Which adhesive?

[emjaybee]

Simple enough question.

Which adhesive do people recommend for assembling white metal kits?

Ta.

[austinbob]

Simple enough question.

Which adhesive do people recommend for assembling white metal kits?

Ta.

Low temperature solder!!! Well worth mastering this art as it gives a much better job and you don't have to wait for glue to dry before you move on to further assembly. Otherwise use Epoxy - 5 minute stuff is good IMHO.

[Delboy]

I agree with Bob,
Low temperature solder is the best way to go.
Below is an extract from C&L Finescale's Track Building soldering techniques:-

Material(s)/Process: Whitemetal to Whitemetal
Best Flux: Yellow Label.
Other recommended fluxes: Red Label.
Best Solder: 70 Deg.
Other recommended solders: 138 Solder Cream.
Material(s)/Process: Whitemetal to Brass
Best Flux: Yellow Label
Other recommended fluxes: Red Label.
Best Solder: 7 0 Deg.
Other recommended solders: 138 Solder Cream.4
Material(s)/Process: Whitemetal to Nickel Silver
Best Flux: Yellow Label.
Other recommended fluxes: Red Label.
Best Solder: 70 Deg.
Other recommended solders: 138 Solder Cream.

Worth a visit to the website below:-
http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=30

[emjaybee]

Oh nuts!

Don't tell me I need to buy another soldering iron!

Any suggestions?

Thanks for input.

[Bealman]

Soldering is the best method, but with care epoxy produces a perfectly acceptable model.

[Karhedron]

To be honest, I just use normal superglue (e.g. Loctite) and it works fine for me.

Please note, I realise I may be flying in the face of public opinion with this, I am simply reporting that it has always proved satisfactory for me.

[emjaybee]

To be honest, I just use normal superglue (e.g. Loctite) and it works fine for me.

Please note, I realise I may be flying in the face of public opinion with this, I am simply reporting that it has always proved satisfactory for me.

@Karhedron  Hmm, superglue? I didn't realise that. Do you clean it up any differently prior to fixing. I haven't done any whitemetal for some years, I used to give the castings a clean up with a soft brass wire brush (the kind you use on suede shoes) before using Araldite (other two part epoxy adhesives are available).

[Karhedron]

For any joining, its best to make sure the surfaces are clean. Some whitemetals can develop and oxide layer so rubbing this off (either fine emery paper or a wire brush) will help improve adhesion. A light rubbing to roughen the surface will also help provide a "key" for the adhesive to stick to.

[martyn]

Like Karhedron, in over 25 years of model making,I've always used superglue for white metal or white metal and brass kits, and never had a problem. I have only soldered all brass kits, and not always then, still using superglue in appropriate places.

Martyn

[NeMo]

To be honest, I just use normal superglue (e.g. Loctite) and it works fine for me.

Thank you for this common sense answer. If you're just assembling a simple whitemetal kit like a wagon or bit of goods yard scenery, then the expense of buying special soldering irons and various types of solder and flux aren't justified. Plus, superglue is easier to use, easier to undo, and less likely to melt your whitemetal kit if done wrong.

Please note, I realise I may be flying in the face of public opinion with this, I am simply reporting that it has always proved satisfactory for me.

It's not so much public opinion as "horses for courses". If you're assembling a locomotive kit and have plenty of experience (and a well-stocked tool shed) then by all means grab your two or three different soldering irons and break open the box of specialist solders!

But at the same time, telling people trying out a new type of kit (or for that matter entirely new to kit-building) they need to spend £100 just to buy the equipment needed to make a £5 wagon kit is only going to scare them off. You're quite justified in suggesting cheaper, easier alternatives -- that might not be ideal, but certainly do the job!

Cheers, NeMo

[mr bachmann]

tip, if you are using super glue (CA) , spend a extra couple of quid and get a aerosol of accelerator .

[Merrylee]

One of my other hobbies is building model boats.

We use loads of white metal fittings.

White metal to white metal, white metal to resin and I've always used good old

Superglue.

Superglue is far superior now than it was in days gone by.

To be honest never thought you could solder white metal.

Ron