19 replies to this topic

[Bullshit Dragon]

Okay, so I ran into kind of an annoying issue with my stefan crafting today. I was using FA24's method, and even though my gun is a low-temp one, I noticed that my FBR was melting at an alarming rate. I was forced to do my darts in stages, slowing production down. What do you guys recommend. I was going to do Slug's method, but I couldn't get the necessary items (felt dots and washers) at a reasonable enough price to make it cost effective.

Do you guys have this problem at all? If so, what do you do to counter act it?

[Magic]

Well, i've faced this problem many times. I found a solution. Before getting your hot glue on the FBR, get a bowl of cold water. Right after you get a good dome of hot glue, dip it in the water for 5 to 10 seconds which should keep the dome perfect, let it sit there and make your next stefan.

[NerfMonkey]

Well, i've faced this problem many times. I found a solution. Before getting your hot glue on the FBR, get a bowl of cold water. Right after you get a good dome of hot glue, dip it in the water for 5 to 10 seconds which should keep the dome perfect, let it sit there and make your next stefan.

The water trick's decent but if you hold the dart upside down to dip it in the water (and I can't see any way to get around that), the weight can shift forward under the dome of glue and throw off the accuracy and range. I haven't done it in a long time but you'll start to notice that it affects the darts if you use a powerful gun, but if you're just using pistols or restrictor modded guns you should be fine. The best way though is to just get used to how much glue to put on the darts and how big of a hole to make. I rarely make darts anymore but when I do I can make about one a minute and they're all extremely consistent because I'm used to my glue gun (hi-temp).

[Magic]

Yes, that may be true, but you can also use a small mist/spray bottle with light mist feature and give it a few sprays.

[Kid Flash]

Or try my method and lick your finger and press on the tip. It gets kinda hot but not too bad...

[Bullshit Dragon]

Or try my method and lick your finger and press on the tip. It gets kinda hot but not too bad...

I don't feel hot well in my finger tips because of all the metal working I do, so I don't feel it unless it's a few hundred deg (like 300F+.) I also have the problem of my hot glue not cooling as fast as I'd like. I'm using 3/0 LEAD split-shot for weight if that matters.

[Kid Flash]

Or try my method and lick your finger and press on the tip. It gets kinda hot but not too bad...

I don't feel hot well in my finger tips because of all the metal working I do, so I don't feel it unless it's a few hundred deg (like 300F+.) I also have the problem of my hot glue not cooling as fast as I'd like. I'm using 3/0 LEAD split-shot for weight if that matters.

That shouldn't matter but I use a high temp glue gun and have no problems with my way. If I believe its too hot i toss it in a bowl of water or the bathroom sink.

[nerfnerd88]

Kid Flash Posted Today, 06:50 PM
Or try my method and lick your finger and press on the tip. It gets kinda hot but not too bad...

Or even easier, I just stick the whole tip in my mouth. It cools off in half a second. And you barely feel anything.

[Bullshit Dragon]

Kid Flash Posted Today, 06:50 PM
Or try my method and lick your finger and press on the tip. It gets kinda hot but not too bad...

Or even easier, I just stick the whole tip in my mouth. It cools off in half a second. And you barely feel anything.

I'm using LEAD weights though... not a smart thing to put in your mouth....

[Split]

Licking your finger for 500 stefans is going to get dehydrating .. How about we combine a few of these ideas and dip your finger in the water.. Duh.

[Bomberman]

You know, licking your finger and cooling the dart, after a few times, you are ingesting hot glue. You would'nt think of it that way, but every time you swallow, the chemicals ar absorbed into your body, and chemicals (not sure which) in hot glue, can cause cancer. (it says on the package). You could also take an ince cube, and stick it on the tip. Works great. And the reason that your foam is melting so much, is because it is most likely crappy foam, that is low-density, and it melts through the cells quickly. There is nothing in between the cells, so low density foam melts faster. FA24's foam is great, high-density foam. I can't seem to find anything but crappy frost king though..

[Blacksunshine]

Ok. Let me break down my method.
i have two dart holding strips of 30 and make 60 darts at a time. Well 63 just incase any come out crappy.

I also have 2 glue guns... (well I have about 6 total if you include my 2 cordless ones and some broken ones)
But handy while "smithing" I have two. One of that I use to burn my holes making sure to wipe melted fbr off as I go.
After making the holes I unplug the first gun. And then plug in the 2nd gun that I actually use for the glue.
While that gun is warming up I drop my weights. by the time i have dropped all 60 weights the gun is ready to start filling. Since this gun hasen't been on since the start it hasen't heated the glue up to the point where it melts too deep into the fbr.
I fill the tips in a circular motion so that the glue spreads evenly and about half way thru I dip the tip into the puddle of glue to make sure that it gets a good stick to the insides and around the weight then finish the dome. Since my holders hold the darts facing up gravity does the rest of the work. So long as you pour the glue evenly and finish out in the center the glue will naturally make a dome.

So long as you don't let the glue gun heat up too much before doing the tops it shouldn't be so hot as to melt the FBR.
Also I HIGHLY reccomend using only mini glue guns. Larger ones are generally 20W+ and heat up way too fast and use up way more glue.
Most of the cheapo minis you will find are only 10W.

Originally I used to dip the tips in ice cold water. But found that to be a pointless step once I figured out this method. With it and focused attention I will pump out a couple hundered darts a night.

Edited by Blacksunshine, 05 June 2008 - 04:53 AM.

[zxnam]

My Method:
1. Take Foam and burn a deep hole and then fill all the way with hot glue so it spills out the top
2. Have a premade ice cup out and ready.
3. Spin the dart in the ice until the dome is solid and perfectly made.

And now you have a dart that is perfect for indoor wars in my opinion. It it also great for secondary's outside. The first darts wont turn out till a dome shape hole is melted in the the ice, so i use a hot glue gun for that.

[Galaxy613]

I've never had problems with my hot glue burning through my darts... so I just use the standard method of burning a hole, dropping a BB in, and making a dome. SOMETIMES I lick my finger to pat the dome, but only in cases that need it.

Edited by Galaxy613, 05 June 2008 - 02:22 PM.

[laxtk88]

You would'nt think of it that way, but every time you swallow,

Must… resist... urge... to... quote.

[Bomberman]

You would'nt think of it that way, but every time you swallow,

Must… resist... urge... to... quote.

Go ahead, sig it. I don't give a crap.

[ultra920]

I've found the freezer works. Makes the glue look pretty cool too, so you can identify your darts easier.

[doubleshot]

Just order the parts from McMaster and make CaptainSlug's darts, McMaster foam fits perfectly in 17/32nds brass and it really isn't that expensive.

[Zudikas]

Well since your already using a low temp, theres no problem with the gun. Is it the foam? Are you using the brand "Frost King"? There's been talk about how that is a bad brand.

[laxtk88]

Ignore.