RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted October 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 24, 2019 Has anyone else tried this? It is a thick gel, similar to thick superglue, but it only hardens when subjected to UV light. The glue comes with a small UV light and battery (similar to a key-fob torch) which hardens the glue in about 4 seconds. When hard, it can be drilled, sawn or filed like any good filler. No more sticking fingers together. The only drawback I have found so far is that it must be possible for the UV light to reach the glue to harden it. It is no good for a large butt joint where most of the glue is hidden away between the two parts being joined. I purchased some of the 'proper' stuff from Bondic in the States, but it ended up being very expensive, especially when customs duty and collection fees were added on top, but I see that much cheaper versions are available from motor factors and eBay now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIK Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Hi Ian, I've used UV glue from UK suppliers mainly for experiments with making split axle pickups. I've tried using various heat shrink tubing to join the axles of OO wheelsets I've cut in half. I tried applying UV glue to the first layer of heat shrink tubing, sliding clear heat shrink over the axle/heat shrink combo, shrinking on the clear tubing and then applying the UV light from the glue dispenser's LED. The UV glue seems to work well for this application providing bonding and extra rigidity - time will tell. Regards Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhedron Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I tried a bit a few years ago. Whilst it worked well, my impression was that it was not a strong as regular superglue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 The dental grade version used for fillings is the stuff we want. If it will stand up to the 1000 psi our repaired teeth can locally exert, in a permanently warm and wet environment full of potent enzymes, it will do the job. But it is expensive and needs a rather more potent UV source than a battery powered LED... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theakerr Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 But does it glue that shiny plastic used in things like Hornby's footbridge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted October 25, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 25, 2019 Well, I mended my sun glasses with it, the bit that goes round the lens, so is under some tension, and they are doing well. It would have been cheaper to buy new sunglasses though. The only other place I have used it so far is to assemble some small etched brass platform benches that superglue failed hold. I hope the shelf life is as good as they say as I will probably make use of it more in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroborus Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 On 24/10/2019 at 16:52, 34theletterbetweenB&D said: The dental grade version used for fillings is the stuff we want. If it will stand up to the 1000 psi our repaired teeth can locally exert, in a permanently warm and wet environment full of potent enzymes, it will do the job. But it is expensive and needs a rather more potent UV source than a battery powered LED... Take it from me, a bright light does the job just as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 2 minutes ago, Ouroborus said: Take it from me, a bright light does the job just as well. Is it a matter of the convenience of much more rapid curing that leads to use of UV in the dental application? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroborus Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 5 hours ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said: Is it a matter of the convenience of much more rapid curing that leads to use of UV in the dental application? It's not UV. It's just a very bright blue light. I changed my overhead light a couple of years ago and it's evidently much brighter because it's capable of curing materials on its own, which at times is quite annoying. You usually want a little time to work the filling to the correct shape or make sure what you're gluing in is in the right place. Too bright a light and you lose this. One of the glues we use sets within 3 seconds of exposure to the blue light. Some filling materials take 40 seconds The blue lights we use used to be a mains powered halogen bulb. These days it's rechargeable LEDs. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted October 27, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2019 There is a note in the instructions (when I can find them) that it's not really a glue. If you want to join parts you may need to make extra holes that it can fill (just like the dentist). It does hold if there is not too much strain on it. The best bit is that it doesn't set until you shine the light on it -- lots of time to get things aligned --- but you may need a third hand. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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