UV adhesive for Temporary Assembly

[NOBLNG]

I temporarily assembled this front suspension with PVA glue and let it dry for a day in the dehydrator. I had to do a lot of fiddling with it and it soon fell apart. Then I tried using some “RapidFix liquid plastic adhesive” that activates with UV light. I don’t know how they can call this an adhesive, as it has about the same structural integrity and adhesion as the PVA glue. The real bonus is it can be cured instantly.

Edited August 18 by NOBLNG

[stitchdup]

pva/wood glue (its the same stuff) isn't really suitable for heating to speed up the process. its much stronger if left to dry naturally. they use it to build furniture and it doesn't get heated either.

[NOBLNG]

36 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

pva/wood glue (its the same stuff) isn't really suitable for heating to speed up the process. its much stronger if left to dry naturally. they use it to build furniture and it doesn't get heated either.

PVA in my understanding is a water-based glue that dries by evaporation. So the heat doesn’t “cure” the glue but just speeds up the drying process. When used on wood a slower drying time may be beneficial because it soaks into the pores and swells the wood slightly to make a tight fitting joint. Neither the PVA nor the UV glue have any effect on styrene, so the fastening is purely mechanical.

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

PVA in my understanding is a water-based glue that dries by evaporation. So the heat doesn’t “cure” the glue but just speeds up the drying process. When used on wood a slower drying time may be beneficial because it soaks into the pores and swells the wood slightly to make a tight fitting joint. Neither the PVA nor the UV glue have any effect on styrene, so the fastening is purely mechanical.

I used to use one of the clear UV glues for mockups.

I haven’t for a while, but it does work quite well for that purpose.

There’s very little strength, so it works pretty good for quick and easy assembly as well as disassembly.

 

 

 

steve

[peteski]

Like Greg mentioned PVAE glue gets the bond strength from bonding porous surfaces which will give glue some tooth.  Using PVA glue on any smooth non-absorbent surface will result in very weak joint, so it is well suited for plastic kit mock-ups, but it takes tome to dry. UV-cured resins (sometimes passed as glues) will make a good mock-up  as they do not bond smooth plastic surfaces well, and cure fast.

[Straightliner59]

Alene's Tacky Glue is excellent for temporary assembly. It's water-based, so it doesn't harm the plastic, however, its tackiness holds parts, quite well. They can usually be pulled apart, but, if they're delicate, a quick soak in some water will dissolve them apart. I use it, constantly.

Edited August 19 by Straightliner59