The GOOD: multiple colors, malleable, turns into a "hard rubber" on curing (not a plastic, still slightly soft, like a basketball), gives you the chance to fix things in the "plastic" world with more than just glue and hope.
The BAD: once you open a packet, it's use it or lose it. For most applications, this is just fine -- they give you ball of the stuff about the size of half a man's thumb ... but if you are looking to use it for something small (e.g. I've seen people suggest using Sugru to refill numbering on appliance knobs that have worn clear), then you're frantically looking for other places to apply this stuff before the whole ball cures and you have to throw it away.
The VERDICT: this is nifty stuff and definitely does what it promises -- if you smush it around a wobbly plastic part, it will become a solid rubber boot to support that part. When you look to use a packet, either prepare to toss the extra, or line up all your jobs at once and do them in the 30+ minutes you have - not difficult.
HELPFUL SUGGESTION: if you're repairing something visible, get a razor blade or other flat piece of metal to help shape the putty (and maybe a spoon for curving). Otherwise, your fix will look like a blob of colored silly putty, complete with thumb prints.
I've known about Sugru for a while, but didn't have an application for it until recently. The band from my Suunto watch broke and I could either try to repair it or purchase a new Suunto strap and band set (the smaller band is not sold separately). Since Sugru was cheaper than a new Suunto strap, I tried it out.
I wrapped Sugru around the original band and gave it 24 hours to cure. It worked well, and I haven't had any problems with it since then. Even though the band is still broken, the Sugru attached to it and holds the band in place over the strap.
I would recommend Sugru for many different kinds of repairs, but it's not perfect. Here is my opinion on Sugru's strengths and weaknesses.
Pros:
* Easy to work with
* Strong and long lasting
* Lots of applications
* Comes in various colors
Cons:
* Short shelf-life. Depending on how you store it, Sugru will be usable for around 6 months sealed in its package. This makes it difficult to buy the right amount of Sugru for your application. Since repairing my watch, I searched for other things to repair. While I found a few others, I don't know if I will end up using all of it, which means it will go to waste.
* Can't save leftover Sugru. Once you open a package, you have to use all the Sugru.
* Expensive. This is especially true if you end up wasting some of the Sugru for lack of projects.
* Stiffer than you might think. Many of the suggested uses imply that you can add Sugru to handles and knobs to provide cushioning. However, cured Sugru is rather hard and has little give. That makes is good for some situations (repair a watch band), but not so great for others (cushion the inside of a scissor handle).
* Heavier than you might think. Sugru is fairly dense so it adds noticeable weight to repairs. I particularly noticed this when I used it to seal the wires of a set of earphones I fixed (re-soldered the wires).
* Not sticky or "grippy". I applied some leftover Sugru to the bottom of a USB hub thinking it would help keep the hub from slipping, but it had little effect.
So far, I've used Sugru to:
* Repair a watch band (effective use of Sugru).
* "Cushion" the inside handle of a pair of scissors (did not provide cushioning).
* Provide cushioning under a glass tabletop (worked very well)
* Seal wires of a repaired set of earphones (effective seal, but added considerable weight and stiffness)
* Keep an old iPhone USB plug from breaking any further (worked well)
* Add rubber feet to a USB hub to prevent slipping (did not provide noticeable grip)
While I am so far delighted with it- pricey though it is- other reviews have clued me into some flaws.
First, the positive: I got it mostly as an alternative to electrical tape for repairing charging cables on which my cats have shredded the coating. This has happened to several, so it was easy to use up a whole pack- this is good, since once opened, the stuff cures whether or not you've used it. It was easy to use, and has made a somewhat flexible cover replacing the shredded plastic. It was easy to use. I kneaded it a bit before applying, because it seemed a bit granular right out of the package, but smoothed up well. As you can see in the attached photo, I did not make extra efforts to make the repair look slick and pro!
So far I am very happy with it. It was FAR easier to get a good covering for the wires with it than with electrical tape. I did have enough jobs to use the whole packet, so none of it went to waste.
Potential negatives: the expiration date is Dec 2017, for the stuff I got April 2 2017. I still have 7 packages to use! One review suggest storing it in the refrigerator, and I will do that.
Also, several people have had their repairs crack and break promptly. I will edit this review if any of mine do! I suspect that they did not knead the putty before using it, which was important to get a uniform smooth texture.
