A Very Sticky Subject

[walterwhiting]

What type of glue should I use to repair Aristocraft and USA Trains cars?
Walter Whiting

[John Busby]

Hi Walter
this possably has the same problems as LGB plastic.
Try MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone this will glue most plastics but MUST I repeat MUST be used in a very WELL VENTALATED area.
Another one but much harder to get is Cloroform same rule applies and
Skin contact and fumes with both should be avoided.
regards John

[tangerine-jack]

MEK ought to work well, if not then you can try some contruction adhesive like Liquid Nails. Used sparingly it will hold the part on there forever or perhaps longer.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tangerine-jack

MEK ought to work well, if not then you can try some contruction adhesive like Liquid Nails. Used sparingly it will hold the part on there forever or perhaps longer.

Is this Aristo/USA plastic some bizarre concoction such that most styrene solvent glues like Testors, et al. won’t work with it?

[tangerine-jack]

Depending on which part of the rolling stock you want to glue, it can be a problem. Most of the car bodies are straight polymer plastic that any compatable glue will hold. The detail parts are often made of delrin or some other plastic derivative that often MEK won't touch. This is done because those pieces need to be flexible in the case of handrails and such, or super slippery like a bogie or axle set.

I haven't needed to do very much repair, but in my experience the MEK is the first thing I grab for. If that fails, then it's on to the Liquid Nails. Perhaps somebody else with more experience with gluing the plastic can give us more insight.

[vsmith]

I've had real good luck carving up and reglueing Aristo, Bachman, Scientific Etc. Ect. cars with regular CA adhesive like Zap-Gap, you have to tape it or clamp it together as it partially disolves the surface plastic and wait for it to dry, but once dry wow its permanent! Painting it seals it from UV. So far so good

[grandpopswalt]

I've had good luck gluing Bachmann car bodies using PVC pipe joint primer (the purple stuff you buy at Home Depot).

Walt

[Curmudgeon]

Weld-On #16, the thickened version.
It will even glue LGB stuff.
I also use it for all my buildings.
I get it at the local Plastic outlet, TAP Plastics.

[Marty Cozad]

Woow, look at all the glues. I use 3M Emblem Adheisive from auto parts store. Made for plastic to stick to plastic or metal out doors on cars