A Ridiculously Basic Question About Plastics

[FramFramson]

Got to be careful you don't accidentally go this route

[eilif]

Connectamabob,
      Can you clarify which Plastruct product you're talking about in your final analysis vs the chart above.  I've never heard of "Pro-Weld"

The products I've seen from Plastruct are:
- "Bondne" in the white label that supposedly only works on "like" surfaces so I never bother with it.
and
- "PlasticWeld" Which works on a multitude of plastics in various combination and has become my go-to product. I've never experienced anything but strong bonds with this stuff.

I'll have to check out Weld-On 4.

I've found MEK to be great for most uses.  You can buy it for a song (about 10 bucks a quart) from home repair stores in a big can with the other thinners.  You have to use it a bit heavier because it evaporates so quickly (faster than plasticweld) , but it wicks in quick to bond surfaces that are already mated and is ridiculously cheap.  I keep some around for stripping really paintjobs on metal minis or removing the paint from die cast car bodies, but a few times when I run out of solvent I just pour some in the plastic-weld jar and keep on building.

[Connectamabob]

I was talking about the "PlasticWeld" stuff (orange label). I must have gotten a wire crossed between the two names these, sorry about that. I'll fix it.

I loved PlasticWeld when I first tries it back in the day, but at the time my only other experience was with Testors liquid, which is just straight MEK. At first it seemed great, but over time I noticed the downsides.

Try any of the dichloromethane brands. Its aggressiveness will take you by surprise at first, as will it's tenancy to evaporate off the applicator if you don't get it in place fast, but it will allow you to work very quickly and securely in a way MEK won't.

I'm not saying MEK doesn't work, it's just not the best. It's perfectly serviceable for a lot of jobs, but if you have something better available, why settle for serviceable?