CA Question

[High Hood]

I've been looking at different types of glue, and I've seen thin, medium, and thick CA.  Could someone explain the different types and which would be best to use for detailing work?

[MK]

THIN
Less viscous than water!  This stuff will run everywhere.  Best use is if the two parts are butt up against each other with barely any space.  Will get into the smalles cracks and crevices.  Use sparingly.  Fast setting.

MEDIUM
Slightly thicker than water.  Used when there is some gap between the two parts as it can bridge the gap.  Medium setting, taking about 10-20 seconds to set.

THICK
Well, thick!  It's thick enough to form a fillet between angled parts.  Often used with a kicker as you can form your fillet, then set it.  Some people use it to lay fiberglass as a last resort if they don't have resin.  Sets the slowest of the three.

[nickelplate759]

What MK said.  Particularly heed his comment about thin CA "This stuff will run everywhere".   I've ruined a model finish more than once by applying thin CA on the inside, to glue a grab iron, and having it run through the hole and mar the outside.  I'd suggest medium CA for most detail work.  I would only use thin if there is a really tight fit and you have very precise control over how much and where you apply it.

[jpwisc]

I use medium for almost everything. I will use thin for structure building, I can apply it after I have mated to surfaces together. For most other things it flows too fast for me.

[peteski]

In my hobies (and in life in general) I use all three viscosity CA (along with several other types of adhesives), but I mostly use the thin CA.

I never apply it straight from the bottle (as it will run all over the place).  I squeeze out a small amount onto a disposable surface (I use a cupped piece of aluminum foil), then I dip one of my home-made applicators in the pool of glue and then deposit tiny amount where needed.  I then use a MicroBrush to apply some accelerator (if needed) to speed up setting of the glue. I use BSI brand of CA and accelerator.



The applicators are sawing needles with the eye partially cut off, mounted in acrylic rod.  I picked up this hint years ago in FinescaleModeler Magazine.

[MK]

You can dispense thin CA directly from the bottle if you have the right tip.  The Z-Ends allow you to put the smallest amount with the utmost control and location placement.  There's also less waste as you don't need to throw away any unused glue.

https://www.zapglue.com/accessories

[peteski]

You can dispense thin CA directly from the bottle if you have the right tip.  The Z-Ends allow you to put the smallest amount with the utmost control and location placement.  There's also less waste as you don't need to throw away any unused glue.

https://www.zapglue.com/accessories

Nope - I tried those, and I like the precision of my needle applicators much better. As for throwing glue away, I literally throw away less than a drop or sometimes two.  Even with a precision tip, you are still holding a relatively large bottle in your hand, and the air in the bottle expands while you are holding the bottle, forcing the glue out. You can pre-squeeze the bottle before flipping it upside down to create a negative pressure when the bottle is flipped, but then you have to keep squeezing it harder to get the glue to come out.   I work on a really small scale where super-precise glue application with no smearing is vital. 

[DKS]

For the application of larger amounts of CA in a controlled manner, there's nothing better than brush-on Krazy Glue. This has become my go-to adhesive. Control is precise, and you can cover large areas evenly--such as a (relatively) large part to be laminated to another part. Or the joints of a lasered wood kit (it works really well on wood). I've just run out and need to make a trip to Michaels and buy 3-4 bottles. I go through the stuff like... um... Krazy.

[MK]

They also have CA in gel form.  I guess you can call that Super Thick. 

[peteski]

For the application of larger amounts of CA in a controlled manner, there's nothing better than brush-on Krazy Glue. This has become my go-to adhesive. Control is precise, and you can cover large areas evenly--such as a (relatively) large part to be laminated to another part. Or the joints of a lasered wood kit (it works really well on wood). I've just run out and need to make a trip to Michaels and buy 3-4 bottles. I go through the stuff like... um... Krazy.

The fumes coming off a large glue area don't bug you?

[MK]

Nope - I tried those, and I like the precision of my needle applicators much better. As for throwing glue away, I literally throw away less than a drop or sometimes two.  Even with a precision tip, you are still holding a relatively large bottle in your hand, and the air in the bottle expands while you are holding the bottle, forcing the glue out. You can pre-squeeze the bottle before flipping it upside down to create a negative pressure when the bottle is flipped, but then you have to keep squeezing it harder to get the glue to come out.   I work on a really small scale where super-precise glue application with no smearing is vital. 

The top ones?  They come with a section of ultra fine micro tubing.  You cut a few inches and insert that into the special tips.  Think of it as an "IV" delivery of CA, only you have precise control.  The tubing is so fine that the liquid doesn't come out even with the bottle upside down, even with thin CA.

[peteski]

The top ones?  They come with a section of ultra fine micro tubing.  You cut a few inches and insert that into the special tips.  Think of it as an "IV" delivery of CA, only you have precise control.  The tubing is so fine that the liquid doesn't come out even with the bottle upside down, even with thin CA.

I still prefer to hold a 1/8" diameter tool (with the working end close to the tip of my finger) than the entire bottle of glue. Like I said, we all have our different ways of applying glue.

[MK]

So you haven't tried the tips with the micro tubing then?    With the micro tubing you can dispense as little as those tools that you made.

[Chris333]

Have a link to the micro tubing glue? Might try it out.

[peteski]

So you haven't tried the tips with the micro tubing then?    With the micro tubing you can dispense as little as those tools that you made.

You keep missing my point. I rather hold a short 1/8" diameter acrylic rod with a needle end than a micro tube with a CA bottle attached to the other end. Yes, I have tried (and still have) several different micro-tube attachments. It is just not my preferred method of applying CA glue.

Chris, Scroll up to MK's earlier post - he already posted a link to those micro-tube tips.