ca glue - applying properly to structures

What is the best way to apply CA glue to structure kits? The dropper on the bottle is too much usually for detailed pieces and gets stuck on my fingers. I read on here that some of you squeeze some out into some sort of container and use a toothpick to apply the glue, but doesn’t it dry up before you get around to using it all? Very confused what the best approach is here. Thanks for any suggestions! Or should I not be using CA glue to build structures in the first place? :slight_smile:

Mike

I usually use Testors plastic glue for styrene kits, but there are places where I want the quick setting or extra strength of CA. That’s also true when I’m gluing together dis-similar materials, like wood and plastic.

For most stuff, the small nozzle on the original container is fine. I get “Zap-a-gap” CA at my LHS, which also comes with a finer nozzle, but I never use that. When I do need to be very careful, I slowly squeeze out a bit and put it on the tip of a toothpick, and then use that to apply the glue.

Mike,

I agree with MB. If you are bonding styrene to styrene, use a thin plastic adhesive like Testors. The key to a good bond is to apply it to both pieces. The adhesive (MEK or methylethylketone) melts the outside layer of the styrene and “melds” the two piceces together to form a good bond. If you are going wood to styrene, CA is the way to go.

Hope that helps…

Tom