What is the best glue to use on your stormtrooper armor?

[INDY]

Hi, I'm sure this question has been asked before.

 

[Gatekeeper]

ABS cement and/or E6000.

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Great Planes CA Glue. Takes only about a minute to cure.

 

[KevVader]

Devcon...but be careful with it.

 

[EchoSix]

I bet that helped, huh? :lol

 

[firebladejedi]

E6000 here :thumbsup

 

[INDY]

Is E6000 good for all the diferent plastics? I have suit that a GF suit, that I believe is ABS, and I have a TE that I beleive is strylene. I have a Clone 6 armor for a Clone trooper that I need to put together , I have no idea what typer of plastic that is. I also some other clone armor that I'm currently working on and I have no idea what type of plastic that is. I asking about the glue because I want to install the snap systems on these sets of armor. I will install one end of the snap on a piece of plastic then glue to the inside of the armor. I have used GOOP and ZAP A GAP on an old set of sand trooper armor. I used mighty putty :lolto install my the hoses on my AT-AT driver.

 

[Heatshock]

my kinda guy indy
GF/AP - ABS, clone6 is HIPS (ie styrene), TE - HIPS. JM clone is HIPS. OSCS is ABS, Atin is ABS.

I use e6000 too - great stuff, flexible. problem is it takes 24 hrs to cure

lots use CA glue or devron plastic weld; 2 bit epoxy I think. sets quick minutes I hear

I've seen liquid plastic weld stuff with a brush - it actually melts the plastic together. Becareful of u are clamping on the area, as it may indent the armour.

I more of less use seamless technique for wot ever armour I put together, ie shim edge to edge with a bit of plastic at the back. Edge to edge I glue with CA glue to just hold the bits in place, and the back panel I E6000 in so its a solid join.

no right or wrong answer man, just wot u are happy and used to work with.

GOOP basically works like E6000.

 

[exoray]

Devcon Plastic Welder, it's a two part epoxy with solvent cementing agents so it etches into many plastics rather then just gluing... There are also a knock of brands one sold at Menards called Plastic Bonder by Power Poxy and I have also seen Permatex brand Plastic Weld at automotive places...

Work time is only a few minutes so you have to work in small batches...

I like it because it has a much heavier body, and unlike many other solvent based ABS/Styrene cements that run all over the place it stays where you put it... And you can build quickly as it sets in minutes, no long waits or long clamp times... Literally hold the part or clamp for a few minutes and then move to the next part... No overnight or hour long waits... I would wait 24 hours before subjecting the glue joints to stress, as full bond takes that long but it holds just fine after a few minutes...

And last but not least the fact you can get it at Walmart, Mendards and several other local stores without hassle or searching...

Personally I don't like CA glues, I have seen them fail way too many times, especially on armor where flexing is introduced...

 

[INDY]

So I can use e6000 or Devcon Plastic Weld on any type of storm trooper armor? I have just heard horror stories of plastics changing color and melting. I just don't want to mess up my good sets of armor.

So Goop works just like e6000. Is it just as stong? THe reason why I asked about Goop, is that I used it before and they sell it here at the Lowes.

 

[TK9120]

I used the ABS cement on my FX armor and some parts came undone. I then tried using epoxy and it was like it didn't even stick. I guess it didn't stick to the ABS glue that was on their already.

 

[exoray]

So I can use e6000 or Devcon Plastic Weld on any type of storm trooper armor? I have just heard horror stories of plastics changing color and melting. I just don't want to mess up my good sets of armor.

As for the Devcon Plastic welder, yes it will work on most plastics and certainly the ones used for trooper armor...

The changing color and melting is a result of the cement bond vs a glue bond... Cement bonds actually melt the two parts together, while glue just sticks them together...

I'm not familiar with e6000 but a little Googling revealed it's poly-styrene based, so it has a solvent in it that will melt the armor, and provide a cement like bond... Be very careful if you use it to not get excess on exposed areas...

When using a cement bond (this is what almost all specialty ABS or styrene glues are) care must be taken to avoid discoloration and deforming... The cement literally melts the plastic parts together, so there is a period where the plastic is "soft" and partially melted before the cement evaporates... This is the "dangerous" stage, if clamped too hard you can distort the plastic, and if you are not careful when applying the cement any drip or smears will melt the surface it falls on, if it's an exposed and not hidden area it will show, it will change the color or at the very least change the surface appearance...

 

[bleyd]

That's probably one of the BEST explanations how the cement works. It's really the best way to go but you're right you DO have to be careful how you clamp it down or you'll get squeeze marks. I use a bit extra padding on my springlcamps to cut down on excessive marks.

 

[The Manlet]

Almost any PVC/ABS Pipe glue you find in Home depot will work just fine.

 

[INDY]

Thanks for the information guys! I am going to go with Devcon Plastic Weld White. I tried to search around locally online to prevent from having to order it. I have had a heck of time finding it. I finally had to order it from a Devcon distributor. It's going to take about a week to be shipped. I found that there are different types of Devcon plastic weld. I went with the white because the armor is white. Some of the other colors were tan.

I live in Connecticut. Do you guys know if any major stores carry this item? Even though I ordered some, I would like to pick up a tube to use this weekend.

 

[tk1389]

Re: What is the best glue to use on your storm trooper armor?

I will have to agree with the clamping, not to hard it needs to be just right.

 

[bleyd]

Re: What is the best glue to use on your storm trooper armor?

Oh, if you DO go to home depot make sure it's NOT the purple glue. I know a few buddies that went and bought a jar went home opened it up and made a trip BACK to return it.

 

[exoray]

I live in Connecticut. Do you guys know if any major stores carry this item?

Every Walmart I have been to carries it, and Menard's carries Plastic Bonder by Power Poxy that I have used and it's arguably just as good...

I know the Menard's one is an off white, cream color can't remember what color Walmart carries...

 

[gunnerk19]

I live in Connecticut. Do you guys know if any major stores carry this item? Even though I ordered some, I would like to pick up a tube to use this weekend.

Home Depot, Grossman's, Ace Hardware, probably even Meeker's Hardware in Danbury...

 

[Ripcode]

Clean the spot where you are applying the glue/Devcon.

I use Formula 409 to wipe it down and then sand the area to knock down the shine.