Recommendations please: The best Superglue

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dontpanic42

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Topic # 86005 29-Jun-2011 12:41

Hello all,

I am currently trying to fix a friend's laptop and the only way (well, the cheapest way ;-) ) to do this is to superglue two critical bits of plastic together.

My question to you all:
What is the best type of superglue to use for this?
Which brand/type has worked best for you in the past?

The fix will probably require that the superglue adhere to both metal and plastic, so are there any super-glues out there that will adhere to both metal and plastic really well?
The type of plastic is just the usual ABS plastic like most laptop cases.

Anyway, thanks in advance to anyone that can suggest anything.

Cheers

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Reply # 487392 29-Jun-2011 12:50

I like to use the superglue Gel, it doesn't drip everywhere. Can't remember the brand sorry.

jaymz

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Reply # 487396 29-Jun-2011 12:56

I use and swear by Araldite for fixing things

http://selleys.com.au/adhesives/household-adhesive/araldite/ulra-clear

It takes a bit more prep (mix before use) but I haven't had it fail on me yet.

xpd

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Reply # 487402 29-Jun-2011 13:30

jaymz: I use and swear by Araldite for fixing things

http://selleys.com.au/adhesives/household-adhesive/araldite/ulra-clear

It takes a bit more prep (mix before use) but I haven't had it fail on me yet.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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dolsen

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Reply # 487420 29-Jun-2011 14:15

I use the one above ultra clear, super strength epoxy

http://selleys.com.au/adhesives/household-adhesive/araldite/super-strength

Stronger bond than the clear stuff, haven't had it attack any plastic surface but not sure for your application. Would suggest going to mitre 10 mega and getting the 2x100ml package for ~$22 instead of the 2x17.5ml syringe package for $12-$15 (last time I looked).

SteveON

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Reply # 487428 29-Jun-2011 14:30

xpd:
jaymz: I use and swear by Araldite for fixing things

http://selleys.com.au/adhesives/household-adhesive/araldite/ulra-clear

It takes a bit more prep (mix before use) but I haven't had it fail on me yet.

+1

+1 Best glue ever! I glued spikes onto my snowboard 5 years ago and its still mint!

sbiddle

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Reply # 487430 29-Jun-2011 14:32

Superglue is superglue, it doesn't matter if you buy the 10 for $2 stuff or get ripped off paying $6 per tube of Selleys.

As mentioned by other however araldite (epoxy) is a far superior adhesive and works on a lot more materials. Like the superglue scenario however I've just purchased $2 packs from the $2 store and don't see how it can be fundamentally any different to paying 10 times that for some branded stuff.

dontpanic42

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Reply # 487438 29-Jun-2011 14:50

Awesome guys. Thanks for the input.

It seems as though Araldite epoxy is the way to go.

Off to Mitre 10 I go.

Thanks again!! :-)

xpd

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Reply # 487453 29-Jun-2011 15:24

Just dont glue the wrong parts together, youll have fun getting them apart again ;)

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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dontpanic42

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Reply # 487510 29-Jun-2011 17:26

xpd: Just dont glue the wrong parts together, youll have fun getting them apart again ;)

Oops... too late.
I think I just inadvertently made myself a homemade Seagate XT Hybrid Drive by accidentally gluing the RAM to the HDD.

Na... just jokin'.

So out of all the different Araldite varieties, the Ultra Clear is the Strongest?

edge

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Reply # 487774 30-Jun-2011 11:45

dontpanic42:
xpd: Just dont glue the wrong parts together, youll have fun getting them apart again ;)

Oops... too late.
I think I just inadvertently made myself a homemade Seagate XT Hybrid Drive by accidentally gluing the RAM to the HDD.

Na... just jokin'.

So out of all the different Araldite varieties, the Ultra Clear is the Strongest?

I use lots of the super strength araldite (what I call the original 24hr araldite) for making knives - especially for gluing handles on (as well as pinning!). Basically, all the other variants of araldite result in some form of strength compromise (and are generally used because they are faster setting and/or dry clearer). I use them when its warranted for other purposes but if you want max strength, user the (slower setting) super strength.

Super has a final (shear) bond strength (cured at 16 hrs @ 40degC) of 26N/sq mm whereas Ultra Clear (cured I think for about 40 mins @ 25degC) has an equivalent strength of 12-15 N/sq mm. The former is also more water resistant (although if that was a problem I think the laptop would be stuffed anyway!! :-)).

Just as an aside, araldite isn't recommended for thermoplastics such as Polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene. I'm a bit out of my depth here but it may be that the laptop plastic is ABS which I believe is a form of copolymer thermoplastic, so the araldite may not adhere that well - but please don't take my word for it as I am not certain about this bit!! Someone else may know, or a bit og googling may provide a fuller answer.

"It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of what he was never reasoned into."
— most commonly attributed to Jonathan Swift, author/theologian

dontpanic42

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Reply # 487799 30-Jun-2011 12:26

Thanks for that detailed response, edge.
The plastic recycling number inside the laptop case is 7, which would suggest that it is ABS plastic.
And according to Wikipedia ABS plastic is indeed a thermoplastic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene

I haven't yet purchased any glue, so I may research the matter further.

Thanks again.

dacraka

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Reply # 487817 30-Jun-2011 13:05

sbiddle: Superglue is superglue, it doesn't matter if you buy the 10 for $2 stuff or get ripped off paying $6 per tube of Selleys.

I must disagree, every time I buy the ten pack from the $2 shop it either comes out as already dry nothingness, hardly any glue at all and if you leave it (even unopened) for a year it all dries up inside rendering it useless!

The branded stuff has sat in my drawers for years with only a little bit left and still worked the other day.

jaymz

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Reply # 487822 30-Jun-2011 13:09

dacraka:
I must disagree, every time I buy the ten pack from the $2 shop it either comes out as already dry nothingness, hardly any glue at all and if you leave it (even unopened) for a year it all dries up inside rendering it useless!

The branded stuff has sat in my drawers for years with only a little bit left and still worked the other day.

A great trick for keeping Super Glue from drying out is to put it in the fridge once it is opened. I have had a tube in there for 6 months ($2 shop brand) and it is still good, I used it the other night to finish making my mousepad

lapimate

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Reply # 488004 30-Jun-2011 18:08

edge: ... araldite isn't recommended for thermoplastics such as Polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene. I'm a bit out of my depth here but it may be that the laptop plastic is ABS which I believe is a form of copolymer thermoplastic, so the araldite may not adhere that well ...

How about trying a bit of Araldite on an inconspicuous part of the case and see if it truly adheres or just forms an apparent bond which can be lifted off with little effort?

If you want glue suitable for ABS ask a shop which has components for plastic aircraft models. Maybe something like "Plastruct Plastic Weld" which claims to be a general purpose plastic solvent cement for bonding Plastruct ABS etc.

dontpanic42

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Reply # 488013 30-Jun-2011 18:26

lapimate:
How about trying a bit of Araldite on an inconspicuous part of the case and see if it truly adheres or just forms an apparent bond which can be lifted off with little effort?

If you want glue suitable for ABS ask a shop which has components for plastic aircraft models. Maybe something like "Plastruct Plastic Weld" which claims to be a general purpose plastic solvent cement for bonding Plastruct ABS etc.

Great idea. Will try that.
I actually found some Plastic glue in the garage that I will try, but I also picked up some of the Super Strength Araldite to give it a whirl as well. Hopefully I can find something that works.

Thanks.

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