Which instant glue will do?

Any cyano wil do. I often use Locktite, in gel form (gives some time to adjust the parts)

I've just been using the cheapo "5 tubes on a card got $2.00" discount store type superglue. Once opened they can go off pretty quickly, but they're dirt cheap. It seems to be adequate for the job (sticking styrene and dissimilar materials). Don't apply from the tybe or it will go everywhere - I use a toothpick or a strand of wire.

I've also got an $8.00 hobby store tube of Zap, but I haven't used it yet so I have no basis for comparison.

 

I've just been using the cheapo "5 tubes on a card got $2.00" discount store type superglue.

Ditto.. Hobby brands are too expensive.  The cheap-o CA works just as well and if a tube dries up, you won't care..

Sorry guys but I disagree.

I have used the cheap CA glues and always come back to Pacer's Zap-A-Gap CA+ as the others are garbage IMHO. 

MikeV wrote:

Sorry guys but I disagree. I have used the cheap CA glues and always come back to Pacer's Zap-A-Gap CA+ as the others are garbage IMHO.

I'd have to agree to disagree...

My worst experience with CA was from a discount store. The product was either so diluted, or so past it's intended shelf life, that absolutely nothing could be fused...I couldn't even glue my fingers together on purpose...lol. It is good to remember that discount stores often have their huge mark downs in price because they buy "old stock" from other retailers...so it's buyer beware for items with a shelf life, which CA glues appear to have.

I've had limited success with craft store/hardware store CA's...mostly in getting a predictable viscosity. If I wanted a thin product, I came home with thick, or visa versa. Although it hasn't occurred to me personally, other members of my club have experienced the above mentioned shelf life issue from these venues as well.

I've had the best success with the purpose-made products for modellers. It's packaged with clearly defined properties (thin, medium, thick, gel, etc) and I've never purchased a bottle that had exceeded it's shelf life.

In the end IMHO, you get what you pay for; you can spend less and take a chance, or you can spend a few bucks more and have confidence you're getting what you need. That's my

Cheers

MikeV wrote:

Sorry guys but I disagree. I have used the cheap CA glues and always come back to Pacer's Zap-A-Gap CA+ as the others are garbage IMHO.

 

I agree with MikeV here.....Especially when your gluing metal parts. I use Pacer Zap exclusively and have never had a problem.....except for maybe gluing my fingers together !! As a professional builder, I definitely don't want parts coming off easily.

Most hobby shops carry ZAP CA, or look on the internet with your favorite hobby supplier.

One more thing......ZAP-A-GAP is for filling holes, or gaps in parts. plain ZAP with the pink label is very thin and works great for very small parts, it "wicks" between the parts very well and drys fast. in most cases it only takes a tiny drop applied with a tooth pick to hold your parts.

I'v had good luck with both Duro and the origional Krazy Glue in the smaller tubes. (actually prefer Duro because I've never seen Krazy Glue in Gel form).  Buy them locally at either the hardware store or the lumber yard (which means if I run out of CA @ 0900 on a Sunday morning I can can have a new tube on the bench NLT 1015 - plus I don't have the 80 mile round trip drive to the nearest hobby shop).  And the only time I've had problems, it is usually because I did something stupid (aka operator head spacing and timing).