I Think We have been here before - but how things change - I have always for many years been a firm supporter of Slaters MEK PAK - excellent capillary action and low odour (I hate smelly glues ) but it all appears to have changed last bottle I opened At the beginning of the month 3 quarters of it disappeared its not got any smell to it at all
but evaporated at a great rate - also by dipping the brush in it by the time it got to the job its gone !
Opened another new bottle evaporation not so bad But same issues.
Checked on different sites and similar problems appear to happen to other modellers and also say Slaters have defiantly changed the recipe !
So any thoughts on some other types of plastic glue - also the price of Slaters goes up and up every time I re order
I don't mind paying the higher price if it does the job but alas it no longer does the trick - Mention of Butanone appears to be very good alternative and much cheaper ! Any Thoughts ! Slaters MEK PAK 50 ml Now £6:30 plus Postage + min order of £10:00
Barney
Everyone changed their formulas when governments decided MEK is dangerous. The glue I used disappeared, then returned as a different formula with characteristics similar to what you describe. None of that answers your question but may suggest it will be hard to find a suitable replacement. -- Russ
If you don't mind the toxicity, MEK can still be had for $35 a quart on Amazon. Carlo
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) - 1 Quart (32 FL Oz)
Visit the Alliance Chemical Store
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$35.00 with 8 percent savings-8% $35.00 $1.09 per Fl Oz($1.09 / Fl Oz)
I use tamiya ultra thin
But now i refill those botles with MEK
I buy 1 liter botles for that
Works fine
Cor
In Australia, there is a good supply of a glue that can be used for Polystyrene, it's readily sold over the counter at Hardware stores Aust wide. This product is used by plumbers for "cleaning" any PVC pipes before adding the glue to join the pipes, see first link. For the product specs, go to the second link and you'll see it is 100 % MEK. Works a treat on any Polystyrene bits that need glueing together and is a bloody lot cheaper than ANY other glue that you would EVER buy from any hobby-shop. Must be something similar sold all over the world, as any of the Plumbers requisites are a universal thing.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/protek-250ml-clear-priming-fluid_p4750123
https://media.bunnings.com.au/api/public/content/40d6a4f3587c4048890bf4049ba9b79c?v=d24781dd
The only reason i refill my tamiya botle isto prevent the smell as much as posible
And the small brush in the cap
The square botle makes is also more stable
And if a smal botle tumbles over , you have a small spill
Cor
Butanone and MEK are different names for the same thing. Easy to get by the litre.
I've always used it, going back to the days when I'd pinch a bit from the lab as a science student. It wicks in quickly and evaporates fast for a quick bond. It's aggressive though, and if you make an unvented box the vapo(u)rs can cause distortion.
Limonene based cements are less toxic but slower drying - which some prefer as you get more opportunity to adjust parts. I've never tried it myself.
I've used the Tamiya version of limonene in the past. It seems to be a little more gentle on thin sheet and the slower evaporation is handy for assemblies that require several hands to hold everything in alignment. It also smells nicer if you're into glue sniffing.
My go to for years has been and still is is MEK. When I retired from the cabinet business I kept my licenses which allow me to purchase chemicals like MEK and methyl chloride (solvent for polycarbinate bonding) as well as other chemicals that some feel are to dangerous for the general public to use. Since MEK is a solvent and cleaner for epoxy paints as well as a very good degreaser. I have had the same gallon for a number of years and dispense it into a 1/2 oz Floquil bottle for use on the workbench. Have never tried the "replacement" sold in the big box lumber yard as my gallon of the real thing will probably outlast me.
Acetone or a high end lacquer thinner might work in a pinch. For the lacquer thinner use one of the ones for auto painting rather then the cheap stuff at the hardware store.
Thanks to you all for ideas for a replacement to Slaters MEK-PAK I was given a sample from my local pipe man and it works fine Smell not to bad - but can be aggressive - also he gave me a sample of an additive that can been used to lesson the smell and less aggressive - more later on that when I try it - So my bottle of METHYL ETHYL KETONE arrived to day £8:50 fo a 500ml bottle with free postage from SHINY HARDWARE LTD Dorset England www.shinyhardware.co.uk Now Thats a fair bit cheaper in fact one hell of a lot cheaper than £6:30 for a 50ml bottle of MEK-PAK + £4:50 postage with a min speed of £10:00 -so you always have to buy 2 bottles to make up the order
Thanks agin to you all
Barney
with money in my pocket and no headache
I've discovered Southern California, and maybe the whole state, has removed MEK from the shelves of all retail stores. Big Brother is watching .... -- Russ
So what do you use to glue plastic plumbing pipes with and thinners for paint and cleaning products ?
Barney
Has any one tried Boiled -bones - horse hoofs - animal hide -bones and fish This old girl done well on it
Barney
I was unaware that PVC pipe primer was MEK. The stuff sold at the local building supply stores while being water thin is also tinted purple so the inspector can see that the proper procedure was used in assembly. The color will stain anything it comes in contact with including fingers.
Tried the MEK and it blew my mind big time Headache for 2 days - even with the additive to lesson the smell - stunk the house out + my workshop /office next to the bedroom - windows open on a cold night - and my significant other half threatened me with divorce even Max went on a bender and the budgie "Captain Birds Eye" fell of his perch !!
But I must say It Sticks Great -Good for heavy duty work Outside only
So It looks like Tamiya or Revell When I Have come out of solitary confinement in the garage
Barney
Then switch to acetone or lacquer thinner. Use a very small container, lots of ventilation and small brushes. One of the tricks the people in my cabinet shop would do to a new employee was to give them a Styrofoam coffee cup and send them to the finish room for some lacquer thinner with the expected result.
Poor Max. -- Russ