Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Mako on June 10, 2018, 06:25:22 PM
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Just curious if anyone has used "Dollar Store" (yes, this specific store), superglue mini-tubes, and if they actually work?
Looking for info on initial adhesion, and strength of bonds over time.
I grow weary of shelling out $8 - $10+ for the real, modeling, Superglue, only to have it completely dry up after an initial use of only a few drops.
I even had this happen recently, to my Testor's, styrene modeling glue. Used just a little bit, thought I resealed the cap securely, and 95% of the contents solidified. Granted, probably haven't used it in over a year, but still, that is annoying.
Never used to happen "...back in the good old days", when the stuff used to last for year. Not sure if they've reformulated it to have that happen to sell more, or I just got a bad tube.
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Personally I use superglue by a brand called zap, the thing you rip of to open the tube also acts as a airtight seal when turned around, canīt say how effective it is since I just recently found out.
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I haven't used Dollar Store, but I have used cheap glue from Poundland - the eight tubes for Ģ1 variety.
It's very runny but seems to hold okay. The big problem is that the next time you go back to the tube it has solidified >:(
I've been using Gorilla superglue gel with favourable results. I found the regular stuff was really starting to upset my sinuses, but the Gorilla stuff is much less harsh.
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I have used them both in the states and in the UK. Once you find one that has the consistency that you want buy it. I use one manufacture for setting bases as it is very thin. I use another for gluing models becasue it is thicker and sets fairly quickly. Since it is cheap enough you can afford to experiment. Hope that helps.
Snitchy sends.
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I get my super glue from Rockler (a woodworking retailer) here in the US. The sell large bottles (4.5 oz) for just under $15.00 - most hobby glues (like Zap) are sold in 1 to 2.5 oz bottles - Zap goes for roughly $7.50 for a 1 oz bottle.
The Rockler CA glues come in three styles (thin, medium and thick) - I ten to use either medium or thick. I've never had a bottle dry out.
The grip is really strong. I often use the Rockler CA glue in the woodshed to tack down trim work and small/thin parts that might warp from a water based wood glue.
Here's a link to the Rockler website
http://www.rockler.com/quick-set-glue-4-5-oz
I buy a lot of my woodworking stuff from Rockler and am very impressed with their customer service.
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I use the Dollar Store super glue - "BAZIC SUPER GLUE" brand, and it works fine. Best of all I get 4-5 tubes for a dollar!
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No matter what super glue you buy if it will "dry up" if you don't store it in a dry enviroment. It actually doesn't dry at all, but rather reacts with the moisture in the air, so you should store it somewhere dry, I've seen "lifehacks"where people store their superglue in a jar with rice, the rice acting as a dessicant
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I recently discovered cheap superglue from the pound shop in the UK. Bought some DIY Time superglue. Its got a picture of Tommy Walsh on it. You get three 7g proper plastic tubes along with some precision nozzles and a pin. Its really good stuff. Not too thin and holds well. I opened the first tube months ago and its still fine.
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Use exactly the same DIY three bottle sets. I use it on sculpts that are cast,as well as all the cereal packet card projects.(In fact I can't remember the last time I actually bought a high street brand.) Never really had any major issues with it. (other than not noticing the drawing pin included in the packet for years ;D )
Mark.
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I recently discovered cheap superglue from the pound shop in the UK. Bought some DIY Time superglue. Its got a picture of Tommy Walsh on it. You get three 7g proper plastic tubes along with some precision nozzles and a pin. Its really good stuff. Not too thin and holds well. I opened the first tube months ago and its still fine.
Those are the ones that went solid on me after one use. Looks like I got a bad batch :'(
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Those are the ones that went solid on me after one use. Looks like I got a bad batch :'(
I've found them to be iffy.
Sometimes I end up with the "bonus" of pre-dried out tubes. Yay!
Sometimes I don't.
It's a gamble. I generally don't take it unless I'm in some sort of need, but not an urgent need.
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Having tried lots of various super glues I have settled on a two stage approach:
1) 'spot weld' using the gel & when that has dried;
2) flood the join with the 'runny' stuff.
This gives me the strength of joint, without gluing my fingers to the figures.
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Thanks for the replies, and tips.
I've used the Zap stuff in the past, but it seems like the majority of the time it dried out after only one or two uses, in many cases. Used to use a needle to break through the crust left in the tip, when needed.
I live in a very, non-humid environment, generally, though I suspect in Winter, it could be an issue.
Never thought of the jar with rice, so that's a good idea.
Will have to try some of the cheap stuff, since it sounds like it may work reasonably well. Was a bit worried it might be worthless, as some cheap items are.
Can't hurt to give it a go, since at $1, there's not much to lose. Certainly beats $10+.
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these superglue tubes are good ....but i use some neoprene glue with to rise the level higher .
Make it harder and faster drying.
For the too fast drying glue in the tube, i stock my opened tube upside, not horizontaly. i keep it very longer
To prevent the cap to dry on the tube, i put some water on the pipe before closing it. the superglue is hydrophobic... ;)
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To prevent the cap to dry on the tube, i put some water on the pipe before closing it. the superglue is hydrophobic... ;)
I don't think so, but I'm no chemist, but if I understand it correctly superglue or cyanoacrylate is a resin that polymerises in the presence of water, so what you want to do to keep it from drying out or polymerizing is keep water away, although maybe putting water on the pipe makes sure all the liquid superglue that is on the pipe hardens before the cap goes on, instead of slowly hardening when the cap is on and glueing the cap to the tube, in any case adding water is not a solution to prevent it from drying
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superglue and water don't go well together ....that's only what i can say.
Several time, i get some superglue on the tongue (ok it's not very cautious but....) and i can say that the glue doesn't stay on the tongue after a few minutes. it's different on the fingers and hand....
anyway, during the use of the tube i alway keep it upside. Even in sunny weather (hot temperature) and never get problems with glue drying (even in the pipe)....
cheers
Eric
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I've largely used the dollar store superglue and have only discovered a few issues with it. I tend to stock up on both standard and the gel when I end up at the dollar stores...
The big issue is that it seems to frost things a whole lot more than the more expensive brands.
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I shall definitely refrain from applying it to my tongue.
Tried some of the thin stuff, on some tin, 1/600th scale aircraft, since supposedly it's better for metal. Didn't really work for me. Perhaps I was letting it dry out too quickly before getting the parts together, or it just doesn't work - might have been getting a wee bit too much too, on the pieces, but I don't think so.
Switched to the gel, and it too, took some time. Apparently, you have to hold the small pieces forcefully together in place, for 15 seconds, as it dries. Hard to do with some very small minis. Need to find my old tweezers again for that.
Did seem to work better, at least for me, even though the back of the package says the thin stuff is better for gluing metal. Not sure about that, but I think the get stuff may have worked.
Will have to see, as I prep them for painting, going forward.
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I shall definitely refrain from applying it to my tongue.
Tried some of the thin stuff, on some tin, 1/600th scale aircraft, since supposedly it's better for metal. Didn't really work for me. Perhaps I was letting it dry out too quickly before getting the parts together, or it just doesn't work - might have been getting a wee bit too much too, on the pieces, but I don't think so.
Switched to the gel, and it too, took some time. Apparently, you have to hold the small pieces forcefully together in place, for 15 seconds, as it dries. Hard to do with some very small minis. Need to find my old tweezers again for that.
Did seem to work better, at least for me, even though the back of the package says the thin stuff is better for gluing metal. Not sure about that, but I think the get stuff may have worked.
Will have to see, as I prep them for painting, going forward.
When i say i have some glue on my tongue, i mean it was a transfert from my fingers to my tongue indeed. ;)