Glues

[paxton58]

I am wanting to glue paper signs to plastic buildings or other plastic items. Any recommendations as to what type of glue works best?

[simon1966]

I use white glue after sanding the back of the paper sign very thin. Seems to work fine and I can burni***he sign onto the structure wall carefully so that wall detail like brick is evident.

[Anonymous]

Simon, I've never heard of sanding the back of the paper. What does this do?

IMHO I would use a spray adhesive applied to the paper sign. Burnish, gently, as you stick it in place. Start on one corner, working one edge to get it lined up and level like you would a decal, then burnish it in place using the edge of a "pink pearl" eraser with a tapping or pressing down motion, and again I say gently burnish as "wet" paper will crack open, working your way to the opposite side. I find it easiest to start with the top edge and work down like you would do when hanging wallpaper.

[Eriediamond]

Paxton, I could kick myself right now, I use a contact cement that comes in a spray can made by 3-M. It is packed away with my model airplane stuff at the present so can't give you the name of it but something like m471 or something like that. Anyway, after you trim your papersign to fit, lay the paper sign up side down on a piece of waxed paper and lightly mist the back side with this glue. Then place it on your plastic model. I like it because it sticks really well, but it is easily removed if you ever want to change it later on. I used it a lot when building R/C airplanes, by gluing the paper plans down on a sheet of glass, then lay plastic food wrap over the plans, then spray this glue on the plastic wrap. It allows me to place the wood parts directly on the plan and to be held in place while glueing for a nice straight wing or whatever. Anyhow if you want to change things later on, just peel the old sign off, it doesn't damage the plastic at all. Good luck, Ken

[Big_Boy_4005]

Greetings from the land of 3M!! Eriediamond might be thinking of 3M 77 spray adhesive, but 3M makes a lot of different STICKY things. That was actually where 3M started, sticking grit to paper, SANDPAPER. Put sticky stuff on plastic film or paper, and you get TAPE, another major group of 3M products. But enough history, back to the question.

One thing to watch out for when working with paper is, having whatever adhesive bleed through, and discolor the paper. It is a good idea to test any product, that you want to try, on a scrap of material first.

You may not find the 3M adhesives at the hobby store. Check the yellow pages under art supply or adhesives, and you should find them.

[Eriediamond]

That was it big-boy!!!! Thanks.

[simon1966]

I like to use JL Innovative designs signs and posters. They reccomend sanding the paper to make it much thinner. I use a fine grit sand paper and carefully sand the back of the sign to reduce the paper thickness. When I have sanded to the point that I can almost see the sign through the paper, I carefully cut it out with a fresh blade, apply a very small ammount of white glue with a toothpick and apply to the wall. By making the sign much thinner, it can conform to the wall detail much better and does not look so much like a piece of paper glued to the wall. I have then used india ink wash and weathering powders to make the sign look like a faded painted on sign.

Simon