rob020880

I am putting my supplies together for a Ziroli p-51 build and realized all my CA's are old and should be replaced. What do you consider the best brand of CA and why? I see the Mercury CA's being adverstised often, but was wondering how they compare to Zap, Bob Smith, Etc. I am simply looking for the highest quality product.

redbiscuits

My Feedback: (6)

I like Bob Smith the best when it comes to setting up the fastest without kicker and flexible hinge CA. Lately I have been trying to get away from CA due to cost cutting and am using Tite Bond molding and trim glue for most of construction with fantastic results. You can also sand Tite Bond better than CA.
Red

BBW Walt

My Feedback: (11)

Balsa USA Gold is what I use most, especially the kicker. It doesn't popcorn the adhesive like other brands if your using kicker with medium or thin. I think the Bob Smith CA's in thin may be a bit thinner or watery'er but I still prefer to use the Balsa USA brand. Its reasonable to buy, kept in a fridge it'll last a long shelf life and bonds as well as anything else out there that I have used..My current project is being assembled where needed with Zap CA as I have some here and I'm using it up. Its slower to work with than the Balsa Gold which I will re-order direct when I run out..Give it a try, you might like it..Walt

rob020880

How do the Mercury adhesives compare?

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

I am a Bob Smith user. I have seen the Mercury brand but I have not tryed them. Good Luck, Dave

CGAV8R

My Feedback: (2)

Hobby king, works just as good as the others and a whole lot cheaper
Aaron D.

dhal22

mercury adhesives are 100% made in america, right up the street from my house. they seem to work as well as any.

tarvma02

My Feedback: (3)

I second a vote for Mercury. They seem very very pure. I think they are the best I've used. Supposedly most CAs are byproducts of other chemical reactions and are shipped from foreign lands possibly becoming stale. Mercury is made in the USA and manufactured as a CA and is very fresh.

Mike

Insanemoondoggie

I bought 2 bottles of the Mercurty thin, when I opened them, it was so thick ,couldn;t get it to squeeze out of the bottle. And the LHS wouldn't make it good.

ChuckW

I like BSI and it is readily available around here. I've also used Zap, Tower Hobbies, Great Planes and Mercury at one time or another. The Mercury was my least favorite. The medium took forever to set up without kicker and I don't really care for the larger tip although it is almost clog-proof just like they advertise. I always go back to the BSI. They'll all get the job done though.

JCOKEEFE

My Feedback: (2)

[8D]Balsa USA Gold. I've been using it for years. The supplied glue bottle
tips work great. Simply keep a cotton cloth rag handy to clear the tip after
use to prevent clogging. Excellent product...........

AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken

My Feedback: (180)

I always liked CG's JETT CA. My LHS no longer carries it, so I switched to Mercury. The thick got too thick by the time I used 3/4 of the bottle. The hole in the bottle of thin is too big - CA flows out of it like a fire hose. I bought some of Towers CA once.... what a waste. Maybe I'll order some of Balsa USA's next.

AH1G

After 30+ years I'm still using Hot Stuff. Was a time I used 3M but boy was it thick and very expensive, $25+ per 1/2 oz. as I remember.

rob020880

What about Zap, are they any good?

carrellh

I like Zap, but, very expensive.
I got some Bob Smith once that didn't bond at all. The LHS probably had it on the shelf too long. BSI mailed me a new bottle. I like their product and their way of doing business, BSI is what I'm currently using.
I've also had good luck with Great Planes brand.

twn

I like the mercury it doesn't flash super fast like some other brands I have used. However the mercury dries up quite fast if the lid is off.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

I have used several brands of CA over the years. Hot Stuff, BSI, Great Planes, Hobby Shack, designer brands, etc.

Three years or so ago I saw a CA glue being sold at extremely low prices, and I stocked up on a dozen 2 oz. bottles each of thin and gap filling. I placed the bottles in Ziplock bags and put them in the freezer. I take them out as I need them. This CA glue works as good as any I have ever used. Identical, in fact. The brand? "OK CA"

Made by Robart, the good folks who bring you ZAP adhesives:

http://www.okglue.com/

SKYHI1

I like Bob Smith Industries. My local hobby store carries his stock. I have tried others. Tower Hobbies comes to mind. The BSI stuff seems to bond better/faster without a kicker. I usually only need the kicker if I am gluing plywood.
It is what I have been using for the past three years and like it.

Frank

Super_Chief

BSI all the way. Not just for the product but I have been to a lot of fly-ins across the US and if you are a pilot in the event you can be assured that you will at least get a bottle of BSI CA as a prize, nobody goes without, that is why I vote for them.