Dont Get Stuck picking out adhesives and glue Part 3

Types of Glue

The main types of glue that a modeler will need in their armoury are;

• Polystyrene cement (reviewed July 29/13)
• Cyano acetate (‘super glue’) also known as cyanoacrylate (CA glue) (reviewed July 29/13)
• Epoxy Resin (reviewed Aug 5/13)
• Clear ‘canopy’ glue (reviewed Aug 5/13)
• Gloss varnish (reviewed Aug 5/13)
• Clear rubber/silicone cement (today's item)
• PVA adhesive (today's item)
• White glue/woodworkers glue (today's item)
• and there is always a new one coming to the market

Clear Rubber And Silicone Cements

There is a wide range of tube glues mainly intended for domestic use that are often branded as ‘All Purpose’ or ‘Universal’ glues.  They generally dry clear and remain rubbery.  The majority are solvent based, but there are varieties advertised as “safe for children” that do not contain any solvents.

PVA Glue

This is a thin water based white glue that dries rubbery.  It has wide range of commercial and domestic uses.  For example, in the construction trade it is often watered down and used to prime walls prior to painting.  It is very popular in kindergartens and schools because it is ideal for sticking paper and card and safe for children to use.  

We do not carry this at this time

White Glue / Woodworkers glue

This looks very much like PVA glue, being white and water-based but it is more viscous.  It has limited use for most modelling applications, but is very good at bonding wood, so may be useful when making dioramas or bases.  Some modellers use it to bond clear parts such as cockpit canopies.  It may dry clear or white depending on the manufacturer.

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Dont Get Stuck picking out adhesives and glue Part 1

**Getting the right glue for the right job is very important, so modelers need to know what is available.  Although this article will cover the main types of glue, the huge variety of glues from so many manufacturers means that you should always pay attention to the instructions on the particular product you are using.**

Types of Glue

The main types of glue that a modeler will need in their armoury are;

• Polystyrene cement
• Cyano acetate (‘super glue’) also known as cyanoacrylate (CA glue) 
• Epoxy Resin
• Clear ‘canopy’ glue
• Gloss varnish
• Clear rubber/silicone cement
• PVA adhesive
• White glue/woodworkers glue
• and there is always a new one coming to the market

Polystyrene Cement

Polystyrene (poly) cement is only suitable for rigid polystyrene plastic.  It works by dissolving the surface of the plastic which then re-hardens.  If a bead of poly cement is put between two pieces of plastic, then both faces of the plastic dissolve and meld together so that when they harden they have formed a solid joint.  In effect, the two pieces have been welded together, so a very good bond is formed that is as strong as the plastic.

Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (‘Superglue’)

When this glue was introduced, it was advertised as instantly bonding almost anything to anything else and indeed it is very versatile.  The only substances that resist it seem to be certain soft plastics.  As such, it is very good for bonding hard plastics, resin and metals to each other, which makes it very useful on multi-media kits.  However, it not easy to use and should perhaps be avoided by novices and children.  It can be unforgiving, with the thin formulas curing in one or two seconds and often seeming to stick fingers to the kit much better than it sticks kit parts together. 
Click here for tips on storing Superglue

Watch for Part 2 Next week!

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Dont Get Stuck picking out adhesives and glue Part 2

Types of Glue

The main types of glue that a modeler will need in their armoury are;

• Polystyrene cement (reviewed July 29/13)
• Cyano acetate (‘super glue’) also known as cyanoacrylate (CA glue) (reviewed July 29/13)
• Epoxy Resin (today's item)
• Clear ‘canopy’ glue (today's item)
• Gloss varnish (today's item)
• Clear rubber/silicone cement (next week)
• PVA adhesive (next week)
• White glue/woodworkers glue (next week)
• and there is always a new one coming to the market

Epoxy Resins

These adhesives consist of two parts – the hardener and adhesive – which need to be thoroughly mixed before application.  Sometimes they come in separate tubes and sometimes they come in a double syringe.  
Like superglue, the epoxy resins glue almost anything to anything, but they also need a good clean grease free and preferably roughened surface to get the best bond.

Clear ‘Canopy’ Glues

Sticking clear plastic parts presents problems.  The fumes given off by polystyrene cements and even cyano glues can make the clear parts become foggy.  It is very difficult to use epoxy resin glues on clear parts without smearing the glue on the parts.
For this reason, a few modelling suppliers have produced their own glues specifically designed for clear plastic parts and these are sometimes called ‘canopy’ glues.

Gloss Varnish

It may be surprising to find gloss varnish in a list of adhesives because clearly it is not intended to be used as a glue at all.  However, gloss varnish is surprisingly useful for holding very small parts, such a photo etch buckles in place.

Continued Next Week!

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