salvine Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 So the other day I'm soaking the tip in a jar of Tenax to unplug it. As it soaks I'm blowing on it to clear it out when it comes to me. Why do I use the little filler when all it does is spill glue all over? Now I just suck it up right out of the bottle with the touch n flow. Usual disclaimers apply.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AVGBob Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Yum! Tenax tastes good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom ordie Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 That's the way I've always done. By the way Hobby Lobby carries Touch N Flow. If you don't have one ,get one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SoarinSukhoi Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 You stick the glass end of the Touch n Flow into the cement bottle and wait for the cement to rise into it. A clogged tip will prevent that from working. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I suck the cement into the Touch & Flow like it's a straw, halfway up. Way the heck faster than waiting for it to fill the thing up, especially when the cement is coming from a half-full bottle of Tamiya Extra Thin. The Touch & Flow is in my Top 10 modeling tools easily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
breadneck Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Just started using the touch n`flow applicator with the "samestuff" from micromark. It seems to be very practical in many situations. I don`t know if samestuff is the same as the Tenax some people are raving about. Another thing i don`t know anything about is if the touch n`flow is "patended" to go with the samestuff, or just meanth to be used with any random thin cement. Maybe i should give the Tamiya thin cement a go to! The sealing on the exterior of the touch n`flow quickly dissolved when placed in the samestuff bottle, but it seems to leave the rest of the seal intact. Kinda feels like the hypodermic needle of the touch n`flow easily gets clogged, so take care when using it! The strawsucking seemms like a good way of getting the cement in there in due time. Say, should i get that tenax stuff to? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkeye's Hobbies Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) The folks that make the TnF also make a squeeze bottle that one can fill with the solvent of their choice, you simple insert the needle on the squeeze bottle into the glass tube and give it a firm pinch...the solvent is dispensed into the TnF. The needle tipped bottle is also great for places when and where you need more solvent than the TnF can dispense. Alpha Abrasives sells this as part of a TnF starter kit. Edited January 4, 2012 by Hawkeye's Hobbies Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PlasticWeapons Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) Find a rubber bulb from an eye dropper and attach it to the end of the Touch N Flow to draw up your solvent. I found the capillary action too slow to refill the TnF and decided to use the rubber bulb. Works great! Mouth pipetting (sucking it like a straw) is dangerous, we don't do that stuff at work especially with biohazardous fluids, LOL. Edited January 4, 2012 by PlasticWeapons Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 That's why I only go halfway up the tube. I don't want to know what the stuff tastes like! You do have to make sure the tube is submerged in the cement so that you don't inadvertently suck up some air. That would cause the cement in the tube to shoot up the tube, and then you'd be tasting it for sure! Mouth pipetting (sucking it like a straw) is dangerous, we don't do that stuff at work especially with biohazardous fluids, LOL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triarius Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I use an old sample bottle of normal saline (about 2 ounces) with the dispensing tip drilled to slip fit the TnF. Plastic eyedroppers work too. Never leave the solvent cement in the TnF when not in use. Empty it at the end of each modeling session or the solvents will dissolve the hypodermic needle cement used to hold the needle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chukw Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I have this old technical pen cleaner- it fits the TNF and sucks up the fluid with no risk of ingestion or spillage. My link Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbrundt Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I use a pipette with a very small end and stick it in the glass end. I squeeze the bulb of the pipette while the needle is in the solvent. This clears the metal tube and then I release the bulb and draw the solvent up the glass tube. As it nears the top I remove the pipette. I never leave solvent in the touch 'n flo. When I'm done and there's solvent left in it I use the pipette to blow the remainder back into the bottle and also help clear the metal tube of the touch 'n flo. easy peasy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
singeri Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 The folks that make the TnF also make a squeeze bottle that one can fill with the solvent of their choice, you simple insert the needle on the squeeze bottle into the glass tube and give it a firm pinch...the solvent is dispensed into the TnF. The needle tipped bottle is also great for places when and where you need more solvent than the TnF can dispense. Alpha Abrasives sells this as part of a TnF starter kit. I use the squeeze bottle for CA accelerator. Great way to control flooding the area you are gluing with CA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom G Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I would like to ask how to clear a clog in the TnF? I don't have anything thin enough to insert into the needle. Thanks, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) I fill mine with a hypodermic needle. I have an endless supply from a neighbor. They are the small used by diabetics. I have, on occasion, simply used the needle. Added: I haven't seen this on any of the posts, but don't try and use CA (super glue) in your Touch -N-Flow. The directions say use for thin cements and "CA Activators." I believe CA Activators are CA accelerators, such as Zip Kicker. Edited January 5, 2012 by balls47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
