Looking for a better "Super Glue"?

I have tried several can glues and like loctite the best so far.

E6000.   My daughter used to skate and this is the glue they used to attach sequins onto the fabric.  

I use Loctite products on my cars.....never tried the glue.

I also like Gorilla glue light blue cap. Carried almost every where if Loctite not  available.,

Also need to remember that glue has a shelf life.  I think CA is about a year if unopened (could be wrong) and much shorter after the first use.

My "go to" CA adhesives are Loctite 416 for general work.

I use Loctite 380 Blackmax for when I need the glue to blend in with a black shell.

If you want your CA adhesive to last longer, store it in the fridge.

I'm waiting on an order for Loctite 480, it sounded interesting.  It actually sounds like it may be the replacement for #380, so I figured I'd have a look.

My glue for anything i want to stay together is Loctite 380. A few years ago while gluing two pieces of brass together, I accidentally miss-aligned them. The next day when i noticed my mistake, it took a Zona saw to get them apart. FYI it is NOT distributed through the big box retail, auto parts, or home center channels. I buy mine from Grainger's.

I use Loctite for general applications where the parts stay together easily w/o loosening up and Dap Rapid Fuse for applications where a quicker a set-up is required - like gluing people to the layout.

I also like using a CA accelerator ("zip kicker") where an instant bond is desired. They come in brush-on bottles and spray cans and can be helpful where three hands are needed. I have not found the bond to be any weaker using an accelerator and it can speed up assembly time on many projects.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

...If you want your CA adhesive to last longer, store it in the fridge....

Good point, and absolutely true. 

Do you share your fridge with a woman?  If so, paying $5 for a new bottle might be cheaper than the "cost" of putting it in the refrigerator.

$5?  You haven't priced the real Loctite product lately, have you?   I don't buy the crap that big box stores sell, I want the actual 20g commercial bottle.  I've bought the little bottles from HD or Lowes before, and they're either out of date or not the same formulation.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My "go to" CA adhesives are Loctite 416 for general work.

I use Loctite 380 Blackmax for when I need the glue to blend in with a black shell.

If you want your CA adhesive to last longer, store it in the fridge.

I'm waiting on an order for Loctite 480, it sounded interesting.  It actually sounds like it may be the replacement for #380, so I figured I'd have a look.

@GRJ

Having used CA in an industrial and medical environment, what GRJ says is absolutely dead on.

GRJ - consider using 425, its a threadlocker for plastic threads but it is a CA with primer that works well on the slick plastics. 

Lou N

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My "go to" CA adhesives are Loctite 416 for general work.

I use Loctite 380 Blackmax for when I need the glue to blend in with a black shell.

If you want your CA adhesive to last longer, store it in the fridge.

I'm waiting on an order for Loctite 480, it sounded interesting.  It actually sounds like it may be the replacement for #380, so I figured I'd have a look.

John where to you get it as it is pricey?

Permabond 910

Aircraft grade.

Rick, I just pay a lot of money for it.   I do an Internet search to see the best prices with shipping.  With a little care, I can use a bottle of it the better part of a year, it goes a long way if you keep it cool and capped.

This thread has been an eye-opener for me.  I've been using Zap-a-Gap CA glue and I'm becoming more and more frustrated at how the nozzles clog up and eventually become unusual while I still have a half bottle or more left to go.  I have to unclog the nozzles with a pin over and over.  Is Loctitite 380 an equivalent to Zap-a-Gap (which I like other than for the clogging problem)?

I've never used Zap-A-Gap; but i buy Loctite 380 in the 3g tube and never have had trouble with it clogging. I use about 2-3 tubes a year now that my model building (repairing) has slowed down. I keep it hidden in an unused empty pill bottle in the fridge near the train room. As i said i buy it at Graingers for about $8 a tube. It often can be found at other industrial supply houses. Be wary of the low priced stuff on the internet as it may be close to expiring.

Big fan of Gorilla Super Glue - light blue cap.

I tried Gorilla Super Glue, but it's nothing like the quality of the Loctite products, at least IMO.  I find I use mostly the Loctite 416, and to a lesser extend the Loctite 380.  I'm looking forward to trying the Loctite 480 and see how it differs from the 380.

John it differs about 100. Don

Is that in dollars or quality?

Without picking a fight, remember this thread is about better super glue; expect to pay more.  Both GRJ and I are engineers with professional experience using CA.

For those planning to try out the Loctite industrial adhesives I suggest you also get a bottle of Loctite X-NMS which is the solvent for these adhesives.  Acetone doesn't touch this stuff.

Regards,

Lou N

Lou nailed it guys!! First time I stepped away from the cheap stuff, good to see real pros with real experience share their thoughts!!

@Jeff T posted:

Lou nailed it guys!! First time I stepped away from the cheap stuff, good to see real pros with real experience share their thoughts!!

Lets not overlook GRJ's technical expertise.

Lou N

That's why I enjoy this forum: I get the benefit of everyone's expertise and experience!

Darn it anyways. I just purchased some Mike's ca online . I wanted to try some thing besides zap a gap and now I find this topic on the forum. Better late than never😂

I've had my best results with Loctite products. There was a noticeable difference between Loctite and the "cheap stuff".

@West Side Joe posted:

This thread has been an eye-opener for me.  I've been using Zap-a-Gap CA glue and I'm becoming more and more frustrated at how the nozzles clog up and eventually become unusual while I still have a half bottle or more left to go.  I have to unclog the nozzles with a pin over and over.

You need to get some applicator tips for your Zap-a-Gap bottle.  These greatly extend the use of a bottle of Zap-a-Gap, can be trimmed if/when they clog, and also permit far greater control of the application. As a chemist, I've used these for many years for CA without having a clogged bottle nor have I had any bottles go bad or solidify.  Knowing and applying proper storage of CA is critical to maintaining its potency.

@Richie C. posted:

"I use Loctite for  gluing people to the layout".

Use caution when visiting!

@mwb posted:

You need to get some applicator tips for your Zap-a-Gap bottle.  These greatly extend the use of a bottle of Zap-a-Gap, can be trimmed if/when they clog, and also permit far greater control of the application. As a chemist, I've used these for many years for CA without having a clogged bottle nor have I had any bottles go bad or solidify.  Knowing and applying proper storage of CA is critical to maintaining its potency.

That is awesome. I didn't know those existed. Thanks! I have some on order.

@mwb posted:

You need to get some applicator tips for your Zap-a-Gap bottle.  These greatly extend the use of a bottle of Zap-a-Gap, can be trimmed if/when they clog, and also permit far greater control of the application. As a chemist, I've used these for many years for CA without having a clogged bottle nor have I had any bottles go bad or solidify.  Knowing and applying proper storage of CA is critical to maintaining its potency.

I'm using these tips now and they are tremendous.  Thank you very much for the idea.

@ricka1 posted:

I've had my best results with Loctite products. There was a noticeable difference between Loctite and the "cheap stuff".

Same here. Super glue has never worked worth a _____ for me, and I've tried a bunch of different ones over the years. Just gave up on the stuff, until I started using Loctite. Sounds like others have found the same thing. Have just used Loctite Plastics Bonder so far. Still have to apply it correctly or it may not work, though.

I just ordered and received some Loctite 416 per GRJ and Lou N's advice. It getting close to Chanel perfume country in price (well, relatively speaking, compared to common super glues), but will be absolutely worth it if it's effective and reliable. I'm looking forward to trying it.

Thank you for this discussion guys.  I wrote-off CA's years ago because none of them did anything for me.  I just ordered some 416.  Do you do anything special to keep the bottle from solidifying or the opening from closing up?