• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Headphone tape repair

Brianc

Active Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
137
Likes
125
Hi all, I bought some well-used Senns on the cheap that have some cracking on the headband. Can anyone recommend a specific tape for a temporary maybe permanent fix? I was thinking Gorilla Glue brand tape but maybe someone has more experience with this sort of repair. Thanks.
s-l1600.jpg
 

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
21,814
Likes
22,077
Location
Canada
Methylene chloride works great on many kinds of plastic for "welding" the pieces together and this appears to be a situation that if the plastic on your headphones is melted by the methylene chloride you can maybe plastic weld the pieces together. There may be a slight hazing/discoloration on the plastic parts after the welding process dries out(24-48 hours). The pieces must be stationary and not moved while welding it together and drying. If it is moved you will damage the joints and might not be able to compensate for the damage and the welding process will not be successful. It is important that the welding process is done in one try because if you try to weld it several times it makes a mess and sometimes the plastic becomes brittle at the joint if too much methylene chloride is applied over several days.

To use methylene chloride you use a very small pipette or a small phillips screwdriver to pickup a very small drop of methylene chloride and place the tip of the screwdriver over the cracks and the capillary action will suck up the methylene chloride from the tip of the screwdriver or pipette. Don't bother using the alternative method of little squirt bottle with the small metal pipe for application because it will not be effective in your case. It is difficult to control the quantity and makes a mess using the small bottle with it's little metal pipe. In your case just use the screwdriver method to apply the methylene chloride.

Before using methylene chloride one should always test it on a small section of the plastic in a spot you won't see after it dries. If the methylene chloride melts the plastic then you have the kind of plastic on hand that can be welded together with methylene chloride.

It is available in small quantities. You will only need maybe at most 5-10 tiny drops of the methylene chloride to get the meting process in action and join the plastic breakage together. It can be found at industrial plastics shops.

Methylene chloride is very thin like vodka. Thinner than water and so it requires a steady hand to apply or it will fall off the tip of the screwdriver or pipette.

Like I said earlier test the methylene chloride on a hidden section of the plastic. Let it sit for 2 days to thoroughly dry and then see the result.

Don't apply too much. Like I said just a few drops works best if the break/joint is very close together it works very well. If the break/joint is too far apart the methylene chloride will not stay in the joint and will simply fall out. So make sure the joint to be welded is tight and as close together as possible. It takes a minute to a couple of minutes for the methylene chloride to melt the plastic so be patient.

Use it in ventilated conditions because I think it might be bad for you. Keep the lid on tight or it will evaporate right out of a loose lid. It evaporates fast if on the surface but when it gets in the plastic like I said it needs a couple of days to dry properly.

Be sure to test it first before attempting the full weld of the break/joint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloromethane
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=methylene+chloride

It's also used to make decaffeinated coffee.
 
Last edited:

AdamG

Enjoy the Music your way…
Moderator
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 3, 2021
Messages
4,795
Likes
15,906
Location
Reality
OP
Brianc

Brianc

Active Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
137
Likes
125
Methylene chloride works great on many kinds of plastic for "welding" the pieces together and this appears to be a situation that if the plastic on your headphones is melted by the methylene chloride you can maybe plastic weld the pieces together. There may be a slight hazing/discoloration on the plastic parts after the welding process dries out(24-48 hours). The pieces must be stationary and not moved while welding it together and drying. If it is moved you will damage the joints and might not be able to compensate for the damage and the welding process will not be successful. It is important that the welding process is done in one try because if you try to weld it several times it makes a mess and sometimes the plastic becomes brittle at the joint if too much methylene chloride is applied over several days.

To use methylene chloride you use a very small pipette or a small phillips screwdriver to pickup a very small drop of methylene chloride and place the tip of the screwdriver over the cracks and the capillary action will suck up the methylene chloride from the tip of the screwdriver or pipette. Don't bother using the alternative method of little squirt bottle with the small metal pipe for application because it will not be effective in your case. It is difficult to control the quantity and makes a mess using the small bottle with it's little metal pipe. In your case just use the screwdriver method to apply the methylene chloride.

Before using methylene chloride one should always test it on a small section of the plastic in a spot you won't see after it dries. If the methylene chloride melts the plastic then you have the kind of plastic on hand that can be welded together with methylene chloride.

It is available in small quantities. You will only need maybe at most 5-10 tiny drops of the methylene chloride to get the meting process in action and join the plastic breakage together. It can be found at industrial plastics shops.

Methylene chloride is very thin like vodka. Thinner than water and so it requires a steady hand to apply or it will fall off the tip of the screwdriver or pipette.

Like I said earlier test the methylene chloride on a hidden section of the plastic. Let it sit for 2 days to thoroughly dry and then see the result.

Don't apply too much. Like I said just a few drops works best if the break/joint is very close together it works very well. If the break/joint is too far apart the methylene chloride will not stay in the joint and will simply fall out. So make sure the joint to be welded is tight and as close together as possible. It takes a minute to a couple of minutes for the methylene chloride to melt the plastic so be patient.

Use it in ventilated conditions because I think it might be bad for you. Keep the lid on tight or it will evaporate right out of a loose lid. It evaporates fast if on the surface but when it gets in the plastic like I said it needs a couple of days to dry properly.

Be sure to test it first before attempting the full weld of the break/joint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloromethane
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=methylene+chloride

It's also used to make decaffeinated coffee.
Thanks for the very thorough response. I'll look into it.
 
OP
Brianc

Brianc

Active Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
137
Likes
125

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
21,814
Likes
22,077
Location
Canada
Thanks. From the photo it looks that would have to be soldered.
That's a great deal on the replacement part though. I never expected Sennheiser to offer a headband. 4 solder joints is not too horrible. :D
 

somebodyelse

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 5, 2018
Messages
3,809
Likes
3,126
That's a great deal on the replacement part though. I never expected Sennheiser to offer a headband. 4 solder joints is not too horrible. :D
They're good like that. When looking for replacement earpads and headband pad I noticed Sennheiser and different dealers were each offering a different subset of the spares for a given headphone model, but between them you could assemble the complete headphone from spares. At the time the new HD600 cost more than the sum of its spares.
 
OP
Brianc

Brianc

Active Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
137
Likes
125
That's a great deal on the replacement part though. I never expected Sennheiser to offer a headband. 4 solder joints is not too horrible. :D
Yes, pretty surprised. I think the pads cost more. I'm tempted to get it and give soldering a try!
 
OP
Brianc

Brianc

Active Member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
137
Likes
125
They're good like that. When looking for replacement earpads and headband pad I noticed Sennheiser and different dealers were each offering a different subset of the spares for a given headphone model, but between them you could assemble the complete headphone from spares. At the time the new HD600 cost more than the sum of its spares.
Apparently no longer available though when I tried to add to cart.
 

somebodyelse

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 5, 2018
Messages
3,809
Likes
3,126
Apparently no longer available though when I tried to add to cart.
Try other dealers then - I found 3 carrying spares in the UK in a few minutes, all with similar prices. There may have been more, but I stopped looking. Presumably it's similar in other parts of the world.
 
Top Bottom