A puffer bottle is a manually operated specifically-shaped container that is used to prepare static grass for...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
What is a puffer bottle?Read more -
How can I learn where to place my signals?Read moreDeciding where to place signals on a model railway layout can be extremely confusing as there are many rules to...
-
Which railway was the SNER?Read moreS.N.E.R. stands for the Scottish North Eastern Railway, it was the result of a merger between the Aberdeen Railway...
-
What are powerbase plates used for?Read morePowerbase plates sound as though they're going to be very high-tech with lots of microchips, wires and a complex...
-
What is a Wickham Trolley?Read moreA Wickham Trolley is a small railway maintenance vehicle once widely used across Britain's railways. Built by D...
Why super glue sticks everything apart from what it's supposed to!
Any modeller who claims they have never accidentally stuck their fingers together should hang their head in shame and promise to stop telling fibs. But why do fingers stick so easily and some model parts don't?
It may be the case that the model's parts simply aren't suitable for a cyanoacrylate (super glue), the product is good, not magic. So do a little research to see if cyanoacrylate is the best adhesive for the materials being used. However, most of the time cyanoacrylate doesn't measure up is for one of two reasons, either it is a cheap version, or it's being used incorrectly.
The former is a big grumble for many modellers. The £1 price tag may seem attractive when you're in the discount store, but it's really only ever meant to sit in the drawer at home for the occasional broken TV remote or picture frame, modelling is definitely not its forte and should be avoided. There are many cyanoacrylates available for specific modelling jobs that will make your life far less frustrating, just take a look at Deluxe Materials' substantial range and you'll soon get the idea.
The second reason for cyanoacrylate failure is how the adhesive works. It requires moisture to activate, and that's why it never sets in the bottle, however, the skin of your fingers is excellent at facilitating the instant setting of the glue (and the instant panic of said modeller!).
If you are having trouble getting your model's parts to stick together, check if the joining surfaces are smooth and tesselate well. If they are not, air will get in and the glue will struggle to set.
With the right cyanoacrylate for the right job and an airtight connection between surfaces to be glued, your project will definitely get stuck, but in a good way!
Posted in: Assembling and gluing
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Related posts
-
Do I need to wash my plastic kit?I personally wash all my plastic kits, I use warm soapy water (Washing up liquid) and a light rub over with a nail... - What is Milliput?Milliput is a two-part epoxy putty. There are two different colour rolls in a box when these are mixed together it...
- What modelling tools do I need to get started?Most modellers have an extensive tool kit, a tool for every eventuality. But when first starting a scalpel or a...
- How do I remove parts from the sprue?The short answer is carefully. The best way is with a sprue and plastic cutter but always be mindful of exactly...
- Do I need a cutting mat?It is not essential to have a cutting mat, but it is a good idea. It saves getting in trouble with your significant...