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Glue for 3D prints

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This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by Wolfie65.

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January 15, 2025 at 10:56 am #1911814

Wolfie65
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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.

January 15, 2025 at 1:41 pm #1911855
grantinvanman
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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, 1 month ago by grantinvanman.
January 16, 2025 at 10:30 am #1912029

Wolfie65
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 2:01 pm #1912055

sundancer
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 3:04 pm #1912062

pagan8th
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 3:53 pm #1912066

sundancer
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 4:36 pm #1912069

pagan8th
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 5:24 pm #1912072

grantinvanman
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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.

January 16, 2025 at 9:31 pm #1912104

pagan8th
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Shame they don’t make the figures out of human flesh… superglue was designed to bond flesh and very good at it.

January 18, 2025 at 10:24 am #1912337

Wolfie65
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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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