Will Superglue melt styrene?

[Mike Scott]

Will it?

[Hepcat]

I understand that Superglue doesn't work by melting things. But Superglue itself breaks down over time outdoors and is therefore not necessarily the best choice for styrene structures that are intended to be kept outside.

But why would you not use styrene cement, e.g. Testors, Revell, on syrene plastic anyway?

[Jim Bertges]

No, super glue will not melt styrene. It's curing time can be accelerated with the use of an accelerator (surprisingly) which generates enough heat to blister your skin, but it won't melt plastic. Do you want to melt styrene or avoid melting it?

[Mike Scott]

Do you want to melt styrene or avoid melting it?

Avoid. I have a styrene kit that a part needs reattached and I don't have any model glue. Didn't wanna do something stupid and ruin it. I know they use it on resin kits but wasn't sure about styrene.

[Mike Scott]

But why would you not use styrene cement, e.g. Testors, Revell, on syrene plastic anyway?

Don't have any and don't know where to get any, except online. I already have super glue and it's just a small repair.

[Hepcat]

Don't have any and don't know where to get any, except online.

Model glue though should be available at any convenience or hardware store. Failing those, any store that sells model kits should have model cement.

[Mike Scott]

Model glue though should be available at any convenience or hardware store.

If super glue will work, I can avoid buying something I'll probably never use again.

[Dr.Terror]

[Hepcat]

My first choice for the last 25+ years:



The brush applicator is a godsend.

[Jim Bertges]

Avoid. I have a styrene kit that a part needs reattached and I don't have any model glue. Didn't wanna do something stupid and ruin it. I know they use it on resin kits but wasn't sure about styrene.

A small carefully placed amount of super glue should do the trick. You'll have to hold it in place for a few seconds, but it should hold. You may want to experiment with something else (say a plastic or something) to get the hang of it.

[Mike Scott]

A small carefully placed amount of super glue should do the trick.

Thanks!

[Tom_Hering]

Modelers have used super glue on plastic models for a long, long time. For some aircraft modelers, gap-filling super glue + accelerator is the preferred way to fill seams, because it won't shrink and sands the same as styrene.

[Mike Scott]

is the preferred way to fill seams

My problem is the leg/foot halves on my MotM Creature have opened a little and it falls off the base. Just need to glue that shut and glue it to the base.

[Tom_Hering]

Sand or scrape the mating edges of the leg/foot halves. A tiny amount of super glue will give you a strong bond if it's applied to bare plastic surfaces. Not so much if it's applied to surfaces that still have old glue or paint on them. Clamp after applying the glue.

[Mike Scott]

Sand or scrape the mating edges of the leg/foot halves.

Thanks Tom!