Lauren, over at the Abuzz Designs Youtube channel, has been working on an awesome, non-functional, gear table. The table involves the use of various gears that mesh together to create the legs of a table. Although not functional, the design will keep you staring for hours. Being Lauren’s design will be holding a large piece of glass, as well as whatever she decides to place on it, she needed to find a strong adhesive for her parts printed in PLA. Unlike ABS, she couldn’t simple solvent weld the parts using Acetone. So what did Lauren do? She went to the store and picked up various adhesives to give a try:
- Loctite Ultra Stick N’ Seal Ultra
- Yellow’s over time
- Oozes out of the tube
- Duco Model and Plastic Cement
- Easy to use and apply
- Very strong chemical glue smell
- Bond & Fill PVC Cement
- Works well as a filling agent
- Very messy and difficult to work with
- Have to mix it up once you squeeze it out
- Leaves a white haze on parts
- Gorilla Super Glue
- Easy to apply with a nice controlled tip
- Inexpensive
- Gorilla Epoxy
- Easy to plunge and dispense
- One of the easiest products to use, not too goopy or stringy
- Nice tackiness to help hold parts in place
Down to the results. Lauren created semi-circle rings to adhere together and tested the strength needed to pull them apart. In Lauren’s opinion, the WORST performer was the Duco Model and Plastic Cement. Only slightly ahead of the Duco was the Bond & Fill PVC Cement. Tied as runner-ups was the Loctite Ultra Stick N’ Seal Ultra and the Gorilla Super Glue. The overall WINNER by far was the Gorilla Epoxy.
When working with new materials it is always best to test adhesives, paint, or any other additives on test parts just like Lauren did instead on your actual project. Also, make sure not to forget, a quick search online can reward you with the failures and successes of those who have traveled down the path you are seeking.
