Just Glue It!

Posted by Jared Waters on

To glue or not to glue. It isn’t really a question. For a miniaturist glue is the go-to solution for keeping it together. However, there are so many types of glue that we decided to do a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each and its potential applications.


White Glue/Wood Glue/Tacky Glue


Set time: 30 minutes - 2 hours

Full Cure: 24 hours


This is usually a polyvinyl glue. Works best with wood, paper and cardboard. Widely available 


Pros

  • Bonds well to wood and wood products
  • Easily accessible
  • No or limited fumes
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Doesn’t bond well with non-wood surfaces
  • Drying time
  • Doesn’t dry clear 

Super Glue


Set time: 10 minutes

Full cure: 24 hours


With a fast set time, this is the workhorse for many miniaturists. It usually dries clear, making it easier to hide any overage. Pro Tip: freezing the part can make it more brittle and allow for easier removal in case of a misglue.


Pros

  • Ease of use
  • Bonds with lot of materials
  • Can use with an accelerator to make very quick bond times
  • Easy to get
  • Drys quick

Cons

  • Dries quick
  • Short work time
  • Doesn’t fill gaps well
  • Brittle
  • Sticky on hands

Epoxy


Set time: 12 hours to one day

Full cure: one to multiple days



Epoxy is often intimidating and harder to use on the fly, but it is unmatched in strength, making it the best choice for metals.


Pros

  • Works well with metal
  • Non-shrinking
  • Very durable
  • Waterproof
  • Fill voids

Cons

  • Long cure time
  • Fumes
  • More complicated with mixing
  • Must mix in small batches

Plastic Cement


Set time: 10-15 minutes

Cure time: 24 hours


The “go to” glue for Warhammer and other miniatures.


Pros

  • Fuses plastics together
  • Not sticky

Cons

  • Difficult to separate
  • Best for plastic
  • Doesn’t bond to all surfaces
  • Fumes


Hot Glue


Set time: less than a minute

Cure time: 15 minutes


The love/hate tool of every DIYer. So easy to use and so easy to misuse.


Pros

  • Low fumes
  • Works with lots of materials
  • Fill gaps

Cons

  • Hot!
  • Have to work quickly
  • Some materials melt
  • Stringing
  • Flow control


Spray Adhesive


Set time: a few minutes

Full cure: overnight


A great example of a glue that works amazing for certain circumstances (spraying fabric before applying to a surface) and horrible for others (connecting to small pieces without getting glue everywhere).


Pros

  • Great for tacking
  • Even area over large surface area
  • Fabrics

Cons

  • Low adhesion
  • Spray control


General Glue Tips

  • Clean your surface
  • Rough up the surface 
  • Remove excess glue before it dries
  • Glue before you paint
  • Less is more
  • If in doubt, test a small area first
  • Lots of variations between brands


Bottom line: every model maker needs a variety of glues for all the different situations they may encounter, but being familiar with the pros and cons will make sure you make the best choice. 

Did we miss something? Let us know


 

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