So far, though, I am very happy with it! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 mostly because the shelf life is short- I got 8 months, but some people have reported 3, and there’s no way to tell until you buy it.
I first tried this product because i got so sick and tired of replacing my cord that plugs into my Mac computer. At least 4 have broken where the cord plus into the computer. I tried everything possible. I put a metal coil to make it more flexible, I put glue around it to help it be more stable. I purchased phone cord (the coiled kind) and that helped a little bit. these stupid cords cost $80 a piece or so. Decided to try this stuff. Received it about July 28th 2016. Put in on the cord for about 10 inches. This is the longest I have gone without having to replace the stupid cord. YEAH. There are no cracks or breaks in the Sugru as of yet. Thsi is now May 14, 2017 so that is quite some time in my opinion. A few weeks ago I purchased an exercise machine. On the handle of the machine there are to approx 3" balls for you to hold onto for balance. One of the rubber(sih) balls came damaged with chunks out of it. We had already put the thing together and it worked great, just had this one problem. The lime green ball could be used but since it is used for balance my right hand kept feeling uncomfortable feeling the gouges and kind of rough rubbery feel. So purchase some more Sugru and put it on the ball. First put it into the gouged area and then smoothed over the bits etc. Let it dry for 24 hours (a must and yes did that after I had put it on my computer cord too). We put the fixed ball onto the exercise machine and it is so close to perfect ! I had to take my time applying it because I needed to fill in the nicks and smooth it over quite a decent sized damaged area, about 2 inches going around the one side of the ball. The green Sugru isn't the exact color green but close enough for me! (photo attached) Perfect Fix ! Not sure why some other have had it not work for them. The biggest test so far really has been the cord on my computer because it has been on such a long time so perfectly. And I use the computer in my lap, so the cord does he bent and moved and put on and off etc. And until Apple decides to stop ripping people off and manufacture a decent cord for their laptops this is THE best solution ever. Uploading photo. You will see 2 colors of the Sugru (from the small packets needed to use 2 colors for such a long area and yes it is curved because that is the way I laid it to work better bending into the computer while in my lap). Important to take your time. Important to give it time to set.... 24 hours at least. Extremely happy !!!
This stuff is awesome! And I could totally see it being addictive. Bought it to make my own wax seal stamp for some packaging since having a custom one made in metal was soooo pricey. Just rolled it in a ball and squished it on a bottle end and carved my design in with a clay carving tool I had around the studio. Now I'm wondering what else I could do with this!
Feature Product
- Sugru Original Formula is the world's first moldable glue that sets strong by turning into silicone rubber.
- Advanced silicone technology that bonds permanently to almost anything, then sets strong by turning into a durable, tactile silicone rubber overnight.
- Ideal for all sorts of DIY projects for indoors and out: Fix, bond, seal, improve, mount and create.
- A unique combination of technical properties: waterproof, heat- and cold-resistant, durable, flexible, shock-resistant and electrically insulating (up to 24 volts).
- Bonds to: glass, ceramic, wood, metal, most plastics & more. Forms a strong bond, mount and hang things without drilling, holds up to 2kg/4.4lb
Description
Sugru Moldable Glues are a whole new way to fix and make things – now available in two formulas: ● Original Formula: Best all-rounder for DIY & Fixing, cures stronger faster. ● Family-Safe | Skin-Friendly Formula: Best for uses involving kids and prolonged skin contact.
I was on the fence about this product for a while. I thought, "Maybe I won't be using it all," and, "This is pricey." I finally bought some (during a sale), and used all of it for a weekend of fixing. I had to buy more.
— FIXING PREVENTION —
I like preventative care, so I will "fix" things before they have a chance to break. I used the Sugru to reinforce all my important electronic cables: laptop cables and adapters, iDevice cables of all types, AC power cables. One packet might be able to reinforce 2-3 cables (on both ends) depending on how much you use.
— HOW TO USE —
Wash your hands, and wipe down the parts of whatever you're fixing. Cut on the dotted line on the packaging, scrape the Sugru off, roll it in your hands and start applying it to whatever part you want. You have half an hour to use each packet. I was worried about time at first but I've been pretty good at using one packet in under 20 minutes.
I think what you get in each packet is a perfectly balanced amount—enough to use within the 30-minute time frame. I suggest lining up what you will be fixing so you aren't left to wonder, "what can I fix next?" in that 30-minute window. It's kind of funny when you open it you're wondering what you could possibly use this for and you feel it might be too much in a pack. After using it, you realize you need to open up more packs as it was not enough.
