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Professional cyanoacrylate adhesives and accelerators from Bob Smith Industries, ZAP, and Alpha Abrasives. Instant-bonding CA glue in thin, medium, and thick viscosities for plastic, resin, metal, and wood. Precision applicators, accelerators, and debonders for complete assembly solutions. Complement with specialty adhesives for comprehensive bonding capabilities.
Cyanoacrylate adhesives, universally known as CA glue or super glue, represent the most versatile and essential bonding solution in scale modeling, providing instant bonds with exceptional strength across virtually all modeling materials. This comprehensive collection features premium CA formulations from Bob Smith Industries, ZAP, Deluxe Materials, and Alpha Abrasives, offering thin, medium, and thick viscosities engineered for specific applications from gap-filling structural bonds to precision detail attachment. Whether you're assembling plastic kits, bonding photo-etched details, securing resin components, joining metal parts, or attaching wood elements, these professional-grade cyanoacrylates deliver the instant cure times, superior strength, and application versatility that transform challenging bonding situations into reliable, permanent assemblies that withstand handling, finishing, and display without joint failures.
Bob Smith Industries has defined cyanoacrylate adhesive standards for modeling and hobby applications since 1972, developing specialized formulations that address modelers' specific requirements beyond generic super glues. Their Insta-Cure line provides water-thin viscosity that wicks into tight joints through capillary action, creating invisible bonds on properly fitted parts. Maxi-Cure offers gap-filling medium viscosity that bonds poorly fitted joints while providing working time for positioning. Super-Gold delivers thick, non-running consistency perfect for vertical surfaces and large gaps requiring substantial adhesive volume. IC-Gel provides gel formulation that stays exactly where applied without running, ideal for overhead work and precise placement. IC-2000 rubber-toughened formula creates flexible bonds that resist impact and vibration, essential for landing gear and high-stress assemblies. This comprehensive viscosity range ensures appropriate CA formulations for every bonding challenge, from microscopic detail attachment to structural assembly.
ZAP adhesives from Robart Manufacturing have earned legendary status among modelers for consistent performance, reliable bonding, and formulations addressing specific modeling needs. Zap-A-Gap medium CA provides the versatile gap-filling properties most modelers use daily, bonding dissimilar materials and filling minor gaps simultaneously. Zap CA thin formula penetrates tight-fitting joints instantly, creating strong bonds without visible glue lines. Plasti-Zap formulation specifically addresses plastic bonding with chemistry optimized for polystyrene and other modeling plastics. Zip Kicker accelerator enables instant curing for applications requiring immediate handling or building complex assemblies without waiting for natural cure. The ZAP product line demonstrates understanding that while basic CA glue works adequately for many applications, specialized formulations deliver superior results for specific materials and bonding situations that justify maintaining multiple CA types in workshop inventories.
Understanding CA viscosity characteristics helps you select appropriate formulations for specific bonding situations, maximizing joint strength while minimizing visible adhesive. Thin CA (water-thin viscosity) works perfectly for tight-fitting joints where capillary action draws adhesive into gaps, creating invisible bonds on properly fitted parts. The instant wicking action makes thin CA ideal for tacking assemblies before applying structural adhesives, attaching small details, and bonding large surface areas where adhesive spreads evenly. Medium CA (gap-filling viscosity) handles joints with minor fit issues, providing enough body to bridge small gaps while maintaining reasonable cure times. This versatility makes medium CA the workhorse adhesive for general assembly, structural bonding, and applications requiring both gap-filling and reasonable working time. Thick CA and gel formulations stay exactly where applied, perfect for vertical surfaces, overhead work, filling large gaps, and applications requiring precise adhesive placement without running or dripping.
