Rubber Based Cement

[breambuster 0]

I've been watching some old episodes of "Fly Tying: The Angler's Art" and Dave Engerbretson and LeRoy Hyatt swear by their "Rubber Based Cement," which is Shoe Goo dissolved in Toluene or Laquer Thinner. The only problem is that I have bought Shoe Goo and Laquer Thinner that has Toluene as one of the ingredients, and it doesn't dissolve the Shoe Goo. It just sinks to the bottom of the jar and sits there in a lump. I've tried stirring, shaking, adding more Laquer Thinner and nothing works. Has anyone had any success with this stuff?

 

Which leads me to another question which is about Flexament. Is Dave's Flexament the same thing has LeRoy Hyatt's "Rubber Based Cement?" Or at least a close substitute? If it is, then why bother with trying to dissolve Shoe Goo in Laquer Thinner?

 

Thanks for your replies,

 

BB

[whatfly 0]

Shoe Goo will dissolve in Toluene, but not Lacquer thinner. If you were mixing the two solvents, try just using straight Toluene. Undoubtedly the 'rubber based cement' alluded to was Flexament. Many like the features of Flexament, but not the price, so they just mix their own.

[breambuster 0]

Where can you buy toluene?

[SilverCreek 0]

What you need is Toluene or Toluol (same mateiral with different spellings) which is a paint thinner sold in hardware stores. It is a has medium volatility, so it evaproates slower than acetone or laquer thinner. Shoe Goo dissolved in toluene is a perfect substiture for Dave's Flexement.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene

 

You can't just shake it and expect it to mix. Get a small jar with a screw on cap like those small jars of preserves in fancy restuarants. Fill it 1/3 with toluene and squeeze some Shoe Goo into it and use a popsicle stick to mix it up. Mash the Goo against the side of the jar and scrape it off so you get more surface area to dissolve the Goo into the toluene. Once you get all the Goo disolved you can add more Goo or toluene to get the viscosity you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Derington 0]

So what they say is true, just be careful with toluene, it is easily absorbed through your skin and in large dosage it will eventually end up in your bone marrow, That ain't good

[Stevester 0]

AFAIK Flexament used MEK (Methyl-ethyl-ketone) as the solvent. It would probably be a good solvent for Shoe Goo also. HOWEVER; only play with this stuff in an open environment and use gloves. I have worked with a lot of nasty stuff over the years and while MEK is not on the level of radiation or organophosphates for danger, for a consumer product it is on the edge of my safety comfort zone. Playing around with hazardous materials in a lab is one thing, doing it in your basement or garage is another.

 

Steve

[ditz2 0]

MEK, acetone, toluene and several other solvents are all quite flammable and most are quite harmful over long time exposure. Handle very carefully in open areas. The fumes are heavier than air and will layer at floor level and even static spark will ignite them quite spectacularly and you don't want to be around when it happens. 10 ml of acetone evaporated in a test tube and exposed to a burning splint will explode louder than any M80 you have ever heard. BE CAREFUL

 

 

NEVER....NEVER.....NEVER.....START A FIRE WITH GASOLINE

[artimus001 0]

i could be wrong,,, but i don't think that toluene or MEK can be just picked up off the shelf by the average guy. MEK i know for sure is a precursor chemical controlled/monitored by law enforcement.

[SilverCreek 0]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-32-oz-Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone-MEK-Solvent-QME71/100210976

 

http://www.lowes.com/pd_622034-78-GJME180_1z0yydm__?productId=50298051&pl=1

 

https://www.bestmaterials.com/detail.aspx?ID=19720

[artimus001 0]

i stand corrected

[breambuster 0]

After reading all the warnings, it looks like toluene and MFK are both pretty dangerous substances. I think I will just continue to buy Flexament and be done with it. I don't use enough of it to be cost prohibitive anyway. If fact, a bottle of Flexament usually dries up before I use it up anyway. Does anyone have a suggestion for keeping it from drying up so quickly?

 

BB

[SilverCreek 0]

After reading all the warnings, it looks like toluene and MFK are both pretty dangerous substances. I think I will just continue to buy Flexament and be done with it. I don't use enough of it to be cost prohibitive anyway. If fact, a bottle of Flexament usually dries up before I use it up anyway. Does anyone have a suggestion for keeping it from drying up so quickly?

 

BB

 

Yes, as it thickens, put in some toluene and mix. No danger if you do it in a well ventilated space like a garage or outdoors.

 

Consider that the reason it dries up is that the carrier liquid is varporzing as you are tying.

 

Ever spill gasoline on yourself....?

 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=465&tid=83

[artimus001 0]

what is the consistence of Flexament? is it thinner than Elmers rubber cement?

[breambuster 0]

Yes, Thinner. Right out of the bottle, it's the consistency of head cement. But it dries to a flexible, rubbery state rather than hard, like head cement or "Hard As Nails," which is what I use for head cement. LeRoy Hyatt uses his "rubber cement" to coat the butt ends of hair wings, etc. Butt ends of hair get the rubber cement and the heads of his flies always get head cement. He says that the rubber cement "locks in" hair.

 

BB

[troutguy 0]

I have always heard to use Elmer's. I have Flexament too.