the all-thread runs the length of the neck, the rod supports most of the weight instead of relying on bondo or liquid nails to support the weight.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Like Bill stated, there's too much of a weight bearing load placed on simple body filler. Now Kevin's reinforcement method might make it work, but besides the extra 2x4 between the two, I use foam if possible, 2-part fast dry epoxy if not. You get a 400 set of antlers atop a long necked form like that, it's not worth the money you'd have saved. Liquid Nails is DEFINITELY out.
Cross pin it with 5 minute epoxy. 5 minute epoxy both surfaces (being sure they are free of debris) and hold in place until it is cured. Then have on hand some stiff wire or small diameter steel stock (most hardware stores have this, you can even use copper coated 1/8 welding rod from Home Dept). Small threaded rod or even a straightenned out coathanger will work too. Drill a hole one size larger than the wire, down through the top part of the piece at an angle into the lower part. From the opposite side do the same, making sure the angles point somewhat together. Epoxy the wire and slide it down into the hole. Allow it to cure and you have a super strong piece that will not let go. Easy, fast and super-duper strong.
Just carve out a depression in the foam, pour in foam, align, and screw the sides to stay even. Its the strongest, easiest, and you dont have to mess with all those alternatives. I find myself using foam almost every day. Once youre used to it, those other methods seem silly. Good luck either way. By the way, let me know where those other elk are hanging, so I can remember not to walk under them, lol!
We alter and modify mannikins all the time just dig some holes and use urathane foam. it is strong as new no need to get carried away.with lots of steel ect. Liquid nails I wouldnt. Bondo I used too before I knew better foam is the best. my opoinion anyway. Happy sewing ,Jeff