Aauuugh! Non-Rocket Glue thread!

[Blast it Tom!]

Just a quickie if anyone knows - My son has a clear display case, maybe polystyrene maybe acrylic. For polystyrene, sure a weld-type cement like Testor's. But acrylic? Anybody here ever glue acrylic? Said display case fell victim to our 3 yr. old grandson and the hinge pins at the corners are broken off.

Thanks in advancel; mods please move if inappropriate.

 

[Funkworks]

Lucky you, nothing works better for acrylic than cyanoacrylate aka CA aka super glue aka Krazy glue.
If it's clear or transparent*, it's acrylic aka Poly(methyl methacrylate) aka PMMA aka Plexiglas.

Note "acryl" in both acrylic and Poly(methyl methacrylate).
I'm sure it's not a coincidence that they're compatible.

*other transparent plastics exist but not for display cases I think.

 

[Scott_650]

Careful with CA - it can cause fogging of clear plastics as it cures. Otherwise for acrylic it’s probably the least complicated solution.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

Thanks to you both! I'm off to the shop!

 

[Alan15578]

There are solvent type cements that work well for acrylic, but probably not Testor's. CA may work well for your repair as it has some gap filing capability. Hinges are difficult to repair, can become permanently fixed, and rarely retain their original strength.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

There are solvent type cements that work well for acrylic, but probably not Testor's. CA may work well for your repair as it has some gap filing capability. Hinges are difficult to repair, can become permanently fixed, and rarely retain their original strength.

Yes, as well I know... 5 kids, 6 grandkids, a rocketeer and plastic modeler, I should be PhD-level glue expert by now! I fix things all the time, but wanted to check about the acrylic... or maybe polystyrene... So what solvent -type would work for acrylic? Who knows, I may just have some!

 

[David Schwantz]

Put a drop of oil on the hinge pin to keep it from sticking.

 

[waltr]

I read 'clear case' and think plexiglass. Ok, some googling:
"acrylic is the usual abbreviation for polymethyl methacrylate, and Plexiglas"

Gluing:
https://www.tapplastics.com/product_info/diy_articles/plexiglass_glue

 

[cvanc]

I'll verify the CA fogging of clear plastic is a real concern. Problem is solved by blowing a fan on it as it dries...

 

[Sandy H.]

Weld-on #4 is made for acrylic and it is a great solution. The contents are:

Methylene Chloride, Trichlorethlyne, Methyl Methacrylate Monomer

If you have something with similar contents, it might work.

Sandy.

 

[OverTheTop]

I too was going to suggest methylene chloride. Just hold the piece in place and wick in.

It is also called dichloromethane. Be careful with it and use PPE and in a well-ventilated area.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloromethane
I have been gluing Perspex (aka polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) with that stuff for over 40 years.

 

[prfesser]

Wikipedia says that methylene chloride and methyl ethyl ketone are used to solvent-bond PMMA, which fits what I recall about PMMA solvents. Both CH2Cl2 and MEK are also used for polystyrene, so if you have either on hand Bob's your uncle. FWIW methylene chloride is often the main component of "plastic model" solvent-binding glues, if you already have some handy there's no need to go out and buy a quart of CH2Cl2.

Best -- Terry

 

[cls]

I read 'clear case' and think plexiglass. Ok, some googling:
"acrylic is the usual abbreviation for polymethyl methacrylate, and Plexiglas"

Gluing:
https://www.tapplastics.com/product_info/diy_articles/plexiglass_glue

I'm glad you found the TAP Plastics article. They are a great place for all plastics and adhesives, including rocket supplies such as epoxy, fiberglass and carbon fiber, hologram paper, all kinds of ifty stuff.

 

[DES]

Wikipedia says that methylene chloride and methyl ethyl ketone are used to solvent-bond PMMA, which fits what I recall about PMMA solvents. Both CH2Cl2 and MEK are also used for polystyrene, so if you have either on hand Bob's your uncle. FWIW methylene chloride is often the main component of "plastic model" solvent-binding glues, if you already have some handy there's no need to go out and buy a quart of CH2Cl2.

Best -- Terry

For acrylics, be sure to use the water thin liquid plastic cements, such as Plastruct or Tamiya. Check the SDS to confirm it contains methylene chloride and methyl ethyl ketone, at the very least it needs to contain MEK or it probably won't bite well. The Testors Orange tube gel cement is toluene based, and works fine for soft styrene, but is not reliable for acrylic or ABS.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

I think I just need to print this thread off or use lot of copy-pasta! Plenty of good information here, thanks all!
For my repair, the superglue was cured solid somehow, so I used E6000 and it seemed to do quite well.

 

[Javacat1]

For acrylics, be sure to use the water thin liquid plastic cements, such as Plastruct or Tamiya. Check the SDS to confirm it contains methylene chloride and methyl ethyl ketone, at the very least it needs to contain MEK or it probably won't bite well. The Testors Orange tube gel cement is toluene based, and works fine for soft styrene, but is not reliable for acrylic or ABS.

Just a note: While I haven't used the full line of plastruct adhesives, their bondene specifically does not work on acrylic, much to my dismay when building space marine jump packs for warhammer.

 

[Steven]

 

[Blast it Tom!]

Indeed!