White Glue

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

I tried over the weekend to use white Elmers glue to make blast bags on my Bismarck. I had read this in Mike Ashley’s book. The glue would melt and run, not allowing for build-up. It was actually cool where I work so heat is not a problem.

Is there another type of white glue that Mr. Ashley was referring to?

Thanks in advance.

2

Bump

Any other ideas how to make blast bags?

3

Instead of Elmers White Glue try Aleene’s Tacky Glue - from the craft store. It is thicker and does not run as much. Pile up several thin coats of Tacky Glue instead of one big blob of thin white glue

4

You might try Elmers Wood glue (the yellow kind). It’s thicker than the white glue and can be found in hardware stores, lumberyards and home improvement centers (Home Depot, Lowes etc)

5

I tried the tacky glue and it worked much better!! I now have blast bags.

Thanks!!

6

Another trick: mix some water-soluble paint (my favorite is PolyScale) in with the white glue. That will stiffen the mix a little, and when it dries it will be almost the same color as the paint. (The glue becomes transparent as it dries; the paint obviously doesn’t.)

One word of caution, though. The finished product will be a little shiny. DON’T use water-soluble flat finish (like PolyScale clear flat - which otherwise is wonderful stuff). The water in the finish will soften up the glue, and you’ll be back where you started. Use solvent-based flat finish - such as Testor’s Model Master.

For really big filling jobs you might try the classic old-fashioned woodworker’s filler: white glue mixed with extremely fine sawdust. You can brew that one to any degree of stiffness you like.