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Subject says it all. i have the fine grit basing, and I wanted to know if i can just brush on super glue instead of pva glue?

Only if you don't mind loosing a brush. Superglue takes about half a second to bond things rather well and will fuse all the brush's bristles together before your done spreading the stuff. PVA's much better.

Slater wrote:Only if you don't mind loosing a brush. Superglue takes about half a second to bond things rather well and will fuse all the brush's bristles together before your done spreading the stuff. PVA's much better.

Or you could simply not use a brush.

Toothpicks and coffee stirrers, long pins, a piece of thick wire, a piece of cut sprue, etc., etc. I have used all of them for this very purpose...

You can, but PVA glue is generally easier to control, and holds the sand on better. That's my experience anyway.

Slater wrote:Only if you don't mind loosing a brush. Superglue takes about half a second to bond things rather well and will fuse all the brush's bristles together before your done spreading the stuff. PVA's much better.

That really depends on the superglue... You actually can buy brush-on superglues. Come in a little pot with a brish applicator.


Otherwise, you can use a toothpick, or just spread it directly from the end of the tube, although that can clog the nozzle over several uses.


A different idea that I've been trying out, is grinding up old sprue in an electric spice/coffee grinder, and then gluing it in place with plastic cement. Works well, but is rather hard on the spice grinder...

So superglue and PVA glue are basically identical. The difference is that superglue is very, very dangerous to paint brushes, and I leaves an obnoxious shiney residue.

If you're going to be putting down sand right away, then it doesn't matter. If you're going to put it down after you're done with the model (like I do), then use PVA glue. The only time I use superglue is to put down larger rocks, and to glue down the fluffy foam foliage stuff.

Brother SRM wrote:You can, but PVA glue is generally easier to control, and holds the sand on better. That's my experience anyway.

I find superglue applied thru one of the long pointed applicators (like those that come with zap a gap bottles) to be far more controllable then any way I have discovered to apply PVA, and I find supergue virtually bulletproof once applied, so its a win win for me...

PVA is just easier. Unless you are careless, it isn't that messy, and you don't have to rush to get the thing covered in sand before it dries. You also get more glue for your money when you buy from GW. A lot more. £4 for a bottle the size of your thumbnail that could potentially glue your wrists together for the week, or £5 for a bottle as big as a child's arm, that won't glue you so badly if you get any on your skin, it is slow drying, so you can get any excess glue off the model (or on your clothes) before it dries, and it can also be used as a glaze for other projects (not yet sure whether PVA is good for a varnish on miniatures). all sounds good to me!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Of course, you will need some super glue handy for those metal miniatures!

I assume the fine grit basing is like sand.

PVA works fine as long as the base starts clean. PVA adhesive is an acrylic polymer like paint.

Brush slightly thinned PVA onto the base and sprinkle the sand on top.

Let it dry, then tap off the excess.

Paint another coat of PVA, more thinned than before, on top of the sand.

Once dried it is damn hard and can be painted.

You can also use PVA to coat your cheese to prevent fungi microorganisms from using it as a habitat!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_acetate#Applications_and_uses.

Now I love this substance! Back to the topic then...