has any one used plastruct weldene

[buba39]

hey has any one used plastruct weldene

i got some given to me

is the stuff any good ?

[Aaronw]

I usually use Plastruct glue, I like it. They have two though, I use the stuff with a white label and orange lettering, I think it is Bondene. I've used other brands of liquid glue though (Testors, Tenax etc) and really don't see much difference between them.

I think the main question would be do you usually use liquid glue? If you don't it might take a little getting used to.

[buba39]

i normal use testors glue or super glue depending on what i am building

[James W]

The Plastruct products are a little different than styrene. They take a different formula of solvent. If you use Plastruct shapes and don't use their solvent, you could have problems.

The Weldene should work fine on kit styrene and plastics like Evergreen.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

These are what I prefer to use.

I've found that Ambroid works best assembling kit pieces. It takes a little time to set up "not alot" and it holds like vice grips!!! This in my opion should replace that testors bottle glue and the smell isn't that bad.

Tenex7-R is good for moderate thickness styrene and it has the least fumes to it that's what I like most about it. The best thing to use to apply that are those little black brushes in packs you find at most hobby shops. It sets up lightning fast. If ya use it to assemble kit pieces it evaporates fast and multiple applications have to be made for it to bond the pieces togather but it works great. It fastened strip styrene to PVC pipe for a tanker project I built several years ago but it took alot to do it! And I mean ALOT!!! I used a seringe to apply it. Ya have to be careful it will distort thin styrene. Sometimes w/ this adding small fragments of styrene to the jar will thicken the liquid a little. Usually when a bottle gets down to about 1/4 full I'll do this it works well for filling gaps (minor) If you brush it on glass it will ruin the surface but it does look like frost/ice so it can be used for weathering winter/cold details. I've done this already and it looks good!

Recently a hobby shop employee introduced me to 5 min. epoxy. It works good for joining dissimilar media (brass to plastic for example) or when doing rebuilds/repairs. Just like actual welding where the metal should be as clean as possible prior to striking an arc the principles are the same using solvent cement. The 5 min.epoxy is more forgiving than the solvents (Tenex7-R Ambroid). Make sure you get a good mix or it won't hold that well. I go for a 1:1 ratio. This I use in place of super glue because it won't leave a fog. I have yet to try to use it as a gap filler.

I don't reccomend getting the Tamiya solvent cement unless it's the only option. It's the same as Ambroid but it smells stronger,takes longer to cure, and it's more exspensive. I got it just to see how well it works and it does work good. The jar in this picture is probably 3 years old. That tells ya how much I use it.

The Plastruct Weldene is what I consider the heavy hitter of solvent cement. It's good to use for very thick styrene. Tenex7-R sometimes will give a cold weld effect (incomplete penetration) on the thicker stuff if you don't put excessive amounts on it (which is wasteful) where the Weldene doesn't take alot. It takes a long time for it to cure but when it cures ... it'll hold!!! It also will work well w/ thin styrene as well but it still takes a long time to set up. This stuff is the equivallant to having a 3/4 inch impact in your tools. Ya don't use it much but when ya need for the heavy work it's there!!!

THIS STUFF SMELLS STRONG!!! Both the Weldene and the Plastruct in the orange bottle. I was burning the mid night oil a while back and spilled an entire bottle of this stuff. The smell literally woke up my girlfriend and my hobby room is down the hallway from the bedroom. When I use it I have a small desk fan on and crack the window.

The Plastruct in the orange bottle is good when you're using ABS plastic (Plastruct green plastics) I seldomly use the ABS pieces so I don't bother getting this stuff.

I've been told by a couple experienced builders to use a solvent called M.E.K. found at Lowe's it's sold by the gallon that's about $22.00. One of these days I may try it.

Good Luck

Edited December 20, 2008 by Semi Trailer Mechanic

[Aaronw]

MEK is bad stuff, kind of like acetone on steroids, very stinky too. I understand it is used in many liquid model glues and can be used straight as a glue, but be careful with the stuff if you do. The thing I find most disturbing is if you spill some on your skin you can taste it.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Aaron

Thanks for the FYI on the MEK.

[buba39]

i have the ornge bottle of plastruct weldene it dont seem to work for me

a friend said it woks on the gray frame rails it dont seem to hold for some reason

[Jason]

I'll second the MEK, We use that stuff to clean aircraft engine parts. The MSDS for that stuff is ridiculous. if you want ill get a copy.

[Old Albion]

Jason,

Pardon my ignorence but what is MSDS? Is this the safety data sheets for chemicals?

With regards to glues and solvents I content myself to using Revell Glue, Super Glue (Cyanoacrylate) and on the odd occassion 5 minute resin.

Dave Bates

[MrObsessive]

Jason,

Pardon my ignorence but what is MSDS? Is this the safety data sheets for chemicals?

With regards to glues and solvents I content myself to using Revell Glue, Super Glue (Cyanoacrylate) and on the odd occassion 5 minute resin.

Dave Bates

Yup!

MSDS = Material Safety Data Sheets

On my job we have them on everything we use..............lest we get dunned by OSHA or some other agency for non-compliance.

Edited December 23, 2008 by MrObsessive