I’ve continually heard about the wonders of CA but have only recently begun to experiment with it. I’ve used Loctite Super Glue Gel Control and have been very please with it.
My questions:
What is your favorite CA adhesive for general use?
What is your favorite “gap filling” CA adhesive?
Thanks for your help!
The cheaper, the better. I use the four for $1.99 variety.
None. The problem with “gap filling” ACC is that it’s normal ACC with fillers. Fillers and additives used to speed or retard the setting speed of ACC weaken it’s bonding properties. I want a good ACC that bonds well, which means I only use the “cheap” stuff, which is actually the best you can get.
ACC should be used ONLY to bond items, and you should only use a VERY small amount. If you use a lot, you can weaken the overall bond (plus, it’s messy). If you need to fill gaps, either rework the pieces so there’s no gap, or add some sort of non-ACC gap filler, like a piece of styrene or body putty. If you’re working with styrene to styrene bonds, you shouldn’t be using ACC in the first place, but some sort of MEK-based liquid plastic cement, which literally melts the pieces of plastic together.
On the rare occasions that I DO need to use an ACC-based gap filler (or more usually, an ACC-based countouring agent), I go in two directions: if it’s a resin kit, I use baking powder added to a puddle of ACC, and then sand the area smooth when dry. If I’m working with a metal item, I use metal filings instead of the baking powder.
I like Loctite’s QuickTite Super Glue. The non-gap filling type with the red squeeze grips. The “flow control” gives fairly good contriol if the amount you want isn’t too small. For small surfaces I squeeze some onto a piece of plastic and use a straight pin as an applicator. The packaging says “clog free” but while I’ve had better luck with it than other brands, I haven’t found any that are really clog free. After it starts clogging, I run a large sewing needle through it after each use to keep it open.
I use Loctite, two different types,
1- in the easy brush bottle- widw base, and with the brush you can put it exactally where you need it.
2- loctite for plastics comes with acticator/ primer even works on the slippery engineering plastics like the newer handrails are made from.
I use Handi-Bond. It was designed specifically for the hobbyist, and they produce specialty ACCs for about every use. They even have an oderless that they claim doesn’t cloud clear plastics. I haven’t used the oderless yet, but I will be trying it very soon. They also affer a basic ACC in 3 different consistencies (thin, medium, and thick). Most good LHSs have a Handi Bond display rack.
the cheaper the better for me.six tubes for a dollar at w/mart.ca is basically the same i guess,but the mfgs add stuff to it .i use it occasionally in model railroading.would probably use it more if i were putting together wood structures.if i need to fill in a gap and im using ca i use a little baking powder.i just can’t afford spending $2.50 or more for a small bottle of ca.terry…
I use zap from my LHS. The smallest bottle available since I rarely ever use an entire bottle b4 it solidifies. Keeping it in a refridgerator after opening to preserve it is an urban myth, sorta like the one about storing batteries in the cold.
I buy the cheap stuff from the dollar stores or Walmart. I find it works just as good as the high-priced stuff the LHSs sell. For wood and plastic I use white glue or MEK respectively.
ZAP is the brand I use most. It’s fairly decent price and works pretty good. I also like Super-Glue/
my usual favorite (the one customized with the store name on the bottle) has manufacturing problems and dies well before it should.
i’ve tried the des planes brand and it’s good and strong but slow setting (not my style).
by default, i’ve gone back to zap a gap, and am having acceptable performance.
i had some once from a dentist at a trainshow, and that worked real good, but it was too little amount for too much money.