CA

Other Names:

Cyanoacrylate glues (CA) are well known, and easily found in stores as "superglue", "elephant glue".

Description:

They are applied as a clear liquid, which will penetrate into porous surfaces and are then set off by moisture present. (This is why they are so good at sticking skin together, one of it's original design purposes).

As a rule, they have limited gap filling tenancies and work best on close fitting porous surfaces. They have limited usefulness on foam due to foam's open cell structure.

They are available in different grades, typically:

Thin - used for soaking into materials where precise placement is not possible - sets fastest, often almost instantly.

Medium - used for typical regular gluing situations - sets in a few seconds.

Thick - used where some degree of gap filling is required - sets slowest.

Foam safe - used for foams such as EPS or Depron that will be dissolved by regular type CA products.

Accelerators are available that cause the glue to set up faster, some users also spray with water to set up faster.

Baking Soda can be applied as a gap filler, the CA will wick through and glue the entire assembly together.

Advantages:

Instant gluing.

Disadvantages:

EPS or Depron that will be dissolved by regular type CA products.

Handling:

Can have large amounts of fumes given off when setting, particularly the thinner varieties. Care needs to be taken if the user is susceptible to such fumes.

Can be removed with acetone or nitromethane (model aeroplane engine fuel additive).

Suppliers:

Model specific brands are available at the LHS, generic brands available at hardware and similar stores.