Best Glue for Plastic to Metal????

[Anonymous]

I want to glue a code 70 nickel silver rail in the pit of a Walthers 90 foot turntable. I need a glue that will fix the rail securely to the plastic ties which I assume are styrene. I am considering using 5 minute epoxy which would allow me to glue the rail a bit at a time. Does anyone know of a better glue to use for this application?

[tstage]

siremly,

Either the 5-minute epoxy or CA (cyanacrylic) will work fine. If you want or need to be able to position it after you attach it, go with the 5-min. epoxy. Make sure you have enough ventilation.though.

Tom

[nfmisso]

More specifically, if you decide on the CA route - go with Loctite 4500. http://techtalk.loctite.com/index.tpl?action=spotlight&sp_id=6

[rrinker]

Duco Cement also works well for this, just beware the stringies (like old tube-type model glue). But I usually use CA for these applications - like gluing metal weights into plastic car kits - just never in a passenger car, CA fumes will craze the clear plastic windows. Duco doesn't have that problem.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to clamp down the rail to the plastic ties and then allow the CA to wick under the rail to effect the bonding? The info from Loctite on the internet seems to suggest this is possible but I am not sure .

My only information about CA is that it should be applied to only one surface which in this situation would be possible but not the best approach since clamping would permit the accuracy required.

[tstage]

siremly,

CA comes in a variety of thicknesses: from thin to very thick. If you apply CA to only one surface, you will get immediate adhesion. I've found that If you apply it to BOTH surfaces, the added CA will give you a small amount of "adjustment time" (small = at least a minute) so that you can manuver your pieces into place.

Only a thinner (waterier) CA would wick into the joint but I don't really know if it would be thin enough. I've only had experience with the thicker stuff.

Tom

[bogp40]

Originally posted by siremly

Is it possible to clamp down the rail to the plastic ties and then allow the CA to wick under the rail to effect the bonding? The info from Loctite on the internet seems to suggest this is possible but I am not sure .

/quote]

To position the rails before glueing you could drill and spike them for proper position and gauge-then glue w/ CA.

Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

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