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Hi folks! I'm looking to do some hobby work... at work... like during breaks or lunch. I'm keeping it just to assembly. No painting.

I was wondering though if using super glue on plastic or metal or even finecast minis gives off any sort of odor or something?

I'd hate to annoy fellow office mates with off putting smells (not that we don't have enough issues with that in the building we're in).

I don't know myself due to the fact I cannot pick up odors with my own nose (issue since birth; makes living with gas appliances 'fun').

Yes, most glues have an odor, differing from brand to brand. Super glue often has a very sharp and annoying odor when you work with it, but I doubt that it can be smelled at more than 3 metres away.

 Hanskrampf wrote:
Yes, most glues have an odor, differing from brand to brand. Super glue often has a very sharp and annoying odor when you work with it, but I doubt that it can be smelled at more than 3 metres away.

This. I wouldn't worry too much.

Quite honestly not at a level to concern yourself with, and more akin to someone painting their nails, which is common practise enough.

However priming or spraying varnish? That gaks obnoxious, even coming back indoors with the model after. Do that at home.

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
Quite honestly not at a level to concern yourself with, and more akin to someone painting their nails, which is common practise enough.

If someone was painting their nails near enough to me that I could smell those disgusting chemicals in my work place they'd definitely earn my scorn

I don't think superglue would be a huge issue because the fumes seem to dissipate quite quickly, though before they dissipate they are quite strong.

CA glue fumes are potent, but quite localized, in my experience. I barely even notice them at arms' length, but if I come in over the top of the work my eyes will water. Unless there are a few of you crowded around a small table in a closed room, I doubt anyone else would even notice, let alone find the odor offensive.

I'm rather surprised at the "painting nails" comment - if my wife paints her nails in the bathroom (upstairs, closed door, vent fan on), when she's finished I can smell her coming before I see her. That stuff is way more potent than any superglue I've ever come across. More akin to solvent-based adhesives (chemical welding plastic glues, E-6000, etc.) or 2-part epoxies, IMO.

I began using this odorless superglue a while back (it doesn't say HobbyKing.com, but it otherwise looks the same):



The glue is really awesome. It has no odor at all, and it does not frost. I actually tested it by putting some on the tip of a clear acrylic sprue (previously for a canopy) and putting that into a small, sealed container. No frost at all. At first, I did not think I would like the 10-25 second dry time (I used to use 5-15 second); however, it turns out to be great, as I normally put superglue onto a piece of paper, and use a toothpick to spread that on the surface. This gives me slightly more working time.

However, the Super-Gold+ is quite expensive -- about $15 for the 1oz size, as opposed to $3 or so for a 1/2 oz of their normal superglue. (Insta-Cure+ or some such... it's purple).

That looks like a re-branded BSI glue, Talys. Bob Smith Industries makes all sorts of CA glues, many of which are are sold under different labels. Direct from BSI, they have purple labels.

Never seen a superglue marketed as "odorless," before. The main selling point of such a formula, usually, is that it won't fog or craze, making it safe for clear parts (canopies and the like). When I think about it, though, it makes sense that the lack of volatiles that cause the frosting effect would eliminate the odor, as well.

 oadie wrote:
That looks like a re-branded BSI glue, Talys. Bob Smith Industries makes all sorts of CA glues, many of which are are sold under different labels. Direct from BSI, they have purple labels.

Never seen a superglue marketed as "odorless," before. The main selling point of such a formula, usually, is that it won't fog or craze, making it safe for clear parts (canopies and the like). When I think about it, though, it makes sense that the lack of volatiles that cause the frosting effect would eliminate the odor, as well.

Yeah, mine is BSI; it doesn't have funky logos on the top. That was just the clearest picture I found when I Bing'ed it

Frankly, I don't care about the odorless part. I like the non-frosting (even though the proportion of canopies I do is very small), and I like the longer set time that falls somewhere between superglue and plastic cement. If I were frugal, I'd have one supergold and one instacure, but I can't be bothered, and 1Oz of superglue lasts a really, really long time. Even a half ounce will go a long ways.

 Talys wrote:
when I Bing'ed it

Found your problem there mate

Thanks folks!

Actually forgot I made this thread