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I have begun to construct one of the laser cut wood structures. I started to glue the corners of the 2 story building with ca. Thin ca, thick ca, medium ca are all a year old plus but some have not been opened until now. They either take an inordinate amount of time to cure or the don't cure at all Then they snap apart at the joint subsequent applications don't cure well either. I fell like I've got a train wreck in the making.

Am I using the right adhesive for this thin wood? If not what should I use?

Are some ca's better than others ? If so what is recommended?

Do ca's deteriorate before they evaporate in the container?

What is the best way to salvage this? I hope you don't tell me to sand this off and start over. Would a 5 minute epoxy filet on the inside work?  

Blayne

Reply 0
wp8thsub

Hmmm...

I often use CA for assembling laser wood kits, in places where white glue or wood glue aren't necessarily the most practical option.  It seems to minimize potential for the wood swelling or warping.  With wider and/or thinner pieces cut from plain wood (as opposed to the more stable micro-plywood), warpage can be major problem, as it may be difficult to hold the pieces in alignment for any length of time while glue sets/dries (i.e. there may be too little space or surface area for using a clamp).

I get around such issues by using CA, normally the very thin stuff so it flows throughout the joint.  However, when using CA on porous materials like wood it may just soak in and leave a weak bond.  Using CA accelerator helps form a bond quickly, preventing the glue from soaking where you don't want it.

"Insta-Set" is one common brand of accelerator I see at various hobby shops, including the military/RC car places.

Laser kits often provide little in the way of interior bracing like older craftsman models did.  To help make stronger joints you can add extra bracing using something like basswood strip.  Craft stores like Michael's sell larger sizes of basswood that work well.

This depot and tool house were laser kits with a lot of thin wood pieces, and precious few places to get some of the assemblies clamped straight, especially the roofs.  CA and accelerator were extremely helpful getting these together, and the resulting models are quite strong.

Rob Spangler MRH Blog

Reply 0
Joe Brugger

Faller

Faller markets a product called "Faller Expert Lasercut" which is intended for wood, cardboard and styrofoam. They claim a 12-month shelf life. It works reasonably well. Instructions say a clogged tip can be cleared with warm water.  I'm not fond of the smell of CA, so this has worked out fairly well. Cost me seven bucks for a 25 gram bottle, though.

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