Water based glue

Can anyone recommend a water based ‘safe’ glue for use when attaching photoetched rivet heads to finished bodywork? I don’t want to use CA since it can really damage the paintwork which I’ve worked hard to perfect. So far I’ve tried white glue and Gorilla (Wood) glue but these don’t have the adhesion when dry.

You might try Gator’s Grip acrylic glue. It’s similar to white glue but thinner, especially the stiff designed especially for PE.

Cheers, Aaron

Thanks Aaron, duly ordered and mailed. Simon

I will second Aaron’s suggestion. Gator glue is fantastic.

Thanks Aaron! You may have saved my seatbelts!

My choice is Crafter’s pick. It’s supposed to be a water based super glue and I use it mostly for paper models, but it is good for other things as well.

Thank you, another good recommendation, and my eBay research on Crafter’s pick led me to a ‘similar product’ suggestion, Anita’s Tacky Glue, which I inherited last year from my mother and was sitting in my desk! Who knew! Serendipity in action.

Hi;

I have read this and reserved my remarks .To do what you want I use "Aleens Tacky Glue " . This product has always worked for me and besides it doesn’t seem to weaken when I overspray with any type of clear . T.B.

Would any of you recommend any.of these adhesives for structural building or strictly for small parts?

I did use Gator Grip based on Aaron’s recommendation. It is strong but I’ve never used it for heavy duty purposes but being as it does not weld the plastic it will never match polystyrene cement for strength.

I have successfully used white glue for small rivets. I do this during the priming process, so there will be coats of paint later that will improve adhesion. You must be careful while painting the next coat of paint or primer after you put on the rivets, but it is doable.

I’ve been trying to find a non-toxic alternative to solvent glues. I’m playing with Titebond wood glue on an X-wing fighter. For smaller stuff it seems to work ok but of course for more structural assemblies it is inadequate. My wife has very severe asthma to the point that even my isolated work studio downstairs isn’t enough separation for her and this has curtailed my working to nonexistent. Smelly modeling materials are top of the list of things that aggravate her asthma.

I agree that Gator Grip is really a good white glue. I use it for glueing canopies and PE.