Question Sealing: Epoxy Vs. Hot Glue

[bascocarmelo]

Heya fam. Should have started a worklog instead but this should go. I am done with wiring the integrated controller and im very happy with it!  Soldering is sloppy but it got the work done. Looking now to seal the solder points but thinking if epoxy is better than hot glue. Never used it before. But ive stumbled upon a thread 'never to trust hot glue' and epoxy was better. The epoxy pic should be below. Really cheap. Is that good? After mixing, should i just apply it on pins and let it harden after? Or would the same result apply with hot glue nonetheless? I have both. Again. Much thanks to everyone.

Especially for the people who pointed me out last time on the controller wiring.

 

[Madmorda]

Hey Basco!

I use epoxy to hold the wires down. Typically, you mix both parts equally and then apply, but if the instructions say differently then listen to them. Hot glue is too flexible and bulky for this job. That said, there are a couple things I'd like to mention.

1) It looks like the wires on the abxy part are under the silicon pad. Or at least one of them is. This could cause the pad to not sit right once you put the epoxy on because it makes a hard bump. If that's the ground wire, you might consider moving it.

2) Make sure every single thing works immediately before epoxying it. You don't want epoxy dried on top of something you need to solder to.

3) Those look like Nintendo gc controller wires. Third party ones are straighter and smaller and easier to deal with.

4) I haven't ever used that epoxy. It looks like it might be for steel / metal. I don't know what's in that epoxy you showed, but if it has actual metal like some do then it's conductive and you don't want to use it. I also can't tell you if that will stick. I would recommend getting clear epoxy for plastic. A little goes a long way (seriously, don't go crazy) and you'll probably end up using the rest on your case.

 

[ShockSlayer]

Hot glue like this. Move those wires at the bottom over as well. This will allow you to test everything, and also see if your solder joints hold up under stress. If they don't, you can fix them without having to remove any glue. Once you're 100% happy with your solder joints, wire placement, and have verified everything's working properly, then epoxy it however you like.

I learned this technique from daftmike a long time ago, although sometimes I forget to put it into practice:

Image is basically self explanatory I think. Easily some of the best IDE wiring I've ever seen(and he used both types!)

 

[Stitches]

Hot glue like this. Move those wires at the bottom over as well. This will allow you to test everything, and also see if your solder joints hold up under stress. If they don't, you can fix them without having to remove any glue. Once you're 100% happy with your solder joints, wire placement, and have verified everything's working properly, then epoxy it however you like.

I learned this technique from daftmike a long time ago, although sometimes I forget to put it into practice:

Image is basically self explanatory I think. Easily some of the best IDE wiring I've ever seen(and he used both types!)

That there is almost porn

 

[bascocarmelo]

Hey Basco!

I use epoxy to hold the wires down. Typically, you mix both parts equally and then apply, but if the instructions say differently then listen to them. Hot glue is too flexible and bulky for this job. That said, there are a couple things I'd like to mention.

1) It looks like the wires on the abxy part are under the silicon pad. Or at least one of them is. This could cause the pad to not sit right once you put the epoxy on because it makes a hard bump. If that's the ground wire, you might consider moving it.

2) Make sure every single thing works immediately before epoxying it. You don't want epoxy dried on top of something you need to solder to.

3) Those look like Nintendo gc controller wires. Third party ones are straighter and smaller and easier to deal with.

4) I haven't ever used that epoxy. It looks like it might be for steel / metal. I don't know what's in that epoxy you showed, but if it has actual metal like some do then it's conductive and you don't want to use it. I also can't tell you if that will stick. I would recommend getting clear epoxy for plastic. A little goes a long way (seriously, don't go crazy) and you'll probably end up using the rest on your case.

Haha.

Hey Basco!

I use epoxy to hold the wires down. Typically, you mix both parts equally and then apply, but if the instructions say differently then listen to them. Hot glue is too flexible and bulky for this job. That said, there are a couple things I'd like to mention.

1) It looks like the wires on the abxy part are under the silicon pad. Or at least one of them is. This could cause the pad to not sit right once you put the epoxy on because it makes a hard bump. If that's the ground wire, you might consider moving it.

2) Make sure every single thing works immediately before epoxying it. You don't want epoxy dried on top of something you need to solder to.

3) Those look like Nintendo gc controller wires. Third party ones are straighter and smaller and easier to deal with.

4) I haven't ever used that epoxy. It looks like it might be for steel / metal. I don't know what's in that epoxy you showed, but if it has actual metal like some do then it's conductive and you don't want to use it. I also can't tell you if that will stick. I would recommend getting clear epoxy for plastic. A little goes a long way (seriously, don't go crazy) and you'll probably end up using the rest on your case.

Hey man, just want to say the internals youve sent me from your gcp was a huge help. So after a loooooong work week, finally got into it. Did notice the pads were bumping to the solder which wouldnt let the gc controller case close. So i just trimmed the silicon pads to the solder points shapes accordingly. Used hot glue instead and you confirmed my suspicion this epoxy was for metal and would have led me to just messing up the controller work. I've beem waiting for a fusion. May get mine in a week and out goes the motherboard. Until then, my imagination of a finished portable got to me and i made a franken cased integrated controller and monitor combo so i can use the damn thing. Sloppy sloppy work with the hot glue.

Hot glue like this. Move those wires at the bottom over as well. This will allow you to test everything, and also see if your solder joints hold up under stress. If they don't, you can fix them without having to remove any glue. Once you're 100% happy with your solder joints, wire placement, and have verified everything's working properly, then epoxy it however you like.

I learned this technique from daftmike a long time ago, although sometimes I forget to put it into practice:

Image is basically self explanatory I think. Easily some of the best IDE wiring I've ever seen(and he used both types!)

Followed the pic man! Thank you. Not as insanely neat as daftmikes, actually its very sloppy since it was hard to uncoil the controller wires and it took a lot to hold them onto place. I remember those ultra clean setups while browsing MR forums, hella dope. I'd say thats obsessively compulsive even haha. Wished radioshack had a branch here in the Philippines, chips and electronic wires are pretty uncommon.

Meanwhile. Imma put the rest of my rest day by playing for a change with this long beast.



Much thanks again!