fire is dangerous. kids get an adult to do this. work over a smooth flat surface.
tools i used and some plastic sprues
beading tool and metal block to push out old pins
cheap lighter
small phillips screwdriver
x-acto
cheap side cutters
these other tools shown i don't usually need, but this time were helpful
parallel pliers
small rawhide mallet
plastic block
i still boil and push out pins to disassemble. i use a beading tool (not like stringing beads, but pushing metal beads). it has a hollowed end like a hollow point bullet that grabs and pushes pins out smooth. the steel block has holes to let the tool/pin push through.
when making rivets the hardest part is not melting it too much since every plastic melts different. practice with different kinds of plastic will give you an idea of how each will melt.
#1 pick a smooth round (rod shape) of the size and color pin you want. i've done black, white, and gray i think. nice to match color close so no need to paint.
#2 i run a small philips head screw driver (the size of the rod or just smaller) through both pieces (twisting like a drill). this opens them up without drilling and risking damage. if it is tight that's ok because friction will hold the pieces better.
and togeteher
#3 melt 1 end of the rod into a rivet by holding it to a lighter. practice on the same type plastic and gets to be pretty easy. i leave some melted with a rounded top, and some i use my lighter (metal part) to press it flat. you have to move quick to flatten it so the lighter is already right in your hand.
push it into the outer piece to see how it looks
* here is where this time got hard. it was really difficult to push the pin through the whole assembly. i should of got up and found a larger phillips head to ream them out larger. instead i grabbed a hammer and the parallel pliers.
