The best Glue for the Job

Geo-man · Post by **Geo-man** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:58 pm

hi
im currently scratch building a T-47 snowspeeder (this is my first one) and was wondering what the best glue fro sticking down flat panels is.
im using card to build it as im on a budget.
any suggestions??
cheers

Sluis Van Shipyards · Post by **Sluis Van Shipyards** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:47 pm

If it's just styrene I always use superglue.

Newbie Doobie · Post by **Newbie Doobie** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:24 pm

Superglue gel. Bob Smith industries brand is what I've been using for twenty years plus now!

This is in the magenta bottle. Works great!

Dr. Yo · Post by **Dr. Yo** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:54 pm

By "card" do you mean styrene sheet, or cardboard? If its the
former, I'd use a thin styrene cement, like testors or tamiya.
If its cardboard ( that is, paper ) I'd suggest either contact
cement or some form of white glue.
Superglue has its uses, but unless you've got an absolutely steady
hand, or use jigs, I wouldn't use it for flat panels-too much risk
of mis-alignment, and once its down, its staying there.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:27 pm

I'm guessing by card you mean card-stock/cardboard/paper. Plain old white glue can be used for a lot of work but for quick glue go with a thicker CA. Mercury Adhesives is the best of the CA brands but will probably be a little tough to find in the UK.

Owen E Oulton · Post by **Owen E Oulton** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:52 pm

I note the OP lists his location as UK, so he's almost certainly talking about sheet styrene. Personally I like to use Testor's liquid cement for this. Just don't use too much on thin sheet. thin superglue would be my second choice, the Bob Smith blue label stuff.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:25 pm

I use CA glue to tack styrene card down around curves. In flat areas, I just use styrene cement.

Kenny

Geo-man · Post by **Geo-man** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:18 am

Kylwell wrote:I'm guessing by card you mean card-stock/cardboard/paper. Plain old white glue can be used for a lot of work but for quick glue go with a thicker CA. Mercury Adhesives is the best of the CA brands but will probably be a little tough to find in the UK.

im am using the paper stuff yes. im a student so its being made from old pizza boxes and a like to save a bit of cash. is white glue similar to PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate). i hadnt even considered this. ive been using super glue for the joints and seams.
thanks

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:47 am

Hi,

Yes what is called white glue in the US is PVA.

But if you're gluing something as thick and big as pizza boxes standard PVA may not be the best solution. I would recommend woodworker's white glue - it's still a type of PVA but it is also a good deal stronger, quicker drying and also dries harder than the PVA you would use for lighter wieght card.

You can get it from any hardware/DIY place and don't be afraid of own-brands (e.g. Homebase, B&Q, etc.) but if you have a Wilkinson's nearby theirs is the cheapest and one of the best.

If you want something REALLY strong, use Cascamite. This is a resin glue which comes as a powder in a tin. Mix with water and glue away. Again, this is readily avaliable at hardware/DIY stores.

As a note - almost all the brands our American colleagues have mentioned here are either unavailable in the UK or only available through the web.

Newbie Doobie · Post by **Newbie Doobie** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:48 am

White glue = Elmers' types are ALAPHATIC resin. Polyurethane(Gorilla glue) is a PVA type of glue amalgumation.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:06 am

Elmer's glue is based on an emulsion of polyvinyl acetate, other white glues can be made from an ALIPHATIC resin, Gorilla is a Polyurethane glue but water-resistant cross-linking PVAs are available.

Newbie Doobie · Post by **Newbie Doobie** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:25 am

Thanks Kylwell! That's what I wanted to say. I'm just quoting the bottle label.

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:11 pm

IIRC, aliphatic means an organic compound w/o benzene rings. Aromatic is a compound with benzene rings. So, by that light, PVA is aliphatic. From a health standpoint, aromatic compounds tend to be more aggressive, requiring protection.

Urethane resin used to be diluted with aromatic solvents, but urethane itself is not aromatic. Recently aliphatics have begun to be used with several resins, urethane included.

Gorilla glue is, according to its MSDS:
Urethane prepolymer (40-50%) + Polymeric MDI (a mixture of 4,4’-Diphenylmethane-diisocyanate,isomers and homologues) (50-60%)

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:45 pm

Given Gorilla glues properties it doesn't shock me find out it's got PMDA in it.

Newbie Doobie · Post by **Newbie Doobie** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:13 pm

Chacal wrote:IIRC, aliphatic means an organic compound w/o benzene rings. Aromatic is a compound with benzene rings. So, by that light, PVA is aliphatic. From a health standpoint, aromatic compounds tend to be more aggressive, requiring protection.

Urethane resin used to be diluted with aromatic solvents, but urethane itself is not aromatic. Recently aliphatics have begun to be used with several resins, urethane included.

Gorilla glue is, according to its MSDS:
Urethane prepolymer (40-50%) + Polymeric MDI (a mixture of 4,4’-Diphenylmethane-diisocyanate,isomers and homologues) (50-60%)

Thank you for chiming in with that Chacal!

I don't know much about glues.

MY forte is paint.

It's nice to have an actual informed response!