To glue or not to glue. It isn’t really a question. For a miniaturist glue is the go-to solution for keeping it together. However, there are so many types of glue that we decided to do a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each and its potential applications.
White Glue/Wood Glue/Tacky Glue
Set time: 30 minutes - 2 hours
Full Cure: 24 hours
This is usually a polyvinyl glue. Works best with wood, paper and cardboard. Widely available
Pros
- Bonds well to wood and wood products
- Easily accessible
- No or limited fumes
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Doesn’t bond well with non-wood surfaces
- Drying time
- Doesn’t dry clear
Super Glue
Set time: 10 minutes
Full cure: 24 hours
With a fast set time, this is the workhorse for many miniaturists. It usually dries clear, making it easier to hide any overage. Pro Tip: freezing the part can make it more brittle and allow for easier removal in case of a misglue.
Pros
- Ease of use
- Bonds with lot of materials
- Can use with an accelerator to make very quick bond times
- Easy to get
- Drys quick
Cons
- Dries quick
- Short work time
- Doesn’t fill gaps well
- Brittle
- Sticky on hands
Epoxy
Set time: 12 hours to one day
Full cure: one to multiple days
Epoxy is often intimidating and harder to use on the fly, but it is unmatched in strength, making it the best choice for metals.
Pros
- Works well with metal
- Non-shrinking
- Very durable
- Waterproof
- Fill voids
Cons
- Long cure time
- Fumes
- More complicated with mixing
- Must mix in small batches
Plastic Cement
Set time: 10-15 minutes
Cure time: 24 hours
The “go to” glue for Warhammer and other miniatures.
Pros
- Fuses plastics together
- Not sticky
Cons
- Difficult to separate
- Best for plastic
- Doesn’t bond to all surfaces
- Fumes
Hot Glue
Set time: less than a minute
Cure time: 15 minutes
The love/hate tool of every DIYer. So easy to use and so easy to misuse.
Pros
- Low fumes
- Works with lots of materials
- Fill gaps
Cons
- Hot!
- Have to work quickly
- Some materials melt
- Stringing
- Flow control
Spray Adhesive
Set time: a few minutes
Full cure: overnight
A great example of a glue that works amazing for certain circumstances (spraying fabric before applying to a surface) and horrible for others (connecting to small pieces without getting glue everywhere).
Pros
- Great for tacking
- Even area over large surface area
- Fabrics
Cons
- Low adhesion
- Spray control
General Glue Tips
- Clean your surface
- Rough up the surface
- Remove excess glue before it dries
- Glue before you paint
- Less is more
- If in doubt, test a small area first
- Lots of variations between brands
Bottom line: every model maker needs a variety of glues for all the different situations they may encounter, but being familiar with the pros and cons will make sure you make the best choice.
Did we miss something? Let us know.