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I've just received news that no miniature modeler ever wants to hear - I've become hyper-sensitized (and thus, by all rights allergic) to cyanoacrylate... the special ingredient that makes things like Zap-A-Gap and many other super glues so good at what they do. My question: does anyone have any gluing alternatives that specifically don't have cyanoacrylate listed in the ingredients? How good are they?

sucks man.

idk though, plastic glue for plastics and green stuff maybe for metal and finecast?

Yeah, I'll use plastic glue on my plastic minis if I have to, but I like to use magnets on units that can swap out weapons and also I use a lot of resin and metal models (for games like Mordheim... and also just because they look cool!), and I've never really used green stuff as a bond, only to add details to the models themselves... does it create a strong bond at all, or would I be fixing things all the time?

Iv heard that the gorilla glue brand super glue works ok and IIRC is not CA based

I use testors plastic glue for all plastic models and any superglue I can find for everything else, for larger resin models it's a good idea to use a two part epoxy for bigger pieces as well as pinning them together

If you set aside a well-ventilated area with a fan blowing away any fumes, you can probably get away with light superglue usage. Also using the needle applier superglue bottles instead of just globbing it everywhere keeps the fumes down as well.

Gorilla has CA...it also has a rubberizer to make it less brittle though.

2 part epoxy will become your friend for resin and metal. I use 5 minute epoxies almost exclusivle on metal, the bond is more durable than you get with super glues. Once you get a handle on it, it really isnt any more difficult than using CA.

Yep Looks Like Epoxies for you then..and Padded Clamps ;o)

Thanks for the thoughts so far, folks. @Sean_OBrien @BrotherVord, what 5-minute epoxies have you used? I know Gorilla Glue makes one, but I'm not sure if there are better blends out there.

@Badablack, having been someone who hasn't simply "globbed it everywhere" and uses the needle applier exclusively, I can say with experience to anyone entering the hobby to work in a well-ventilated area with fans blowing as a precaution, not after becoming hyper-sensitized. I cannot get away with any light usage (light as in gluing together 3 metal models in an evening), lest I want to feel flu-like symptoms for 2-3 days after gluing models together. It sucks, but having lived in apartments for the better part of a decade has made it difficult to find those choice areas with good ventilation... and I'm now paying the price for it.

I am not too picky with Epoxies, just make sure you buy from a store with a good turnover rate. Fresher batches are less tempermental, so an old package can be more difficult to work with. I think I currently have 3M brand in my adhesives drawer, though I am not married to one particulair brand and almost all that I have used provide satisfactory results.

Hobby stores tend to be the best place to get epoxies.. I am always ordering a huge amount of epoxy to restock our shelves each week..

Gorilla Glue, and ALL superglues have cyanoacrylate in them, as that is what makes them superglues!

http://www.gorillatough.com/uploads/MSDS/Super/Gorilla%20Super%20Glue%20MSDS%20US%20July%202010.pdf

As to epoxies, I LOVE JB Kwik! It sets quickly and holds extremely well. It also has the benefit of being available nearly everywhere and is quite inexpensive.

Not really an alternative, but have you tried working gloves(Mechanix) or Latex gloves, and then a face mask and some goggles? I know you can get some that are basically strap on sunglasses that seal around the eyes and paper face masks or even painters mask can be bought as well.

 Todosi wrote:
Gorilla Glue, and ALL superglues have cyanoacrylate in them, as that is what makes them superglues!

http://www.gorillatough.com/uploads/MSDS/Super/Gorilla%20Super%20Glue%20MSDS%20US%20July%202010.pdf

As to epoxies, I LOVE JB Kwik! It sets quickly and holds extremely well. It also has the benefit of being available nearly everywhere and is quite inexpensive.

JB has the advantage of being thick too. You can sculpt it up a bit and it is viscous enough to actually hold small plastic and resin parts without clamping. Plus, you can find it everywhere all the time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Bobaram wrote:
Not really an alternative, but have you tried working gloves(Mechanix) or Latex gloves, and then a face mask and some goggles? I know you can get some that are basically strap on sunglasses that seal around the eyes and paper face masks or even painters mask can be bought as well.

One of the issues with CA allergies is that it will go through your skin. There is no amount of gloves or masks short of MOP level or a HAZMAT suit that works with them.

Is there anyway you can get a friend or family member to glue your miniatures? Plastic glue makes it so you can never disassemble them again, and actually glueing models is such a small part of the hobby compared to cutting from sprues, removing mold lines, painting etc.

 Sean_OBrien wrote:

 Todosi wrote:
Gorilla Glue, and ALL superglues have cyanoacrylate in them, as that is what makes them superglues!

http://www.gorillatough.com/uploads/MSDS/Super/Gorilla%20Super%20Glue%20MSDS%20US%20July%202010.pdf

As to epoxies, I LOVE JB Kwik! It sets quickly and holds extremely well. It also has the benefit of being available nearly everywhere and is quite inexpensive.

JB has the advantage of being thick too. You can sculpt it up a bit and it is viscous enough to actually hold small plastic and resin parts without clamping. Plus, you can find it everywhere all the time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Bobaram wrote:
Not really an alternative, but have you tried working gloves(Mechanix) or Latex gloves, and then a face mask and some goggles? I know you can get some that are basically strap on sunglasses that seal around the eyes and paper face masks or even painters mask can be bought as well.

One of the issues with CA allergies is that it will go through your skin. There is no amount of gloves or masks short of MOP level or a HAZMAT suit that works with them.

Egads that's horrendous!