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When you snap the back in, make sure the ridge faces into the cord when the tab is down. This allows the bolo to slide freely (for positioning) on the cord when the tension is released by flipping the tab up. It sometimes is necessary to bend the tabs out slightly on the base to allow the latch to snap in place, and/or to bend the tabs in slightly to make sure the latch stays in place.
Glue Tips
Too many glues! How do I pick?
Epoxy Glues - Epoxy glues are durable and long-lasting, but require mixing, and have a limited "set" time, ranging from 1 minute to 2 hours. Because of its sometimes toxic (and generally offensive) fumes, care should be used with this type of adhesive.
Cyanoacrylate - Also known as CA™, SuperGlue® or Krazy Glue™. This glue has become increasingly popular in the last 10 years, and has many advantages. It has a set time ranging from 2 seconds to around 2 minutes. Extreme care should be used with this product as you may become permanently attached to your current project. This adhesive works best on surfaces that fit exactly together, rather then trying to fill a gap. This glue is also great for securing beads, findings or knots to SuppleMax™.
Specialty Glues - This is the catchall group, and includes rubber cement, contact cement, mucilage, spray adhesive, general household cement, Crafter's Pick™ glues and a product called E6000. Most of these are very task specific, and are not well suited for general construction. E6000 is rather unique adhesive. It has a wide range of uses including gluing rubber. It is extremely slow to set (around 24 hours) but if the time is not a major concern, this glue is excellent for gluing plastics. Crafter's Pick glues are common white glues that dry clear and are washable. Great for use on fabrics.
Glues and Cold Temperatures
Avoid having glues shipped to you via ground during winter months. Although adhesives generally maintain a longer shelf life if kept cool, many of them lose their effectiveness once they become frozen. This is especially true of super glues (cyanoacrylate glues).
Cyanoacrylate (super glue) bonds can be weakened, allowing disassembly, by placing a glued object in a household freezer for several hours.
Epoxy glues also become brittle in low temperatures, but most will not snap apart the way super glues do.
For the above reasons, make sure you store your finished creations somewhere that maintains temperatures above freezing.
Gluing Hints for Metal Findings
Remember Murphy's Law! Before gluing or otherwise applying any chemical to every piece of your best customer's 1,000-piece order, we strongly recommend that you test the chemical(s) on a small sample of the goods.
Whenever possible, use a file to roughen smooth surfaces. This gives a stronger grip.
Clean both surfaces to be joined. We recommend using isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab in a well-ventilated area.
Why is it important to clean the surfaces? During the manufacturing process, metal findings are coated with oil. They are degreased, but normally still have a small amount of oil left on the surface.
Follow each adhesive's directions carefully when using.
It's best if you can provide a dry, dust-free, well-ventilated environment when gluing. This helps assure a secure bond. Extreme temperatures might affect the drying time.
Store all adhesives in a cool place.
MSDS (Material Safety and Data Sheets) are available upon request for all glues that we sell.
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Nickel Silver Bolo Back, 2 Piece
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1 Reviews /
Avg Rating: 10 /10
Approximately 22x20mm nickel silver bolo backs (sets) in two pieces, sold unassembled. This style of blank bolo back is for creating bolo ties with leather and vinyl cord (thicker than rayon). To attach your bolo design, we recommend 2-part epoxy or soft solder. Nickel silver is a base-metal alloy of nickel, copper and zinc. The tab on the back can be flipped up to let the cord slide easily to desired height, and flipped back down to lock the bolo in place.
I bought these because the are solid nickel silver. A well-known other supplier, which I used previously, seems to have switched over to plated brass. I silver-soldered one onto the back of a sterling silver slide. The heat discolors the material, but the discoloration comes off easily with pickle and buffing. Although these seem to be intended for 4mm 4-strand braid, I have adapted them very successfully to 5mm 6-strand braid, by filing down the L-shaped projection of the latch slightly, and also filing down the pins of the tab slightly, then polishing the rough edges.
