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Gluing lead to styrene


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Hi guys

 

What is the best adhesive to use when attaching lead sheet to styrene - is superglue a long term option ?

 

Anything that I should bear in mind when doing this ?

 

Note - where it is going I wont be able to get to it to do any repairs once the model is finished ( loco ) 

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  • RMweb Gold

I wouldn't ... I would glue the lead to paper and then glue the paper to the styrene.

 

Can you expand on why? I have glued lead weight directly to a lot of plastic kits with superglue over the last few years, doesn't seem to be any issues so far.

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Can you expand on why? I have glued lead weight directly to a lot of plastic kits with superglue over the last few years, doesn't seem to be any issues so far.

 

I am probably more cautious about using a superglue on two such very different materials than others who have replied. Put it down to my funny little ways or having less experience with the adhesives. I also like the idea of a cushion, so to speak, between materials that have different expansion characteristics and the like. Adhesives vary in their effectiveness over a long period and having an intermediate allows for the use of a mix of media which is sometimes quite helpful. I wouldn't want to be pedantic about it though.

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  • RMweb Gold

I've used UHU for gluing lead to styrene for the last 20 years, and never had a single issue.  I make sure the lead is pretty flat, and then a smear of glue on lead and styrene, join and leave to set.  If it's in a box van, then I drill a small hole somewhere in the floor (1mm dia) just so any fumes can get out before I fix the roof on, but that's about it.

 

Best Regards,

 

ZG.

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I've had the occasional piece of lead come loose over the years; usually inside a van.. These days, I fix the lead inside with epoxy (having given the surface a quick rub to expose bright metal). When the epoxy's set, I drill from underneath, and add a self-tapper to fix the thing properly. Over forty or so years, I haven't had many failures with lead weights, but they've almost always been in covered vehicles, hence the 'belt and braces' approach.

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I've had the occasional piece of lead come loose over the years; usually inside a van.. These days, I fix the lead inside with epoxy (having given the surface a quick rub to expose bright metal). When the epoxy's set, I drill from underneath, and add a self-tapper to fix the thing properly. Over forty or so years, I haven't had many failures with lead weights, but they've almost always been in covered vehicles, hence the 'belt and braces' approach.

I'd second the self tapper as a belt and braces.  I've also used a twisted wire loop.  In fact anything mechanical will do.  As Brian says "it's always a van"......

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