What is the difference between Testors "blue" and "red" squeeze bottle cements?

[Bill Anderson]

I have been using the Testors squeeze bottle cement with the red label (281216) for years.  Recently I picked up a replacement but got the blue label instead.

It appears that the only written difference (on the container) is the "blue" is non-toxic.   But it seems to me that something else must be different - i.e. drying time, adhesiveness, etc.

So does anyone out there know of other differences, or have a distinct preference?

 

Thank you all once again!

Bill Anderson  

[Shark]

Whatever is "toxic" in the red tube makes it work better. I tried the blue out of necessity before and didn't like it, but it's been long enough ago I don't remember why. I am sure someone will be able to technically explain the difference.

[TECHMAN]

2 hours ago, Shark said:

Whatever is "toxic" in the red tube makes it work better. 

Have experienced the same thing, the "non-toxic" stuff (for me) did not hold nearly as well.......  Hope one of our more "chemically savvy" members knows, I've been curious for some time myself.....   

DJ

[NOBLNG]

From what I recall, the blue tastes better.😬

[StevenGuthmiller]

I’m actually kind of surprised that they still make the blue tube glue.

The stuff was trash right from the beginning.

I’m pretty sure that you’d have better luck just using Elmer’s “Glue All”.

 

 

Steve

[Tabbysdaddy]

The red stuff smells better. I can smell that stuff all day, nice deep sniffs.

[oldcarfan]

When I was a kid, Testor's made a non-sniffable glue that smelled like citrus. I remember it sort of worked, but not as well as the red tube. I've never tried the blue tube stuff, but could it be the same one? 

[rattle can man]

I believe the blue label/ non toxic is indeed citrus based. It is not as strong a solvent as the ingredients in the red label, so it does not really melt the parts together as well.

[rattle can man]

If you go to the Testors webpage, click on SDS/TDS. SDS stands for Safety Data Sheet. Enter the SKU of the product. Select show me. Scroll down and select English. As you scroll through the page that opens you will eventually get to the ingredients. The non-toxic blue tube cement list D-Limonene and Poly-styrene as the ingredients. A search for limonene confirms it is extracted form citrus peels. Orange tube cement has several solvents listed that are indeed toxic. I am sure the same basic ingredients are in the liquid glues, minus the poly-styrene.

This kind of info is available for any product that may be hazardous. Just find the MFGs. website and search for the SDS. Or ask the supplier. They are supposed to have copies for their employees and customers.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I believe the most significant "bad" chemical missing from the non-toxic plastic glue is toluene.

It was what made the old tube gloo popular with the sniffer crowd, and could cause permanent nervous system damage.

Other solvents found in "toxic" glues for polystyrene include methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, and xylene.

If they're not on the TDS (technical data sheet) or SDS for the non-toxic stuff, they're not in it.

These nasty solvents are what make regular plastic cement actually work, by dissolving the styrene to literally weld parts together.

The non-toxic stuff doesn't even come close.

 

[rattle can man]

That is correct Bill. I wanted to point out that SDS / TDS/ MSDS for all of the materials we use are available to anyone.