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Author Topic: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF  (Read 2156 times)

Offline Atheling

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Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« on: October 09, 2019, 12:14:19 PM »
As the title suggests, I'm looking for the best way to glue teddy bear fur terrain to MDF in order to create a modular terrain system.

The 'fur' will be modelled and coloured etc.

Do I glue the MDF to a frame in order to stop any potential warping? I'm assuming that MDF  without a frame has a greater chance of going out of shape?

What sort of glue do I need? Would PVA do the job? Or waterproof PVA?

What are your thoughts?

Any help would be hugely appreciated.

Kind Regards

Offline robh

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2019, 12:43:25 PM »
You need a glue like this:
https://www.silmid.com/adhesives/contact-adhesives/alpha-thixofix-easy-spread-contact-adhesive-1lt-can/

Formulated so that you only apply it to one surface then press the other onto it which allows you time to clear wrinkles and lumps that ordinary contact adhesive doesn't.

It does not penetrate the mdf so is unlikely to cause warping as it dries unless you are hoping to use a 2mm or 3mm panel. In which case it will need clamping flat.

Online Charlie_

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2019, 01:28:57 PM »
Dunno about teddy bear fur, but I've mounted my 2x2 mdf boards to frames. 9mm thick mdf on 20mm square battens, with lots of filler, paint and pva on top. No warping.
Though when I did the same process with bigger 2 x 4 ft boards, I did have warping problems.

Offline Atheling

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2019, 03:02:29 PM »
Dunno about teddy bear fur, but I've mounted my 2x2 mdf boards to frames. 9mm thick mdf on 20mm square battens, with lots of filler, paint and pva on top. No warping.
Though when I did the same process with bigger 2 x 4 ft boards, I did have warping problems.

Were the 2 x 3 ft boards fastened to batons too?

Offline Brandlin

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2019, 03:25:51 PM »
Robh has it right.

You need contact adhesive. wonderful stuff. wot warp your board. but you must realise you will never get the fur off...

Offline Atheling

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2019, 04:28:30 PM »
Robh has it right.

You need contact adhesive. wonderful stuff. wot warp your board. but you must realise you will never get the fur off...

Yeah, that's a great idea.

Don't mind leaving the fur on the boards :)

Offline sundayhero

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2019, 05:16:37 PM »
spray adhesive is a good choice too. I used it in the past to glue teddy bear fur.

Online Charlie_

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2019, 06:46:59 PM »
Were the 2 x 3 ft boards fastened to batons too?

Yes, both the 2x2 and 2x4 boards are made the same way.
The 2x4 ones warped somewhat, but I remedied it a bit by gluing newspaper on the underside with PVA. Still not perfectly level, but I put little wedges of cardboard under the corners when I set up a table to level things out nicely.
The 2x2 boards have never warped - I guess they are sturdy little squares.

When I do boards with recessed features such as rivers and ditches, the MDF becomes the bottom layer, and the battens become a 'border' to the 20mm blue foam top layer which the rivers etc are cut into.
For flat boards, the MDF becomes the top layer and the battens are underneath, with no blue foam needed of course.

Offline Atheling

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2019, 06:55:32 PM »
Yes, both the 2x2 and 2x4 boards are made the same way.
The 2x4 ones warped somewhat, but I remedied it a bit by gluing newspaper on the underside with PVA. Still not perfectly level, but I put little wedges of cardboard under the corners when I set up a table to level things out nicely.
The 2x2 boards have never warped - I guess they are sturdy little squares.

When I do boards with recessed features such as rivers and ditches, the MDF becomes the bottom layer, and the battens become a 'border' to the 20mm blue foam top layer which the rivers etc are cut into.
For flat boards, the MDF becomes the top layer and the battens are underneath, with no blue foam needed of course.

Thanks, very helpful.  8)

One last question, what thickness of MDF did you go for?


Online Charlie_

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2019, 07:22:43 PM »
9mm.

Offline Atheling

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Offline SteveBurt

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2019, 03:35:55 PM »
I would paint the side of the board you are not gluing to, and as others have suggested contact glue like Copydex is good for fabrics.
What thickness are your boards? I'd advise at least 6mm or better 9mm

Offline Atheling

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2019, 04:11:30 PM »
Most likely 9mm.

I think anything else would be too apt to warp when the glue is applied.

Offline Brandlin

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2019, 04:08:41 PM »
Copydex is not a contact adhesive.

I would paint the side of the board you are not gluing to, and as others have suggested contact glue like Copydex is good for fabrics.

Offline Atheling

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Re: Suggestions for glueing teddy bear fur terrain to 2' x 2' MDF
« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2019, 07:36:55 AM »
Copydex is not a contact adhesive.

Good point.

I've already got my eye on a good contact adhesive.