Ok, it's official - I suck at glueing

robgmun · Post by **robgmun** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:52 am

CA stright from the applicator, CA is too thin and goes everywhere apart from where i want.

Can some of you give some wisdom as to how you do it??

Johnnycrash · Post by **Johnnycrash** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:14 am

Put a small amount of the CA on a scrap piece of plastic, and use a toothpic to apply. This gives you complete control.

Just remember to place the scrap piece away from the main area of your work area. I glued a large piece to the side of my hand. It took the better part of an hour, with Owen's help, to remove it.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:46 am

MicroMark even sells little red caps to put CA in. I usually use a 3 inch piece of small diameter piano wire to apply the CA, whether it's the thin stuff or the Wave Black CA unless I need a lot of it.

Then I put on some nitrile gloves so that if the stuff gets on my fingers I can just pull the gloves off. They've massively reduced gluing models to myself.

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:31 am

I use the plastic tops from discarded containers (like the kind you get on a can of mixed nuts) to place a small puddle of CA on. The can tops are soft and flexible so when I've got too much dried CA on one, I just bend the top back and forth until the spot of CA pops off. Good as new. For an applicator, I have a large sewing needle chucked in my pin vise. I cut off the tip of the eye about half way up the opening to make a tiny, two pronged fork. When I dip the fork into the CA puddle, I get a nice little drop caught between the prongs. It's just enough to make a precise application right where I need it. If you don't have a pin vise to use as a handle, you can stick the pointy end of the needle into the eraser end of a pencil. All you really need is something you can hold comfortably.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:51 am

Pat and I use the exact same method. I jam the needle into an old pink eraser. When the tiny needle fork gets clogged up, I set it on fire to burn off the glue. (Just don't inhale this stuff). That wears out the needle after a while, the prongs actually burn away after a few weeks. But needles are cheap.

Oh, and I place a few drops of CA in a milk cap. Plentiful and disposable, and no chance of sticking my arm in the glue.

admiralcag · Post by **admiralcag** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:33 am

I use bottle caps. People look at me strange as I gently pry open my beer and put the cap in my pocket. I also use a drafting pen as an applicator. There are some good ideas here, though.

Vern

rpauly · Post by **rpauly** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:19 am

Pat Amaral wrote:I use the plastic tops from discarded containers (like the kind you get on a can of mixed nuts) to place a small puddle of CA on. The can tops are soft and flexible so when I've got too much dried CA on one, I just bend the top back and forth until the spot of CA pops off. Good as new. For an applicator, I have a large sewing needle chucked in my pin vise. I cut off the tip of the eye about half way up the opening to make a tiny, two pronged fork. When I dip the fork into the CA puddle, I get a nice little drop caught between the prongs. It's just enough to make a precise application right where I need it. If you don't have a pin vise to use as a handle, you can stick the pointy end of the needle into the eraser end of a pencil. All you really need is something you can hold comfortably.

Yuppers. I stuck a pin in the end of some dowling. Works like a charm.

TREKKRIFFIC · Post by **TREKKRIFFIC** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:37 am

I put CA on little squares of waxed cardboard I cut from the separator they put between the two layers of soda cans when you buy a case at COSTCO. For applicators I use toothpicks or brass wire if I really need fine control. I even have one of those capillary action dental tools you dip in the CA and touch the joint so it flows along seams. I don't always use gloves though which I should.

USSARCADIA · Post by **USSARCADIA** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:15 pm

I just use these on top of my Zap-a-gap:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/u ... G_2322.jpg

I can put a small dot where I need it by controlling how much I squeeze the bottle. 5 for less than a buck too.

Post by **TER-OR** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:31 pm

Blister packs from pills work great as little wells. It stays active for quite a while.

Yes, just a tiny amount to get the parts fixed. THEN you can come back and fill the gap with more. Get some practice, and you'll have a smooth joint.

Topher5000 · Post by **Topher5000** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:27 am

I bent a staple in half, drilled a small hole in the end of a piece of sprue & glued the bent staple in. The 'fork' formed by the staple ends draw the CA in.
If I need more CA, I spread the ends of the staple. If I need less, I push them together.

flyfort17 · Post by **flyfort17** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:06 am

I recently discovered Gator Glue. That stuff is awesome. It dries a little slower than ca giving you more working time. You can find it here.

http://www.gatorsmask.com/