Tips for using CA glues building model aircraft

EP:28 Tips and Uses for CA glue

Wow, this is so exciting. My first sponsored video by one of the most used products in our hobby. Today’s episode is sponsored by Starbond, maker of CA or Cyanoacrylate Adhesive.
I have been working on this video in my mind for several months now, because there are so many ways we use this glue and its different viscosities in our hobby. On average I would have to say that during a scratch build or build from a kit, 85 to 90% of all glue joints are CA. It’s fast setting, super strong, and light weight. Three things we all need when building model aircraft. I hope you enjoy this video, I had a lot of fun shooting it.

Get Starbond's essential product bundle which consists of the clear thin CA, medium CA, thick CA, and accelerator at 10% OFF using the discount code SCRATCH10 at checkout

Timecode
0:00 - Intro
1:42 - Keep it fresh
4:45 - Why Starbond?
7:45 - Ventilation
9:26 - Sanding Fingertips
10:47 - Fill a bad joint
13:54 - Flow thin into a balsa to balsa joint
16:37 - Using the different viscosities

Thank you for your subs and comments… I have enjoyed answering as many as I can. Keep them coming.
Building season is coming… Take on a new project!!!

If you have questions please add them in a comment below.
Tools and glues used in this series: affiliate links
100 count, seems like a lot, but more is better when the project is big.
The last pdf is the article from RCM magazine and includes that bonus materials list.

Let’s get building!!!

If you have questions about scratch building from plans, post them in the comment section below and I will do my very best to answer them.

Production equipment: Amazon affiliate links

[theeastman]

I'm about to start my first assembly with CA so these tips and associated comments sure came in handy. Thank you.

[edsherrod]

Wow - that is the first time I've seen thick CA used to help attach leading edge sheeting. Thank you!

[brewsterfa]

Another tip, when you finish laying down your glue, aim the bottle away from everything and give it a squeeze - forcing out any glue left in the tip. Additionally, when you set the bottle down, tap it firmly against your work surface a couple of times to help move any residual CA away from the opening.

LikePphil said below, I also remove the fine tips and soak them in acetone.

[phil]

Take the old tip and put it in a jar of acetone, that will clean it up and you can get several uses out of each tip. I use a small glass jar and tweezers to get them out. Works for the precision tips also, not always perfect, but it works.

[Chewbaccawithcheese]

GO BEAVS!! Greetings from Eugene! Thanks for the video. I"m about th start building some gliders. This helps tremendously. As a hobby welder, I love the setup and tack technique. I'm definitely going to use my magnetic squares as well.

[larrystevens]

thanks Dan for the tips. I did indeed learn more about the CA that I didn't know

[Slithey]

Great video, particularly for someone like me, whose experience goes back to the days of Duco cement. I love seeing your cat too. 🥰

[ravebrave]

welcome back koku... we are happy to see the cat too....

[mikedx]

Love the cat giving you rapt attention at 14:47 to 15:03.

[Skydiveever]

Thanks for the tips! I am definitely impressed by the packaging of this glue company. My next glue order is definitely this product. When i get glue on my fingers I just use debonder, it works great.

[kevinhumphrey]

Am just getting back into aero modelling and wanted to understand how to use the CA tips, as I'm building an indoor electric model. It's going to be the smallest Rc plane I've built. Great video really helpful.

[joshuafergusonrc]

That's awesome, thank you so much! I used to use pva but it took a very long time to dry and it got me bored building balsa kits. But after seeing this video, I fancy buying a balsa kit! Also you deserved a subscriber from me!

[christopherwilson]

You can become sensitive to CA from the fumes, so I wouldn’t use it too much. Titebond 3 for me

[mrgtp]

Lots of great info, love those precision tips too! On a somewhat unrelated note; Love the Cat!

[andrewwolf]

I miss the smell of the glue I used in the 60’s to glue models together. Then in the early 70’s you could only buy 1 tube at a time as they said some people would huff it

[plymouthcolt]

Great video. Thank you so much for the tips. I will try the new method of attaching leading edge sheeting instead of pins.

[frankjennings]

The new c/a glues makes the building so much easier and faster. Gone are the days of Ambroid, fumes that cause asthma and takes 12 hrs to set up.

[jeffs]

Certainly CA speeds up the build but there are some drawbacks like sanding over CA or a bead were you have to lay in something like webbing something to consider and mention.

[edwardvaughan]

Dan really enjoyed this video it taught me a lot about building a Air Planes specially the wings

[jimmartin]

I guess I'm just old because I'm still using Elmers Glue for my models. No smell, no BS. And my models haven't fallen apart yet. And I'm not concerned about stabbing myself to death with push pins. Currently working on a Guillows Space Shuttle. I couldn't make it all the way through your video because I think you've been sniffing too much of that glue you're using. I think you're all in too big of a hurry to get it done. I always thought that model building was about the trip, not the destination. If I wanted to get it done that fast I would just pay someone to make it for me. That "Beaver Nation" shirt says it all.