first off, i know this stuff when completely dry is harder than steel, so when is the best time to sand it smooth?
Also, is it true that super glue does not fog up clear parts? and is it good to use for installing/sanding seems on clear parts (windshields especially)?
-thanks for help/suggestions
Put on some superglue then hit it with some accelerator and sand right away. It will be soft enough to sand for the next ten or fifteen minutes at the most. The fumes from superglue cause fogging on clear parts. To prevent or reduce this coat the part with Future floor coating first and let it dry. When you apply the superglue remember, it’s the fumes that are causing the trouble so if you create air movement while the glue cures you can greatly reduce the chance of fogging. Blow gently on it or place it in front of a fan for a few minutes, anything to stop the fumes from just sitting there, eating away at the Future coating and getting to the plastic.
Hi I would suggest you sprinkle Baking Soda/ Bicarbonate on to the super glue whilst still wet it will not only cure the glue quickly it also leaves the dried glue very sandable and can still be polished up to represent nav/landing lights etc. Hope this is of help.
Munkie,
I agree with Swanny. I don’t have any of the accelerator but I do wait no more than 10-15 minutes after applying the CA. It sands smooth adn I’ve never had a problem. Make sure you don’t wait any longer than 10-15 mintues! Perhaps even 5-10 minutes would work better.
Also, I’ve dipped canopies in Future before and it really does work great at preventing the fogging that CA will cause when used on clear or even regular plastic parts. Be careful though and just use the CA minimally.
Eric
munkieismad,
I’ve never had a problem with super-glue that had cured for more than 24 hours with accelerator. I have always read about the problems associated with sanding fully-cured superglue, and had been told by many modelers that it cures as hard as steel, but I found out by accident that it still sands pretty easily even after letting it cure for a few days, after using accelerator to initially cure it. I was building something (I forgot what), and had just applied super-glue, with accelerator to cure it, when an emergency came up. Well, it was about three days later when I was finally able to resume the work. After everything that I had heard about fully-cured superglue, I was NOT looking forward to sanding that stuff!! But, it sanded down to a smooth finish very easily, and I’ve been experiencing great results ever since then when letting it cure for for more than 24 hours, which, thankfully, isn’t often. I mean, it kinda defeats the purpose of using the accelerant, dontcha think?
Super glue can be sanded well after it’s curing time. However, it does become harder than styrene, so sanding it when it’s cured is likely to erode more plastic than super glue. So that’s why it is recommended that you sand as soon as it is “set”, usually within the first hour.
I’ve heard the “horror stories” too. I just make sure that I sand within 5-15 minutes just to make sure I never find myself in the position of having to sand down week-old CA. I live in fear of the CA urban legends! LOL!
Eric
when i try to do that,i just mess up,and me,ill go crazy if i mess up
im might be using the wrong glue,is testors glue work,the red squert thing,glue