CA accelerators, also called kickers or activators, trigger instant curing of cyanoacrylate adhesives, transforming applications requiring minutes or hours for natural cure into bonds ready for immediate handling. Bob Smith Industries Insta-Set and ZAP Zip Kicker provide spray or brush-on application that cures CA within seconds, enabling rapid assembly sequences, building complex structures without waiting between steps, and creating instant bonds for parts requiring immediate handling. Accelerators also serve finishing purposes, curing CA fillets and reinforcements for sanding without the gummy residue that occurs when sanding uncured CA. The instant cure capability proves especially valuable for production building, repair work requiring quick turnaround, and any situation where natural cure times create unacceptable delays. However, accelerated curing produces weaker bonds than natural curing and can create white residue (blooming) on surrounding surfaces, making accelerators best suited for applications where speed outweighs ultimate strength requirements.
Controlling CA application prevents waste, mess, and the frustration of clogged bottles that plague modelers using standard applicator tips. Bob Smith Industries and Alpha Abrasives precision applicators feature fine tips that deliver controlled adhesive flow exactly where needed, preventing the excess application that creates messy joints and wastes expensive adhesive. Extender tips fit standard CA bottles, providing fine-point application without transferring adhesive to separate containers. The Alpha Abrasives CA Handle with replaceable tips offers ergonomic control for extended assembly sessions, reducing hand fatigue while maintaining precise application. These applicators transform CA use from messy, wasteful operations into controlled, economical processes that apply adhesive only where needed, preventing the excess that creates cleanup problems and joint appearance issues.
Even experienced modelers occasionally bond parts incorrectly or need to disassemble CA-bonded joints for modifications, making debonders essential workshop supplies. Bob Smith Industries Un-Cure debonder dissolves cured cyanoacrylate, allowing careful separation of bonded parts without damage when applied patiently. The debonder works by penetrating CA joints and breaking down the polymer chains that create bond strength, gradually softening adhesive until parts separate. This capability proves invaluable for correcting assembly mistakes, salvaging expensive parts bonded incorrectly, and modifying completed assemblies without destroying components. Debonder also removes CA adhesive from skin safely, addressing the common accident of bonding fingers together during assembly. While debonder cannot instantly reverse CA bonds, patient application usually succeeds in separating joints without part damage, making mistakes correctable rather than catastrophic.
Cyanoacrylate adhesives bond different modeling materials with varying effectiveness, and understanding these characteristics helps you select appropriate CA formulations and techniques. Plastic bonding works excellently with CA, though some formulations like ZAP Plasti-Zap optimize chemistry specifically for polystyrene. Resin components bond perfectly with CA, as the material's porosity provides excellent mechanical adhesion. Metal parts require surface preparation for optimal CA bonding, with degreasing and light abrasion improving bond strength significantly. Wood accepts CA readily, with thin formulations penetrating grain for strong bonds while thick CA fills wood's porous surface. Photo-etched brass and other thin metals bond excellently with CA, making it the preferred adhesive for attaching delicate detail parts. Clear parts require careful CA application, as excess adhesive creates visible fogging that ruins transparency. Understanding these material-specific characteristics allows you to optimize CA selection and application techniques for each bonding situation.
Beyond simple part attachment, CA adhesives serve structural purposes including gap filling, reinforcement, and creating custom components. Medium and thick CA formulations fill gaps in poorly fitted joints, creating structural bonds while eliminating visible seams. CA combined with baking soda creates instant hard filler for larger gaps, with the baking soda catalyzing instant cure while adding volume. This technique builds up missing material, fills large gaps, and creates custom shapes that can be sanded and finished like plastic. CA also reinforces joints by applying fillets along seam lines, adding strength to assemblies subjected to handling stress. The adhesive's ability to bond dissimilar materials makes it perfect for mixed-media assemblies combining plastic, metal, resin, and wood components. These structural applications demonstrate CA's versatility beyond simple part attachment, serving as gap filler, reinforcement, and construction material within single projects.
Understanding CA cure characteristics helps you work efficiently while achieving optimal bond strength. Thin CA cures almost instantly on contact, providing minimal working time but enabling rapid assembly sequences. Medium CA offers several seconds of working time, allowing part positioning before bond sets. Thick CA and gels provide the longest working time, sometimes 30 seconds or more depending on conditions. Humidity accelerates CA curing, with high humidity causing faster cure times and low humidity extending working time. Temperature also affects cure rates, with warmer conditions accelerating curing. Natural curing produces stronger bonds than accelerated curing, making it preferable for structural joints where ultimate strength matters more than immediate handling. Full cure strength develops over 24 hours, though handling strength occurs much sooner. These cure characteristics influence assembly sequencing, with modelers planning construction to leverage CA's instant tack while allowing critical joints to cure naturally for maximum strength.