salvine Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 I would like to ask how to clear a clog in the TnF? I don't have anything thin enough to insert into the needle. Thanks, Tom Usually if you let it sit in the bottle of glue for a few minutes it will melt the clog and then you can blow it out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom G Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Usually if you let it sit in the bottle of glue for a few minutes it will melt the clog and then you can blow it out. Thanks, that did the trick! Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mkimages Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 The Touch-n-Flow squeeze bottle works perfectly to suck the solvent into the applicator. Just squeeze the bottle, stick the metal tube into the rear of the applicator so the plastic on the bottle seals against the end and un-squeeze the bottle; voilá. No idea why this isn't the recommended way to do it as it works much better. Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam Baker Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 This is exactly the same method I use for my TnF and I absolutely love it. I used to suck the glue up into the TnF, but after a couple of real close calls, I decided it just wasnt worth doing it that way. I use a pipette with a very small end and stick it in the glass end. I squeeze the bulb of the pipette while the needle is in the solvent. This clears the metal tube and then I release the bulb and draw the solvent up the glass tube. As it nears the top I remove the pipette. I never leave solvent in the touch 'n flo. When I'm done and there's solvent left in it I use the pipette to blow the remainder back into the bottle and also help clear the metal tube of the touch 'n flo. easy peasy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
happy1 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I've unclogged mine using a Micro fine piece of copper wire. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SoarinSukhoi Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Mine always clogged as well. These days I only use the brush from Tamiya's Extra Thin Cement cap and microbrushes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 The folks that make the TnF also make a squeeze bottle that one can fill with the solvent of their choice, you simple insert the needle on the squeeze bottle into the glass tube and give it a firm pinch...the solvent is dispensed into the TnF. The needle tipped bottle is also great for places when and where you need more solvent than the TnF can dispense. Alpha Abrasives sells this as part of a TnF starter kit. I was at Hobby Lobby and they had this kit. They also have just the TnF tubes. Picked one up since I didn't have one. Can't wait to use it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) Ok, I have the fill kit and I have to say it is not working for me. If I try to use the squeeze bottle, much ends up getting spilled on my workbench, despite being super careful and trying different fill angles. When I do get it filled, it gives me a constant drip when turned down, even though I have my thumb over the end. I need more control than that. I have tried Tenax, Tamiya extra thin, and the liquid cement the sell with the kit in it. The best bottle/applicator I have seen so far for this style of glue is the Tamiya extra thin bottle and brush. Edited January 10, 2012 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triarius Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Ok, I have the fill kit and I have to say it is not working for me. If I try to use the squeeze bottle, much ends up getting spilled on my workbench, despite being super careful and trying different fill angles. When I do get it filled, it gives me a constant drip when turned down, even though I have my thumb over the end. I need more control than that. I have tried Tenax, Tamiya extra thin, and the liquid cement the sell with the kit in it. The best bottle/applicator I have seen so far for this style of glue is the Tamiya extra thin bottle and brush. The rate of flow of a touch n' flow is determined by the angle at which you hold it. Hold it horizontally, and it should not release any solvent. Increasing the angle results in an increased flow. Hold horizontal, touch seam, return to horizontal. The tip of a TnF is a capillary tube. It will fill slowly regardless of method used. Trying to force liquid into it too fast will just create a mess. I suspect you are trying to fill it too fast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 The rate of flow of a touch n' flow is determined by the angle at which you hold it. Hold it horizontally, and it should not release any solvent. Increasing the angle results in an increased flow. Hold horizontal, touch seam, return to horizontal. The tip of a TnF is a capillary tube. It will fill slowly regardless of method used. Trying to force liquid into it too fast will just create a mess. I suspect you are trying to fill it too fast. Well, I will give it another go and see. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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