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It was all in the marketing. There really isn't anything special about the actual product and it's nothing new, but man did they make it "feel gorgeous". This i

It was all in the marketing. There really isn't anything special about the actual product and it's nothing new, but man did they make it "feel gorgeous". This is definitely something to learn from.

nodata 13y ago
Sugru introduced the idea to a different group of people that they could fix/"hack" physical stuff to make it work better, or to improve it. it's nothing new Can you name a few of the other products then? I've honestly never heard of them. Same temperature range, bonding properties, etc?
- goldenkey 13y ago
  There's a million types of putties for various uses. They're usually not marketed largely because of their niche industrial use. Silicone isn't the only material either. Antique restorers will be more knowledgable about this kind of stuff than most people as different putties are used for different materials (bronze,copper,brass,wood,etc.)
  - epo 13y ago
    In other words, you can't name them either.
    - goldenkey 13y ago
      Seriously, on Hacker News you are going to post that contemptuous drivel? https://www.google.com/search?q=silicone+epoxy+putty https://www.google.com/search?q=silicone+epoxy+putty
- neilk 13y ago
  I'm not an expert, but I found a lot just by Googling for "repair putty -sugru" or "epoxy putty -sugru". There's even a Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy_putty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy_putty However, this only highlights the product innovation that Sugru seems to be bringing here. All the products I could find were binary; there was a mixing step. Most are designed for use by professionals, and you might need gloves to work with them. Most are more specific in their use case, like particular putties for marine repair or ceramics or wood or what have you. Sugru seems to work right out of the packet. The product seems designed to cure to a hardness that is a little bit structural but still rubbery, with a surface that people find pleasant to handle. When it comes to chemical compounds, it is pretty rare to invent something wholly new. (Just as it is in software, I might add.) Crafting the right product for the right applications, envisioning a completely new market and actually reaching those customers - that's what makes all the difference.
beambot 13y ago
I haven't come across any DIY formulations that can produce the same texture and properties (strength and flexibility) -- especially in gallon-size quantities (for robot parts). If it really "isn't anything special", then please share your homemade formulation(s)!
- goldenkey 13y ago
  There are many different kinds of silicone epoxy/putty for repairs. I know a couple who repair antique lamps, furniture, and fixtures and their inventory of putties is humongous. This product marketed it well (by coloring it) and advertising it to non-carpenter/tradesmen folk.
- gcb0 13y ago
  they probably wont sell it to you anyways. few month i wanted to buy tempurkont or something from sherman willians. i did the research. i needed silicone paint or primer. they had a line of products perfect for my use. i got the info down to product number. cant remember now of course. NONE of the stores knew about it. one of the stores took the trouble of calling some place. learned it was from the architectural branch. id have to order a minimum quantity of X gallons, x being a huge number i dont remember, and wait 2 to 3 weeks. so, yeah, even if you learn the resin you need, though luck. they wont bother selling to you anyways. so kudos to sugru. but shame on them for almost no tech info.
  - danjwilson 13y ago
    It's not easy to find, but we have a technical data sheet here: http://sugru.com/pdfs/tds.pdf http://sugru.com/pdfs/tds.pdf

It was all in the marketing. There really isn't anything special about the actual product and it's nothing new, but man did they make it "feel gorgeous". This is definitely something to learn from.

nodata 13y ago

Sugru introduced the idea to a different group of people that they could fix/"hack" physical stuff to make it work better, or to improve it. it's nothing new Can you name a few of the other products then? I've honestly never heard of them. Same temperature range, bonding properties, etc?

goldenkey 13y ago
There's a million types of putties for various uses. They're usually not marketed largely because of their niche industrial use. Silicone isn't the only material either. Antique restorers will be more knowledgable about this kind of stuff than most people as different putties are used for different materials (bronze,copper,brass,wood,etc.)
- epo 13y ago
  In other words, you can't name them either.
  - goldenkey 13y ago
    Seriously, on Hacker News you are going to post that contemptuous drivel? https://www.google.com/search?q=silicone+epoxy+putty https://www.google.com/search?q=silicone+epoxy+putty
neilk 13y ago
I'm not an expert, but I found a lot just by Googling for "repair putty -sugru" or "epoxy putty -sugru". There's even a Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy_putty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy_putty However, this only highlights the product innovation that Sugru seems to be bringing here. All the products I could find were binary; there was a mixing step. Most are designed for use by professionals, and you might need gloves to work with them. Most are more specific in their use case, like particular putties for marine repair or ceramics or wood or what have you. Sugru seems to work right out of the packet. The product seems designed to cure to a hardness that is a little bit structural but still rubbery, with a surface that people find pleasant to handle. When it comes to chemical compounds, it is pretty rare to invent something wholly new. (Just as it is in software, I might add.) Crafting the right product for the right applications, envisioning a completely new market and actually reaching those customers - that's what makes all the difference.

beambot 13y ago

I haven't come across any DIY formulations that can produce the same texture and properties (strength and flexibility) -- especially in gallon-size quantities (for robot parts). If it really "isn't anything special", then please share your homemade formulation(s)!

goldenkey 13y ago
There are many different kinds of silicone epoxy/putty for repairs. I know a couple who repair antique lamps, furniture, and fixtures and their inventory of putties is humongous. This product marketed it well (by coloring it) and advertising it to non-carpenter/tradesmen folk.
gcb0 13y ago
they probably wont sell it to you anyways. few month i wanted to buy tempurkont or something from sherman willians. i did the research. i needed silicone paint or primer. they had a line of products perfect for my use. i got the info down to product number. cant remember now of course. NONE of the stores knew about it. one of the stores took the trouble of calling some place. learned it was from the architectural branch. id have to order a minimum quantity of X gallons, x being a huge number i dont remember, and wait 2 to 3 weeks. so, yeah, even if you learn the resin you need, though luck. they wont bother selling to you anyways. so kudos to sugru. but shame on them for almost no tech info.
- danjwilson 13y ago
  It's not easy to find, but we have a technical data sheet here: http://sugru.com/pdfs/tds.pdf http://sugru.com/pdfs/tds.pdf