JB Weld to attach a handle to my marble mold?

[1flewover]

Recently bought my first marble mold, and after receiving it I felt the urge to attach a handle for finishing marbles, and saw videos of people using a handle on their molds for this very purpose.

I wanted to get some opinions on how to attach a handle, as of now I have a wooden handle JB welded to the back and I am letting the adhesive set. If anyone has a better way, or think for some reason JB weld wouldn't work let me know! Thanks MP!!

[dustyg]

Graphite is a lubricant and likely won't bond well, so to make the handle stay I'd recommend drilling a hole for the handle and giving it some texture (threads?) on the inside.

[kbinkster]

I see handles attached to graphite molds with worm clamps. I think that's how both of mine (made by different manufacturers) are.

[1flewover]

Yeah I think I will drill through and put a couple screws in and counter sink em real deep. Is there a risk of cracking the graphite when drilling? This material still sketches me out :stubborn:

[Keshav]

Don't fear graphite, its like the dirty cousin of diamonds, same chemical formula only a different allotrope!

[gn0me]

Drilling graphite is really easy - just make sure to tap it separately rather than trying self tapping screws, since it's really rigid and there's not anywhere for extra material to go.

JB weld works great on things that don't get hotter than 500F - sometimes a marble mold can get pretty warm, though, so a lot of the time the easiest way to put a handle on something is to drill and tap a hole for 1/4" all-thread, covered with some brake line and a nut at the end.

[1flewover]

Since the marble mold is so small I don't think the temperatures will exceed 500 degrees 47086, what do you mean by all-thread and brake line?

[windupdevl]

http://www.acestainless.com/all-thread-rod/18-8-stainless/1-4-20/all-thread-rod-025020-144 but you don't need stainless, or 12'....just an example of all thread...and I think he means fuel hose, not brake line.....so the black rubber stuff....

where in California are you?

[1flewover]

Ohh ok so stick some of the hoseing over the screw then stick it through and screw a nut in to hold it tight. That sounds perfect, thanks for all the help everybody!

[ITIS]

Note: Graphite is electrically conductive, the dust can get everywhere I would drill outside or use a vacuum to collect the dust. If the dust gets into the motor of your drill it could possibly ruin it.

Side note: If you are only drilling this one piece, you are probably not in any great risk of ruining anything. Just thought I would mention it, in case you go into the business of graphite machining.

Additional note: To potentially improve your mold further, reduce wrinkles in your glass, and make each hole slightly more useful, take some sand paper and sand the lip of each hole, so that the lips are all slightly beveled. It really makes a world of difference. Plus you will then be able use any given hole to shape slightly larger pieces than are intended for that particular size hole (you will be using just the lip of the mold and not filling the entire mold with the glass). 'this is only my personal opinion it is what I do and I enjoy the results, take this advice at your own risk'

Cheers
-Austin

[1flewover]

damn good response. Thank you. I like the idea of sanding the edges.

[LarryC]

Note: Graphite is electrically conductive, the dust can get everywhere I would drill outside or use a vacuum to collect the dust. If the dust gets into the motor of your drill it could possibly ruin it.

Side note: If you are only drilling this one piece, you are probably not in any great risk of ruining anything. Just thought I would mention it, in case you go into the business of graphite machining.

Additional note: To potentially improve your mold further, reduce wrinkles in your glass, and make each hole slightly more useful, take some sand paper and sand the lip of each hole, so that the lips are all slightly beveled. It really makes a world of difference. Plus you will then be able use any given hole to shape slightly larger pieces than are intended for that particular size hole (you will be using just the lip of the mold and not filling the entire mold with the glass). 'this is only my personal opinion it is what I do and I enjoy the results, take this advice at your own risk'

Cheers
-Austin

Sounds like a good suggestion.

[1flewover]

..

[1flewover]

Used jb weld to attach a wooden handle that little mold, worked fine. Thank you for the suggestions though!