I usually use Model Master styrene cement (xylene) on my plastic projects, but I found that I had purchased a bottle of Bondene a while back, which contains trichloroethelene. What are the working characteristics of Bondene, as opposed to Model Master?
Cedarwoodron
I have never used the model master but I really like Plastruct Bondene it provies a nice tight joint. I have used Tenax 7 once But the joints seemed to brittle so i dont buy this one anymore.
Plastruct sells 3 different kinds of cements. Plastic Weld is for just about any plastic, even joining two dissimilar ones, like styrene and acrylic. Bondene is for just about any like to like - styrene to stryene, abs to abs, etc. And Weldene is ONLY for styrene to styrene.
I’ve always used Tenax, once I learned about liquid cements and ditched the old stringy tubes when i was a kid. Never had an issue with brittle joints, but I’ve only ever used it for styrene plastic.
–Randy
Weldene is some pretty weak stuff. It’s actually labeled non-toxic, which leaves me wondering if I can drink it in a water emergency. It seems to barely stick stuff together.
Plastic Weld works well, but don’t get sloppy with it or you’ll be called Mr. Obvious.
I much prefer the Bondene for all around use, but I’m primarily a styrene type of guy.
I’ve used Tenax and like it, just hard to find around here.
Plastruct Bondene contains: Dicloromethane. NON FLAMMABLE.
Plastruct PLastic Weld contains: Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), NON FLAMMABLE.
Ambroid Pro Weld: Old Formula, contains: Mehylene Chloride, VAPOR HARMFUL. The best! And you can still get it, in certain areas, just bought six bottles, I also believe, it is a lot better,than Tenex,ever was. My opinion!
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Wikipedia shows Dicloromethane & methylene chloride the exact same thing!
Tenenx contains Dicloromethane & methylene chloride as did the old Ambroid Proweld as the contents is listed on the bottles or the box
The new Plastruct Plastic Weld (#570-2) now containes MEK !
Again this is what is listed on the bottle contents.
It is amazing what one finds by just reading the bottle labels! 
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Bob,
The Info, I gave, was from, the labels, on the bottles. I only bought Tenax, once, for the price and how it worked, it could not beat, Ambroid Pro Weld, in my opinion.
Cheers,
Frank
Frank
It amazes me at how much the contents change with the supliers of the various Glues!
I was always partial to the OLD AMBROID PRO-WELD as it easily glued Plex-Glas!
I am very careful with what little i have left since Pro-Weld went to MEK!
At least that is what the current bottles have listed on the contents - same as the Plastruct (#570-2) Plastic Weld.
Our local Hobby Shop now has Tenex 7R and it still lists the contents with Methelene Cloride which I will have to try when I need to glue a lot of Plex-Glas.
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Me, I just use pure MEK, and a small brush. I’ve had a quart of this for years, and as long as I use it in my well ventilated work area, there’s no problem. Since I don’t work in abs, I don’t need anything else. The quart probably cost me as much as a bottle of Tenax would.
I used Tenax 7 to assemble my CMR turntable (all acrylic sheet). No brittle joints, bonds like MEK on styrene, great stuff, but evaporates fast! Be sure to close the bottle (tightly) between joint applications.
I have some new bottles of Ambroid Proweld, and the labels say that they contain methelene cloride, not MEK. I also have some new bottles of Same-Stuff from Micro-Mark, which look identical to the Proweld bottles except for the label. These also state that they contain methelene cloride.
Maxman,
I don’t know what the chemical properties are, in the new Formula Ambroid Pro-Weld, but the old Formula, diffinitely, contains, Methylene Chloride. I bought six bottles, of it a month ago, I am told,that you can still get it in certain parts of the country. I don’t rightly,know what is in, the Micro-Mark, same stuff, but I do know, they both state, Professional Plastic Welder, for,styrene,acrylic,butyrate and abs plastic, the difference, I found,that the Ambroid Pro-Weld, also includes, in what it will glue,is (Lucite or Plexiglas), the Micro-Mark, does not state that.
Cheers, [D]
Frank
I tried Tenex 7R and ended up throwing a full bottle in the trash…I didn’t like it at all.
I like Ambroid Pro-Weld and have two bottles of it.
Sorry Guys- I never took Chemistry in college, but with all the variation in active ingredients among the several adhesives all of you have mentioned, including the Model Master and the Bondene I originally mentioned, perhaps MR (Cody???) could develop a detailed guide for us active builders- sort of a rubric or table that sets out the most effective/appropriate adhesives for various materials and purposes. Unless, of course, this has been already done… Cedarwoodron
Cedarwoodron,
Here’s one, from, Plastruct solvents:
http://www.plastruct.com/pages/CementGuide.html
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Frank:
I was actually responding to Bob H., who said that Ambroid went to MEK. Unless that has happened in the past 3 months, or I actually purchased some old stock, my bottle of Proweld says Methylene Chloride.
Concerning the Micro-Mark SameStuff, au contraire. The bottle lable in my hot little hands says “for Styrene, Butyrate, ABS & Acrylic (Lucite or Plexiglas)” It also states “contains methylene chloride”.
Maxman,
My statement, was from,The Micro-Mark, catalog, I did not have the bottle, of the cement, in my paws. But I do know,they both contain, methylene choride. So I agree,with you. I don’t know what,the supposed new Ambroid has either. I do know that my LHS, had it and know one would buy it, they all were looking,for the real,‘‘stuff’’ and he found a source, somewhere in Nebraska. He e-mailed,everyone,that he had it and it was gone, in two days. [:)]
Cheers, [D]
Frank
maxman
As I stated above - the contents of the various MFG of these glues seem to change on a regular basis.
Amproid #130-110 is shown Sold Out at Walthers and it appears that they are discontinuing the complete line!
Tenex 7R - had been out of stock for years and suddenly it was back
That is why our local Hobby Shop quickly ordered a case as the Ambroid (which most of the locals used) had been out for so long!
I guess the glue business is being held hostage due to Gov Regs!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
BOB,
Strange, the Ambroid Pro Weld, I have before me, states,that it is Item NO.111. Original formula.
Cheers, [D]
Frank
If anyone needs some, MB Klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com) appears to have 11 bottles in stock: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Ambroid-Pro-Weld-p/ambr-110.htm