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What is a safe glue to repair a Mini-Hearth?

Started By PaxxMantid , Sep 2 2024 12:35 PM

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12 replies to this topic

#1 Offline PaxxMantid - Posted September 2 2024 - 12:35 PM

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Hi all - 

 

I have an extra mini hearth, but one of the tiny magnets that hold the glass on has come off. Seems easy enough to glue it back on - but what kind of glue would be best? Typically I use cyano/crazy glue for this kind of thng when I work with mantises and fish, but not sure about this one. 

 

Any recommendations appreciated! thanks :)


#2 Offline cooIboyJ - Posted September 2 2024 - 12:38 PM

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Aquarium safe silicone would work very well but if you do not want to buy it you can use hot glue.
  • rptraut likes this

“You’ll survive” -wise man.
Currently keeping:
Brachymyrmex patagonicus

Solenopsis invicta

Crematogaster sp.

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 3 2024 - 8:43 AM

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Super glue can leave a haze around it, especially on some plastics. I recommend 100% silicone for this. 


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted September 3 2024 - 11:58 AM

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silicone or hot glue


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And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

Myrmecocystus depilis

 

#5 Offline mbullock42086 - Posted September 3 2024 - 12:22 PM

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a caution about the silicone- when it cures it releases acetic acid vapor.

  might wanna remove the ants for a bit while you do this.


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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 3 2024 - 1:39 PM

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a caution about the silicone- when it cures it releases acetic acid vapor.

might wanna remove the ants for a bit while you do this.

I have sealed gaps with silicone many times in emergencies when ants were escaping. It does no harm to the ants in my experience.
  • Ants_Dakota likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline mbullock42086 - Posted September 3 2024 - 6:51 PM

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a caution about the silicone- when it cures it releases acetic acid vapor.

might wanna remove the ants for a bit while you do this.

I have sealed gaps with silicone many times in emergencies when ants were escaping. It does no harm to the ants in my experience.

 

good to know.  i just remember working with it and it would burn my eyes like crazy lol


#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 4 2024 - 6:13 AM

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Yeah, I'm sure the ants don't like it, but I never had any deaths or adverse reactions. I guess it's the price mischievous colonies pay for staging escapes.  :lol:


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#9 Offline Mushu - Posted September 5 2024 - 5:07 PM

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It’s hot glue that is used. I’ve noticed the most recent xxl mini hearth I got there’s been some issues with the magnets staying on both on the cover and glass. I just heat up my glue gun and reglue it.
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#10 Offline Yusteponant - Posted September 11 2024 - 12:46 PM

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I would use silicone because it has a lower chance of melting I had a nest and it cracked and I fixed it with hot glue and because I live in Socal it melted.


It was 105 degrees F last week


#11 Offline Mushu - Posted September 11 2024 - 8:54 PM

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I would use silicone because it has a lower chance of melting I had a nest and it cracked and I fixed it with hot glue and because I live in Socal it melted.


It was 105 degrees F last week

 

There's higher temperature hot glues. I don't think Mack uses those as I can definitely feel it got soft during the heatwave.


#12 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted September 11 2024 - 9:04 PM

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This may or may not be on topic, but I should note I once repaired a small hole/gap in a formicarium with cotton soaked in resin - the type used for casting paperweights, jewelry, etc. by mixing the resin and hardener. Since the ants have direct access to the patch, I'm pretty sure I used a resin described as "food safe" "low VOC" and made in the US. (The resins may look the same but they are not the same - you can tell from the smell they are not the same.) The formicarium houses my Liometopum who have been fine, but it's a very small patch and Lios do not have big strong mandibles.


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, September 11 2024 - 9:13 PM.

Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#13 Offline RedFox - Posted September 12 2024 - 2:58 AM

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Ask Mack at Tar Heel Ants
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