Gluing Cast Metals

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I just bought some cast metal barrels that had cast metal tables you could put together to hold the barrels. When I tried to glue the metal together using Tenex7, they wouldn’t stick. Do you need another kind of glue for metal? I’m not really up on the glues

2

Marty,

Tenex is for bonding plastic (styrene) to plastic. You’ll need CA (cyanoacrylate) adhesive or a two-part epoxy to glue metal to metal. When using CA, use the thicker stuff.

Tom

3

Try superglue. Use an absolute minimum as it will work better and stick faster. If the pieces are heavier you can “pin” them together using a small drillbit and piece of wire. If it still doesn’t work you can resort to tstage tip on using epoxyglue. But I would actually use the thinner super glue(CA) since it holds great as well. But it takes more practise to get used to. Plus it’s kind of counterinutive to use as little as possible. You will be surprised how large pieces of metal that will stick together with a single pin and some light superglue.

Magnus

4

[#ditto]

5

I’ve used CA on a lot of “stuff”. The only thing I hate about it is that no matter how careful I am I always manage to get some on my fingers.

Geez I hate that stuff on my hands.[soapbox]

It can take days for it to finally wear off. Use latex gloves that are a bit too small. That way you keep it off you and you can still work with the material at hand.

6

You are using too much.

7

[#ditto] I use the cheap CA from Wally World. 5 tubes for $1 so I don’t mind waisting some. I’ll put a drop or two on a piece of paper and then use a toothpick or piece of wire to apply it. Or if you know any insulin diabetics, the syringe caps make great little glue cups.

8

I’ve been using Locktite super glue for a long time, probably over 15 years. It’s available almost everywhere. My models get handled a lot and I’ve had very few parts come loose over the years.

Oceanbear…fingernail polish remover takes super glue off.

9

So does Acetone - which is what is essentially in fingernail polish…

Tom

10

thanks for the response. What brand of thicker CA glue do you recommend? is this the kind of glue to fill gaps?

thanks

Marty

11

I have been using a Loctite product called “Super Glue Gel Control” available at Home Depot and Walmart. This is a thickened type of ACC that works very well. I use it for attaching details to plastic and metal locos.

The advice about using less ACC is right on. So is the pinning method.

The regular ACC does seem to get on unwanted areas. This stuff is much easier to use.

Jim

12

It’s not that I’m using too much; I’m sloppy!

13

I put 12 metal outhouses together before Christmas and I used yellow wood glue as it was all I had around at the time. Stuck just fine and they’re still standing. Marty