Warped ABS spacebar fix?

[Honq]

Messed up ABS spacebar on my QFR.



The warping that causes the lift on the right end is actually forcing the costar stab inserts to pop out when I push on one end of the bar.

I have seen other people use weights and hair dryers on their PBT spacebar but I am afraid that would get too hot for ABS?

Any suggestions?

[ideus]

Using warm water to get it just hot enough to be bended back to its original straightness is more controllable than blowing hot air. Mine took water between 100 - 120 F for 10 minutes to be bended back to straight. I did it just by hand and the results was just OK.

[Honq]

Wow, would have never thought about hot water.

Thanks!

[ideus]

Just be careful with the temperature, or your space bar will end up totally twisted. Use a thermometer just to be sure the water is not too hot.

[Honq]

hmm, I do not have a thermometer readily available to me.

That may be an issue...
I might just do increments of temperature starting from a bit hot to the touch and see how that works out.

[ideus]

hmm, I do not have a thermometer readily available to me.

That may be an issue...
I might just do increments of temperature starting from a bit hot to the touch and see how that works out.

That would be ok, the bar should be get warm being like 10 minutes inside the water up to the point it feels warm in your hands but not really hot. That makes the all process very gradual and prevents the bar to bend. The reason for the original twist is the internal stress, that same stress may bend the bar again when it reaches high temperatures. ABS is a thermoplastic, meaning it will melt around 220 F. Half of that is pretty safe but the lower temperature would be always better, just to get it hotter enough to be malleable.

[tricheboars]

hair dryer. just dont go all crazy. i have used a hair dryer twice with great results.

[lolkey]

put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool

[ideus]

put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool

Problem with this is that heat for 30 seconds may depends on oven power.

[lolkey]

put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool

Problem with this is that heat for 30 seconds may depends on oven power.

100 power and let 'er rip

[ideus]

There you are. That is my point. Water temperature could be easily controlled. Why mess with other heat sources that are hard to control.

[vestigev2]

I think hair dryer is the easiest way...use flat surfaced weights/heavy objects to flatten the space bar out!

[ianxblog]

Hot water idea should work great.
Hair dryer may f**k everything up as it will maybe get to high and bend by the air.
I wouldn't trust a microwave.

[1pq]

lmao I can just imagine a thread popping up entitled "HELP I NUKED MY SPACEBAR"

[ideus]

Haha. After that just an injection molding machine may get it right.