Glue for 3D prints

[Wolfie65 1282xp 0]

I am going to try to tackle Doge Diodato which is a rather huge piece that comes in many parts, the base alone comes in 2 pieces, the boat has 4 and then there are the figures and I’m wondering what type of glue to use.Superglue will not cut it and doesn’t really work all that well on 3D prints anyway. 

[grantinvanman]

I’ve used superglue on all 3D prints that a buddy does for me. Not sure why it won’t work for you?

Normal purple gap filling medium, and the pink bottle with flex (has rubber additive) are suitable. 

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by grantinvanman.

[Wolfie65 1282xp 0]

Even with much sturdier materials like metal or plastic, the bond that superglue creates is delicate at best, prime example being Dragon wings made of metal….for which some sort of epoxy is really the only realistic option.

I have found that 3D prints, even small parts like arms or heads, need to be lightly sanded or the superglue will not work. The Doge, being a large and coplex piece, needs good bonds, not something that might snap apart if I hold it ‘wrong’ during painting.

[sundancer 44915xp 0]

scaring instead of sanding gives the surface a better grip for the superglue. Midwinter Minis does this for his lager builds. But if you want to be 100% sure things don’t fall apart you’ll need to resort to pinning and 2-part glues. Or you could try UV activated glue. That stuff usually doesn’t go anywhere once it’s set.

[pagan8th 15364xp 0]

I use superglue for resin 3d prints that I buy from etsy.

On a related matter… I’ve been using plastic glue for Star Wars Legion and that doesn’t seem to make a very good bond.

[sundancer 44915xp 0]

I’ve been using plastic glue for Star Wars Legion and that doesn’t seem to make a very good bond.

@pagan8th If you’re talking about the first gen of models that came in little plastic bags: they are PVC, you need to use superglue. Gel superglue works fine. The newer models that come on a sprue glue very well with either Tamiya Extra Thin Cement or Revell Contacta.

[pagan8th 15364xp 0]

The Echo Base Defenders are the ones not gluing well. They feel like a hard plastic.

Had no trouble with the Core Box and other models I bought.

[grantinvanman 10514xp 0]

Yeah, the Legion figures aren’t quite plastic – especially the early ones. I tried plastic glue when I started that project, and quickly learned. Superglue.

And @sundancer had a going point – scoring the surfaces lightly will increase the bonding area, even more than sanding. Pinning, scoring and superglue, nothing will come apart.

Accelerants are handy, but create a weaker bond; there’s a trade off. Better to let the superglue do its thing if you want the strongest bond.

[pagan8th 15364xp 0]

Shame they don’t make the figures out of human flesh… superglue was designed to bond flesh and very good at it.

[Wolfie65 1282xp 0]

It’s the moisture.

I always cringe when I read about books written on human skin, drums made of human skin etc. It’s way too thin and fragile to be suitable for anything like that.

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