For years I have been using this Testor’s glue. The container is now empty, and I have been searching for another one. I haven’t found one anywhere online. I did find something similar, but it had a plastic tube that was not nearly fine enough.
I model N scale. I’ve tried using a bottle with a brush, a bottle with a plastic tube, etc. None of them give me the control to put the small amount of glue in the smallest of spaces like this bottle.
Does anyone know of somewhere to look that I’ve missed? Any other suggestions if this is no longer available? Thanks!
I have/had one of those. Need to make sure the applicator is completely empty after use. I didn’t realize that and still haven’t figured out how to clear the clogged applicator tube.
Note that if using a solvent adhesive there is nothing to clog. There are formulations like Weld-On #3 that use a small percentage of methyl-methacrylate monomer for increased ‘stickiness’ (a bit like dissolving styrene ‘sprue’ for additional tackiness) and these materials should be ‘dissolvable’ with patience.
I used a combination of ultrasonic agitation and heat – the heat opens up the bore of the tube slightly to allow capillary action along the hardened length of the clog instead of much slower softening from the ‘ends’) – followed by gentle use of a stiff piece of fine piano wire. It may take a number of hours for the solvent to penetrate the clog. Since most hobby ultrasound cleaners don’t have separate bath heaters, this may require repeated cycles of carefully reheating the solvent. Do NOT do this without really good ventilation.
If you are familiar with the joys of cleaning Rapidograph-style technical pens that have hardened up with their wire inside the tube, some of the techniques will be achingly similar…
As with the pens, the best solution (no pun intended) is to flush the tube out immediately after use (which implies you have an efficient means to cap the bottle). I used a small syringe with suitable fittings to squirt solvent through the tube until it was clear – then stored the tube ‘wet’ in the solvent until next use.
This is more complicated if using the original subject of this thread, the Testor’s model cement in that ingeniously-angled bottle. I cheated, and gently squeezed the sides of the bottle while upright to start blowing out the fine tube, then quickly inverted it in suitable solvent and released pressure to draw the solvent up into at least the outer end and put the cap back on.
I have three of them because they are difficult to fill if not completely empty. If you are using a hot solvent in them it will clear after a while so if yours hasn’t the tip may be clogged with plastic. That easily happens if you inadvertently push it along the parts instead of pulling it.
The way to clear it is to put the clogged tip in a bottle of solvent and let it sit. Sometimes it will clear by itself and sometimes you need to use a very thin strand of wire to help.
