There are some important differences in glues/adhesives to be considered when using them! Surely not only safety issues, but understanding how your choice in adhesive works or bonds.


When using adhesives like carpenters glue there are shrinkages in the joint areas. This is because carpenter type glues have a carrier that must evaporate (water) in order for the glue to dry. The amount of shrinkage depends upon the percentage of solids in the product (the material left behind that forms the joint), most carpenter glues are around 50% solids, making shrinkage around half. The same also true with solvent type adhesives like contact cement, where the solvent flashes off.

What does this mean to us as modelers or woodworkers? It means that when gluing we must firmly clamp or position the materials being glued otherwise because of the shrinkage we will have a poor glue joint. In woodshop years ago many of us made laminated wood bowls turned on wood lathes. The layers of the laminated wood had to be very firmly clamped together to insure good joints, otherwise the bowl once chucked up the lathe would have a chance of failure.

Then there are epoxies which are a 100% solid adhesive. What you see is what you get! Epoxies cure by chemical reaction or cross linking. There is no solvent or water carrier that leaves the adhesive when curing. Which means that there is no shrinkage in the glue joint which allows for a low pressure bonding system. Epoxies are great gap fillers especially in the paste forms. High strength, no shrinkage, water and fuel proof, highly chemical resistant, bonds most any type of material. Probably the best adhesive for bonding dis-similar materials.

There are a great number of adhesives available to us today. All have their place and use from kid's paste glue to the more exotic types. Its realizing and knowing when, where, why, and how to properly to use each type of glue/adhesive is most important.

Food for thought!