Alternative cement for styrene models

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Are there any good alternatives anyone knows of for cemeting styrene models? There is not a store around here that carries Testers or Tenax or anything like that. Clerks haven’t even heard of styrene cement. I really don’t want to pay seven or eight bucks shipping for a three dollar bottle.

I’ve tried Lacquer thinner with no results and trying to aviod buying a gallon of MEK.

Thanks,

jim

2

Quart cans available at hardware, paint, and home center stores.

3

Plastruck Plastic Weld. It’s more aggressive than Testors liquid cement and evaporates quickly. I don’t like it for more delicate parts for that reason. Testors you can order online from M.B. Klein. Hobbytown carries Plastruck products.

Tom

4

I often use Acetone.

Super glue used to be popular, but some modelers found parts following off after a few years.

Have you considered buying some other items on-line and including a couple bottles of Styrene cement in tne order?

Elmers Plastic Cement https://www.walmart.com/ip/Elmer-s-E1004-Plastic-Cement-5-8-oz-Tube-Clear-Sweet-Alcohol-Liquid/20371064?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=31255b8b-c0d9-4788-3de9-017f940342ce&config_id=106&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=31255b8b-c0d9-4788-3de9-017f940342ce&item_id=20371064&parent_anchor_item_id=20371068&parent_item_id=20371068&placement_id=irs-106-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=QEk2e24-e6j6ajp5UPGxdU

Another Elmers product that might work. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Elmer-s-Model-Hobby-Cement-1fl-Oz/20371068?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1453&adid=22222222227017084418&wl0=&wl

5

is there a hobby lobby near you ? if so they will have it .

6

Michael’s also stocks Testors 3507 Liquid Plastic Cement. Any RC hobby shop will stock it too. The Model Railroad hobby shop closed its doors here seven years a go but there is still a couple of RC shops, they’re normally good for building supplies.

Mel

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

7

one sorce i forgot to mention is pvc pipe primer if you can live with the purple color its is stock at most hardware stores.

8

I was really disappointed to see Tenax being discontinued. I have tried several “stand-ins” and out of all of them I like this the best. It is a bit “slower” acting than Tenax but nearly as strong.

There is a thicker variety, too, but I have not tried it.

https://www.horizonhobby.com/tamiya-extra-thin-cement-tam87038

Horizon Hobby (aka Athearn) has pretty reasonable and fast shipping on this. I bought four bottles which mitigates the per bottle cost a bit. My total was $21 for four bottles.

Economy shipping is $3 or FedEx is $5. within the lower 48.

Good Luck, Ed

9

You can get MEK in pints and quarts from homedepot and lowes and paint stores and hardware stores. Only problem i find is since each place orders seperately. You have to bounce between olaces to find one that does stock the pint and quart. You could also get pint containers, buy a gallon and split it amoung a group. Or buy yours self a pint container and donate the rest to a local group or club

Just a thought

Wolfie

10

Find a plastics store, they sell smaller cans.

11

What about some of the glues from the people that make ‘Gorilla Glue’? They have so many different kinds, and all available at the likes of Home Depot…

Neal

12

I can drive 100 miles round trip to Modeltrainstuff and pay $5.75 plus 4 gallons of gasoline or I can order it on Ebay for $8 no tax or shipping.

Let me know when gas is $0.55/gal again.

13

Testors Model Master in the odd shaped black plastic bottle with the needle nose applicator works just fine. You can find it anywhere that deals in hobbies of any kind.

Rich

14

but how do you open the bottle?

15

Eh?

16

Righty tighty, lefty loosey?

17

I have found Testor’s liquid cement in all kinds of places.

.

Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Menard’s, etc. You don’t need to find a hobby shop to get it.

.

-Kevin

.

18

MicroMark Same Stuff:

https://www.micromark.com/SAME-STUFF-APPLICATOR

19

I bought a gallon of MEK after they changed the formula for lacquer thinner, making it useless as a cement for styrene.

The MEK works well, but has a shorter working-time than lacquer thinner had. This is most noticeable on large areas, where even applying it with a 2" brush can’t cover the entire area before the area first-coated has dried.

The almost $40.00 cost was a bit of a surprise, too, but even the puny U.S. gallon will do a lot of refills of the Testors bottle.

Wayne

20

I also use the MEK. As Doc Wayne says, for large areas, it evaporates quickly.

In the trades, I used it as a general solvent when cleaning concrete floors, before doing a light acid wash, to clean and prepare a concrete floor for a finish sealer.

Mike