While CA bonds most materials without preparation, proper surface treatment significantly improves bond strength and reliability. Clean surfaces free from oils, mold release agents, and contaminants ensure optimal adhesion, with degreasing solvents removing invisible films that prevent proper bonding. Roughening smooth surfaces with fine sandpaper creates mechanical adhesion that supplements chemical bonding, especially important for metals and glossy plastics. Ensuring proper part fit minimizes gaps that weaken joints, as CA performs best in thin glue lines where molecular attraction operates most effectively. Removing paint from bonding surfaces prevents adhesive from bonding to paint rather than substrate material, eliminating the weak link that causes joint failures. These preparation steps require minimal time but dramatically improve bond reliability, preventing the frustrating joint failures that occur when CA bonds to contaminants rather than actual part surfaces.
Cyanoacrylate adhesives require careful handling to prevent skin bonding, eye exposure, and respiratory irritation from fumes. Always work in well-ventilated areas, as CA fumes can irritate eyes and respiratory passages, especially when using accelerators that vaporize adhesive. Avoid skin contact, as CA bonds skin instantly, creating painful situations requiring debonder or patient soaking for separation. Never use CA near eyes, and seek immediate medical attention if eye contact occurs. Keep CA away from fabrics, as the adhesive generates heat when curing in porous materials like cotton, potentially causing burns or igniting material. Store CA in cool, dry locations away from humidity that accelerates curing and can cause bottles to cure internally. Replace CA bottles when they become thick or stringy, as degraded adhesive performs poorly and clogs applicators. These safety practices prevent the accidents and injuries that can occur when powerful adhesives are handled carelessly.
Beyond standard thin, medium, and thick formulations, specialized CA adhesives address specific modeling challenges. Odorless CA formulations like Deluxe Materials Roket Odourless reduce the irritating fumes that plague sensitive modelers, making extended assembly sessions more comfortable. Rubber-toughened CA creates flexible bonds that resist impact and vibration, essential for landing gear, control linkages, and assemblies subjected to stress. Black CA provides invisible bonds on dark materials, eliminating the white residue visible with standard CA. Slow-cure formulations extend working time for complex assemblies requiring careful positioning. These specialized formulations demonstrate that while standard CA handles most applications adequately, specific challenges benefit from adhesives engineered for particular requirements, justifying maintaining multiple CA types for different bonding situations.
CA adhesives work alongside specialty adhesives including plastic cement, epoxy, and white glue to create comprehensive bonding capabilities addressing every modeling situation. Use CA for instant bonds, dissimilar material attachment, and applications requiring immediate handling. Employ plastic cement for plastic-to-plastic bonds requiring solvent welding and invisible seams. Apply epoxy for maximum strength structural bonds and gap-filling applications requiring extended working time. Utilize white glue for clear part attachment and applications where CA's instant bond creates positioning problems. This multi-adhesive approach ensures you always have appropriate bonding solutions for each specific situation, avoiding the compromises that result from forcing single adhesive types to handle applications beyond their optimal range. Complement your adhesive collection with precision tools for complete assembly capabilities.
Bob Smith Industries has pioneered hobby-specific cyanoacrylate formulations since 1972, developing the Insta-Cure, Maxi-Cure, and specialized CA products that define industry standards. ZAP adhesives from Robart Manufacturing have earned legendary status for consistent performance and reliable bonding across decades of use. Deluxe Materials brings British engineering excellence to specialized formulations including odorless and rapid-cure variants. These manufacturers understand modelers' requirements for adhesives that deliver consistent performance, reasonable shelf life, and formulations addressing specific bonding challenges beyond generic super glues available at hardware stores. The products in this collection represent the culmination of decades of adhesive chemistry development specifically for modeling applications, ensuring reliable performance that justifies their premium pricing compared to generic alternatives.