I need help with building a kit made from ABS plastic!

[steveo]

How do you guys work with this stuff? Are there any threads that detail how you go from a unfinished kit to a finished product? I have no idea how to even start. So many questions, like what do you cut the ABS with to get smooth edges? Can it be sanded? How do you "glue" the parts together? What paint adheres to this stuff? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Also, how do you glue resin pieces together?

 

[steveo]

Not a soul?

 

[tgreco]

for resin use CA epoxy
(superglue, zap a gap etc...)

as for ABS. never worked with it

 

[steveo]

Yeah, thanks for the first reply. thanks for the tip, I'll try that.

 

[Darth Humorous]

I wonder if ABS plastic cement for ABS Plumbing drain pipes would work. Maybe test it on an inconspicuous area.

Mark

 

[foj3000]

Try This:

http://www.plastruct.com/Pages/OnlineProductDetail.lasso?-op='eq'&CCode=BOND-2

You could also try MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone). It's cheap and you can get it at hardware stores and homecenters.

 

[dakota_in_the_sky]

I work with it all the time. Had no idea it was thought of differently than the styrene in a plastic kit.

Basically I always use Tenax 7R for the general building. For tiny details, I use Tamiya Extra Thin cement.

For gluing large parts, I use Zap a Gap gap filling super glue.

Hope this hepls.

Mahalo, Robert

 

[RShanko]

I work with it all the time. Had no idea it was thought of differently than the styrene in a plastic kit.

Basically I always use Tenax 7R for the general building. For tiny details, I use Tamiya Extra Thin cement.

For gluing large parts, I use Zap a Gap gap filling super glue.

Hope this hepls.

Mahalo, Robert

So... model glue works,
... but heavy amounts >might melt the ABS< (like styrene too).
And you can sand it. Bondo will stick to it. Go for it!
It'll crack if flexed alot though...
Post pix,

Ron

 

[Gigatron]

I love Tamiya's cement in the orange topped bottle and testors' cement in the black bottle.

The tamiya stuff is a bit hard to find these days as there seems to be a back log in the shipping.

The testors' stuff is readily available and it works great because it has a longer working time than the liquid cements. So you get the great bond (it melts the styrene like tenax), but you get more than 1/2 second to work :lol

-Fred

 

[franz bolo]

There's an ABS glue here:

http://www.rplastics.com/plac.html

FB

 

[steveo]

cool, thanks guys. Now, what about cutting to get a nice smooth and professional edge?

 

[dakota_in_the_sky]

Tamiya makes the best fine tooth razor saw I've ever used. There are also photo etched saw blades that fit in X-actos. These are very nice as well. The cuts can be finished off with sandpaper.

 

[Whiskey]

abs can be cut with a regular table saw. Carbide tip, use an 80 tooth blade.

Can easily be bandsawed, drilled, and routered. Just as a heads up...abs almost has a "rubbery" way about it. It grabs alot when machining. If you're going to route it..route off no more than 1/16th of an inch at a time.

As for the glue.....I suggest weld on #2354. Its a very watery solvent, so use a hypo applicator to bond pcs together. use in a well ventilated area, the fumes are horrible.

 

[steveo]

Great tips guys. I guess any model paint will work well then too?

 

[dakota_in_the_sky]

Great tips guys. I guess any model paint will work well then too?

Yes, but I always use a primer coat first.