What type of glue would you use?

[mikewrt]

I got my daughter the Estes mix-n-match 60 kit for Christmas. Really cool and she digs the pink rocket. There are lots of plastic parts to glue to each other (nose cone and insert, motor can halfs, fins to motor can) then there is the the plastic motor can to paper body tubes. The instructions call to use tube type plastic cement at all interfaces. This is what I would have used decades ago in my youth but may not be the best choice. Seeing that I'm trying to take my builds to the next level and learn some new skills along the way figured I would ask type of glue would you recommend for these plastic parts?

Use the recommended plastic cement?
CA?
Epoxy?

Forgive my noob BAR questions as I'm learning to build better... Happy New Year!

IMG_20191231_154016

• mikewrt
• Dec 31, 2019

 

[kuririn]

I used thick CA just cuz I had it. Epoxy can be messy and can trigger allergic reactions. Not the best with kids involved in the build.
I don't doubt that plastic cement would work also.
Yeah, 3 cool rockets for $16. Also picked up the Mix N Match 55. Great deals.
Laters.

 

[richP]

Plastic cement is probably your best choice for these components. CA would probably also work, but I would stay away from the really thin (hot) types, especially around kids.. Epoxy may or may not work, as bonding to it is iffy depending on the type of plastic (plus the extra work).
Plastic cement is solvent based and actually welds the pieces together.

 

[prfesser]

If the parts will glue with plastic cement, epoxy should work too. Plastics that don't glue well with epoxy include polyethylene, polypropylene, and Teflon; most plastic model kits are polystyrene. My personal preference would be to use the thin brush-on type of plastic cement for assembly, then use epoxy to glue plastic to cardboard.

 

[samb]

Just so ya know, asking a glue question on TRF will get you ALL the answers !
FWIW when the Estes instructions call out the tube glue hieroglyph I have used the red tube Testors plastic cement with 100% effectiveness.

 

[heada]

On plastic to plastic connections I tack the parts together with medium CA and then wick in Plastiweld. The Plastiweld actually melts/welds the plastic parts together similar to the old tube type plastic glue.

https://www.hobbylinc.com/plastruct-plastiweld-1-plastic-model-cement-00002

 

[kuririn]

Meh, might as well throw this in since the thread is here:


I like the Spider rocket.
And you can get creative, it's Mix N Match, after all.
I'm not, so I mostly followed the face card.

BTW the recommended glue for the plastic fins to fin cans and plastic lugs to cardboard tubes on Aerotech kits is CA.
FWIW.
Laters.

 

[mikewrt]

Just so ya know, asking a glue question on TRF will get you ALL the answers !

Thats why I asked! To get ALL the opinions... I mean answers.
Thank you all for replying, all valuable information and there is such a wealth of knowledge here!

 

[Tyler P]

I use medium or thick CA on any of the Estes plastic attachment points.

 

[solid_fuel]

I have used with good success bonding other plastic parts to each other: Plastistruct Plasti-weld. with the orange label. it contains MEK so use in a well ventilated area and I would, at a minimum, supervise young children while this is being used. a little goes a long way. it will melt the plastic and actually weld the two parts together. a little drop brushed on will wick along the joint via capillary action.

 

[Tyler P]

I have used with good success bonding other plastic parts to each other: Plastistruct Plasti-weld. with the orange label. it contains MEK so use in a well ventilated area and I would, at a minimum, supervise young children while this is being used. a little goes a long way. it will melt the plastic and actually weld the two parts together. a little drop brushed on will wick along the joint via capillary action.

Deluxe Materials Plastic Kit Glue also does this. I used it on some plastic part from a Guillows airplane kit a little too generously once, lol.

In all honestly, this is probably the most reliable way to glue the plastics together, as they actually kind of become one piece. That being said, I have never had the CA joints fail on these light rockets. I haven't tried that method on any of the PSII kits with plastic fins, though.

 

[solid_fuel]

I used the Plasti-Weld on my PSII Nike smoke fins and it bonded them together well enough to hold up fine on a few G64 and G79 flights. I would have no problem flying it on H motors except for the rest of the body sustained some damage on a hard landing. The fins were still fine though.

 

[BEC]

A good plastic cement (Testors, Plasti-Weld) for the plastic-to-plastic joints (fin can parts together, nose cone caps on the nose cones).

For plastic-to-paper I've used RC airplane canopy glue (such as Pacer Formula 560) for years, but just recently have been using Beacon Foam-Tac with good results (and faster cure times). Chris Michelsson has been recommending Beacon Fabri-Tac for these joints, but I had the Foam-Tac and it is working.

Canopy glues are water clean up and don't have a strong odor, which is a plus.

I have tried plastic cement (Testors in the black bottle) for plastic-to-paper joints (motor retainers on my Boosted Bertha) but those joints didn't hold. The parts got put back on the model with medium CA as a field repair. Those joints have been doing OK since then.

 

[neil_w]

Chris Michelsson has been recommending Beacon Fabri-Tac for these joints, but I had the Foam-Tac and it is working.

Based on Chris's recommendation I would definitely go for the Fabri-Tac for the plastic-paper joints. It sounds really well suited for this purpose.

 

[Tyler P]

A good plastic cement (Testors, Plasti-Weld) for the plastic-to-plastic joints (fin can parts together, nose cone caps on the nose cones).

For plastic-to-paper I've used RC airplane canopy glue (such as Pacer Formula 560) for years, but just recently have been using Beacon Foam-Tac with good results (and faster cure times). Chris Michelsson has been recommending Beacon Fabri-Tac for these joints, but I had the Foam-Tac and it is working.

