Camera Talk

Need some help again here. Got this rather nice Olympus Camedia 8080 Wide Zoom from the auction site. It is in great condition and works fine, but the rubber covering started to come loose at the grip side. I peeled it off entirely and cleaned off the glue traces, figuring I could easily glue it back somehow. Not so!
I tried double sided tape (the transparent kind used for sticking prints in the album - it only leaves a layer of glue) which didn't adhere well to the rubber. Then I tried Weldbond : that stuff does not dry under the rubber cover. Next I tried two-part expoxy : dries more or less, but creates a thin film with no bonding power.
I'm out of ideas here. Perhaps strong double sided tape - the white stuff used for full carpet?
What do you guys use ?

Sounds like Pliobond might do the trick.

Thanks Scott. Why did I forget about that one...?

If all else fails, good old Contact Cement should do it.

Most glues instruct you to apply a layer to the part being installed, and the surface it will go on, then let them sit a little while until the glue is tacky, then install the part.

PF

I think the issue in this particular case is that the body is (painted) metal and the grip part is rubber : the glue does not dry easily because both surfaces are smooth and there is also no way air can get to it. I have ordered a tube of Pliobond from Micro-Tools Europe in Germany. Evilbay sellers in the US are asking USD45.00 for shipping!

One thing that you can do is to "rough" up both sides with sandpaper. That includes the rubber grip. That way, the glue that you use (whatever brand) will have something to grip.

I use carpet tape.

Thanks for all the tips.

Graham, I figured I'd try the carpet tape first before ordering a tube of Pliobond. I picked up a roll of broad white carpet tape a long time ago and finally found a use for it. I was wondering if carpet tape would work, and I was glad to hear that it had worked for you. I covered the whole naked metal area with a few different pieces of tape and managed to stretch one of them so that it nicely fits over the pre-formed hump for the fingers. The rubber grip material adhered well but one side lifted up after a while. I pressed it down firmly again and it seems to hold well now. If by tomorrow the rubber grip is still in place it will be a nicely done job, even if I say so myself