Glue / cement for plastic models

[Desertguns]

Before that question, why are the models in "Arts" and in "Hobbies". Where should this stuff be in the non-build off times?

Anyway, has anyone found a plastic model glue that is not hazardous & doesn't have the normal gettin-high smell? I tried a couple about 10 years ago & they sucked. Have there been any improvements?

[Spokeshave]

I use the CAs like crazy glue and ZAP. They work great but have the usual smell.
It's in the arts and hobbies because we had no other board to put them in years back.There wasn't much of anything here so it kind of got lumped in together.

[Desertguns]

Will give those another shot. Don't mind CA smells much, just want to get away from the old Testors airplane type glue that smells up the whole house. Also had trouble with CA not adhering well until I started scuffing the plastic surface first. Not sure what I'll build yet but will be in conjunction with a control line balsa model. Control line seems to be a dead hobby which makes it more appealing to me than R/C right now.

[Spokeshave]

There are different CA glues for different plastics. there is also one for ABS.
I haven't use the old Testors glue in years.

This place is a great source for adhesives...
microscale.com/

[Desertguns]

Great link. I'm always on the lookout for good decals too. As it turns out I just bought $80 worth of balsa, spruce, basswood & birch plywood. Got the hardware too.  Gotta buy in bulk somewhat but enough to do several planes (or one really big one). Have decided the first couple will be class 1/2A control line planes but still kicking around some designs. 

[Ohm]

I picked up a bottle of Ambroid Plastic Weld last weekend at the LHS. So far it works like the label states, "strong and fast" on styrene plastic (model tank). There is an odor (fume) present but not as gnarly as Testors liquid cement. 

[Desertguns]

Jan 5, 2015 21:29:36 GMT -5 Ohm said:

I picked up a bottle of Ambroid Plastic Weld last weekend at the LHS. So far it works like the label states, "strong and fast" on styrene plastic (model tank). There is an odor (fume) present but not as gnarly as Testors liquid cement. 

WTF? PLease post a pic of the tube, Ohm. I can't find anything by Ambroid - the original stuff for wood - but never saw anything for plastic either. Is it old stock? CA suck on any balsa that gets sanded. Anbroid was great for that. I just ordered some SIGMENT which is supposed to be similar. We'll see.

[Spokeshave]

They still make Ambroid glues.

Walthers carries them but are sold out at the moment.

Here is another good link, DG

www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=ACL&subc=GLUE&start=60

[Ohm]

Jan 8, 2015 1:25:12 GMT -5 Desertguns said:

Jan 5, 2015 21:29:36 GMT -5 Ohm said:

I picked up a bottle of Ambroid Plastic Weld last weekend at the LHS. So far it works like the label states, "strong and fast" on styrene plastic (model tank). There is an odor (fume) present but not as gnarly as Testors liquid cement. 

WTF? PLease post a pic of the tube, Ohm. I can't find anything by Ambroid - the original stuff for wood - but never saw anything for plastic either. Is it old stock? CA suck on any balsa that gets sanded. Anbroid was great for that. I just ordered some SIGMENT which is supposed to be similar. We'll see.

So, when you click on the text link "Ambroid Plastic Weld", nothing shows up?

[Vonpotter]

I bet he didn't see that it was a link.....

[Spokeshave]

It works for me OHM. Von is right.

[Desertguns]

Jan 8, 2015 21:33:10 GMT -5 Ohm said:

Jan 8, 2015 1:25:12 GMT -5 Desertguns said:

WTF? PLease post a pic of the tube, Ohm. I can't find anything by Ambroid - the original stuff for wood - but never saw anything for plastic either. Is it old stock? CA suck on any balsa that gets sanded. Anbroid was great for that. I just ordered some SIGMENT which is supposed to be similar. We'll see.

So, when you click on the text link "Ambroid Plastic Weld", nothing shows up?

Oh, that link... Doh !

[Desertguns]

Jan 8, 2015 10:53:32 GMT -5 Spokeshave said:

They still make Ambroid glues.

Walthers carries them but are sold out at the moment.

Here is another good link, DG

www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=ACL&subc=GLUE&start=60

I see in other forums back to 2008 where some people sometimes find it locally. Any on-line store I find that has it listed is out of stock. I emailed two last month & both said they weren't sure when they'd be getting more in. I'll send one to walther's & see what they say. Thanks!

[Desertguns]

For anyone interested, here's what I've found regarding Ambroid Company.

An EPA lawsuit against Ambroid in 1999 which was extended for some amount of time - US vs. Ambroid. It involved reimbursing the Feds for clean up costs at a chem site. At that time they were in MA. Around 2008 (or so forum lore goes) they moved offices to VT. I did confirm this - Biz listings
So, called that number & it's no longer in service. White pages search has no results for Ambroid in Springfield VT, or any other state. There was an internet rumor they had moved to Canada but that search didn't pan out. Walther was a major distributor for Ambroid & their last shipment to any sub-vendor was Oct 2013 & was from a lot they purchased in late 2012.

So, bottom line - Ambroid is out of business. If you have the stuff & like it, good. If you have the Ambroid amber wood glue, and don't like it, I'll buy it if the price is right. All that may be left commercially would be in a warehouse or backroom that may occasionally surface. That's my hypothesis anyway... 

[Desertguns]

BTW - for any train guys, there are bunches of old - really old -Ambroid train car kits on egay. They include the wood,& sometimes the glue & hardware, Kinda cool.