Let it sit and don't touch it for 24 hours, don't let it touch other things as it could stick to it. Give it 48 hours if the thickness is over 3mm.
*** TIP ***
If you apply Sugru on cords, use gravity to keep cure Sugru straight. Example: if you put Sugru around a bent cord end, hang that end with something slightly heavier attached to straighten it out. Once it's cured, it should be a straight(er) end.
— FIXING BROKEN THINGS —
Here are the things I used Sugru for:
• Fixed and reinforced a swimming goggle nose piece
• Added a bumper feet to a toaster that was off balance
• Reinforced my TV adapter cables with a layer to prevent future frays
• Reinforced headphone cable joints
• Glued my 10-year old teapot lid back on
• Reinforced straps on two pairs of slippers
• Reinforced Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter (because that cord is really thin)
• Added flat bumpers to my wobbly TV remote
• Reattached a piece of plastic to a kitchen appliance
• Sealed the ring of an insulated cup
• Patched up holes in several shoes
— STORING UNTIL NEEDED —
One of the first concerns is storing this for later use. Their website says you can store it in the fridge, so I store it in a Ziploc and keep it there until needed. It can last up to 13 months. (However, I used all 24 packets I had within a month; lots of preventative measures!).
— THINGS TO KNOW —
This can stain your hands, especially the black. The official instructions say you can wipe yourself clean with some toilet paper, and surprisingly it works to an extent. You can start with the toilet paper, clean off any other residue with soap and water, and then more toilet paper.
— SUMMARY —
Sugru is so versatile and easy to use. I wish I had bought it sooner and I had to reorder two more packs after two days of fixing. It has saved me money from having to rebuy broken items (saving hundreds of dollars), and it helped restore and reinforce things that couldn't be replaced! That itself is worth the price. Recommended!
I used Sugru on both bigger and smaller projects. For smaller projects, 1. the paint on my glasses arms were chipped off, and repeated contact with it caused inflammation on my skin. I covered the glasses arms with a thin layer of Sugru, and it took care of the problem. It was a lot harder than I thought to apply a very thin layer of Sugru on metal though. Smearing Sugru through a layer of plastic wrap helped. 2. I fixed a couple of cables with Sugru, which is fairly easy. The bigger project is a shower improvement. The shower in my room has only hot water, and it gets really hot in the summer. I'm a renter, and my landlord doesn't want to deal with the shower. My only option is to somehow turn the sink into shower, but still be able to use the sink when I'm not showering. The problem is I couldn't find proper adapter for shower to fit the faucet. But then with Sugru, I don't have to have the perfect size of the adapter. I used Sugru to connect a 3/4 to 1/2 adapter to the faucet. So now I can connect the shower to the faucet when I need it, and remove it when I don't need it. All in all, in my opinion, Sugru would be perfect if there's a way to store opened but unused Sugru for later.
My Macbook Pro charger wire was starting to break so I got some Sugru to mend the damage. Absolutely incredible product that saved me like $70 to get a new charger. The only downside is each package is not resealable. Luckily I also had an iPhone cable and Apple earphones to reinforce. So basically, Apple, get your s*** together and pack some Sugru with your products.
I did not believe the hype about this product until i finally bought it. I used this to fix the spokes in my dishwasher, they were rusted at the very tips and it was rubbing off on dishes. This did a fantastic job creating little damper nubs for the spokes tips. Best of all it only required 1 packet for the whole dishwasher (about 100 spokes).
It has actually been a few Months and the stuff is holding up great, a small bit broke off of one spoke but it is still covered. this product is worth it in my opinion.
The steering wheel on my car was flaking off in petrified rubber chunks. It looked like cr*p, but was still fully usable...except for the ugly chunks missing from where I typically keep my hands while driving. (No judging--the car is paid off and otherwise works fine!). I got some Sugru the same color as my steering wheel (black) and molded it into where the chunks were missing, as well as any potential chunk prone areas. Worked like a charm. It's been on there for at least a year now and has lasted during freezing temps, when the sun is beating through the windshield and the internal temp of the car is boiling point--all with remaining the same as when it was originally put on. At this rate, I'll have the Sugru my entire steering wheel...That's okay though, because it's my go-to solution.
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