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MYOG folding pot handles


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  • #1269260
    Travis Naibert
    Member

    @outwest

    For the last couple of months I have been experimenting at home with a couple IMUSA mugs that I picked up at Walmart. I quickly realized that the rivited aluminum handles that come on the mug are bulky, make the mug harder to pack, and are WAY too hot to grab after using the mug on a stove. In the past I have always used a bandana or glove as a pot grabber or used a wick wrapped beer can, but I do like the idea of being able to hold a mug of hot coffee by some sort of handle. So I have devised a super easy, fast, and cheap way to put handles on the imusa mug or any other mug/bowl that would benefit from folding handles.

    The ingredients you need are: a mug sans handle, a medium binder clip, two large butterfly paperclips, JB Weld. Tools required include: pliers for bending, tin snips, wire cutters, a file/sandpaper.
    ingredients
    First, cut the rolled edges off the binder clip with the tin snips so that the remaining rolled edge is about 1/4" wide. Then remove the wires from the binder clips. Using the pliers, shape the butterfly paper clips into two identical handle shapes that have the ends facing away from each other and at a width that fits in the binder clip rolled edges. Cut any extra wire off the paperclips (match your finger size, don't make the handles too big, etc.) Use a file or sandpaper to take the black paint off the flat side of the binder clip that you will JB weld to the mug (the black paint interferes with the JB weld bonding). Epoxy the two pieces of binder clip to the mug about 1/2" apart and parallel. Let the epoxy dry for at least 24 hours. Insert bent handles and go camping.handles foldedhandles out

    I find that JB Weld on higher temperature applications must be cured for at least 24 hours, but longer is better before heating. My first, impatient attempt to make these handles came off with the first heating on my stove. I am not sure if it was because I only waited 12 hours or because I didn't sand off the black paint on the binder clip. The second attempt dried for 3 days before use and has been used multiple times. Also I have hung the mug by the handles with a soup can in the mug overnight with no breakage of the JB weld. I hope my directions were clear!

    #1697493
    Troy Ammons
    BPL Member

    @tammons

    Nice and simple. How much do those weigh ??

    #1697528
    Travis Naibert
    Member

    @outwest

    The binder clip and two paper clips weigh 0.2 oz. The mug now weighs 2.4 oz, which I believe is almost exactly what the mug weighed with the original fixed aluminum handle that was too hot to handle (har har).

    #1697558
    Daryl and Daryl
    BPL Member

    @lyrad1

    Locale: Pacific Northwest, USA, Earth

    Great info. Knowing that JB Weld can do this is particularly helpful.

    #1817160
    Duy Tam Nguyen
    Member

    @totoro85

    Locale: Northern Ontario (middle actually)

    Your removal job looks great. How did you remove the original handle? I don't want a leaky mug after removal.

    Sorry for necroposting.

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