Canopy glues are water clean up and don't have a strong odor, which is a plus.

I have tried plastic cement (Testors in the black bottle) for plastic-to-paper joints (motor retainers on my Boosted Bertha) but those joints didn't hold. The parts got put back on the model with medium CA as a field repair. Those joints have been doing OK since then.

The canopy glue idea is one I hadn't thought of. Beacon Foam-Tac is a personal favorite of mine. I use it a lot with foam airplane stuff. I also used it on my wraps on my Saturn V.

 

[BEC]

Beacon Foam-Tac is a personal favorite of mine. I use it a lot with foam airplane stuff. I also used it on my wraps on my Saturn V.

Me, too. That's actually what I bought it for after reading about it somewhere online. And so far the wraps have been doing fine. It was WAY easier than trying to wrangle spray-on contact cement.

 

[Tyler P]

Me, too. That's actually what I bought it for after reading about it somewhere online. And so far the wraps have been doing fine. It was WAY easier than trying to wrangle spray-on contact cement.

I think you may have gotten that from me, lol. I had shared it here, and on facebook. Just an easy-to-use solution. It's holding up great on my Saturn V too. No lifting or anything. Seems to do the trick!

 

[BEC]

Shared here, I may have seen it, yes. Great recommendation!

 

[LazloZ28]

I've been using Dap rapid fuse from home depot for the E2x kits. No idea if it's good or not, but it works well for the kids to build with, fast and not so messy, stinky, or instant stuck fingers. We did launch 4 kits built with it and no failures. DO NOT use the "non toxic" testors plastic cement, it just plain doesn't work.

 

[kuririn]

Well, the non toxic (blue label) Testors does work but it takes a long time to set up. Like overnight.
So not good if you are looking at something to fly quickly. As in hours.

 

[AfterBurners]

I used thick CA just cuz I had it. Epoxy can be messy and can trigger allergic reactions. Not the best with kids involved in the build.
I don't doubt that plastic cement would work also.
Yeah, 3 cool rockets for $16. Also picked up the Mix N Match 55. Great deals.
Laters.

plus 1

 

[IluvRocketry14]

For plastic fin units like that, i use CA, My favorite is Gorilla Glue CA. Now if the rocket is a paper and cardboard kit. I use wood glue for motor mounts and i reinforce the aft end centering ring with CA. I sometimes get lazy and use CA on fins but that isn't always a good idea since it creates a very hard bond with no give and no flex. Making the fins break off above the area they were glued on because CA is permanent and very strong. Gorilla brand wood glue is amazing and i use it on the higher end mid and low powered kits. I used wood glue for my Goblin, Red max, cosmic explorer, sky warrior and crossfire kit.

 

[Terry Habegger]

I got my daughter the Estes mix-n-match 60 kit for Christmas. Really cool and she digs the pink rocket. There are lots of plastic parts to glue to each other (nose cone and insert, motor can halfs, fins to motor can) then there is the the plastic motor can to paper body tubes. The instructions call to use tube type plastic cement at all interfaces. This is what I would have used decades ago in my youth but may not be the best choice. Seeing that I'm trying to take my builds to the next level and learn some new skills along the way figured I would ask type of glue would you recommend for these plastic parts?

Use the recommended plastic cement?
CA?
Epoxy?

Forgive my noob BAR questions as I'm learning to build better... Happy New Year!

IMG_20191231_154016

• mikewrt
• Dec 31, 2019

I like Welders Glue for a all purpose glue

 

[deangelo54]

I used thick CA just cuz I had it. Epoxy can be messy and can trigger allergic reactions. Not the best with kids involved in the build.
I don't doubt that plastic cement would work also.
Yeah, 3 cool rockets for $16. Also picked up the Mix N Match 55. Great deals.
Laters.

CA can also trigger allergic reactions. Someone in my club can no longer use it. If you use either epoxy or CA get a box of plastic gloves. I agree that you should keep children away from CA.

 

[deangelo54]

The kits in question are either E2X or skill level 1. Go with the Testor's glue. I have built a lot of models with plastic that are over 15 years old and they are still together. I admit that I have had to go in with a spot of CA here and there after many years later.

 

[ThreeJsDad]

For many years I used CA and other adhesives every day and my living counted on my choices. My favorite all around glue is Gorilla Super Glue. It is thick so it is easy to work with but it also has rubber in it so it is very shock resistant.

 

[deangelo54]

Gorilla Super Glue sounds interesting. Years ago I bought an Estes Guardian the night before a launch. My son wanted me to build it so he could fly it the next day. The kit has nine fins! CA was the only solution. He ended up using Testor's model paint and it came out great. Needless to say I didn't let him near the CA. That night is one of my fondest rocketry memories.

 

[JMX]

I got my daughter the Estes mix-n-match 60 kit for Christmas. Really cool and she digs the pink rocket. There are lots of plastic parts to glue to each other (nose cone and insert, motor can halfs, fins to motor can) then there is the the plastic motor can to paper body tubes. The instructions call to use tube type plastic cement at all interfaces. This is what I would have used decades ago in my youth but may not be the best choice. Seeing that I'm trying to take my builds to the next level and learn some new skills along the way figured I would ask type of glue would you recommend for these plastic parts?

Use the recommended plastic cement?
CA?
Epoxy?

Forgive my noob BAR questions as I'm learning to build better... Happy New Year!

IMG_20191231_154016

• mikewrt
• Dec 31, 2019

Gorilla Glue (+4) works wonders and you can get it at any Home Depot or Walmart.