Styrene Glues

[Broder Incertus]

Greetings,

Are there any ptactical alternatives to the usual glue for styrene? Can't use the stuff for medical reasons (I have a serious problem with solvents – paint thinners and the like: horrible headaches impervious to pain killers, shaking hands, the brain taking a vacation, …).

TIA
Torbjörn

PS Those paddlers on Lake Geneva are rather nice.

[chipmonk]

Hi there. As far as I am aware there are no practical viable alternatives to solvent based adhesives for styrene. This is due to the way they are joined. The solvent attackes the surface of the plastic of the two items being joined and they fuse together. So they are not being glued but chemicaly welded.
Sory to be such a downer but that is life.
You could try some of the acrylic polymer types. Delux Materials do one called "fusion".
Be very careful of promises made for glues. They may work in the test lab but most of them will fail just when its most embarasing (as your pride and joy sails out at its first public sailing).  I know its hapened to me :
Cheers chipmonk

[Broder Incertus]

Thanks. I guess as much. I'll stick to wood (and fibre glass).

Yes, you never know. I've had "water proof" glue fail where glue not supposed to be water proof worked: go figure.

Cheers

[Roderick Smith]

My memory is that methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) took over as the glue of choice for plastic (ie styrene) railway modelling.
However, it is another solvent-based glue, and probably just as irritating for chipmunk.
I have been away from the modelling scene for some time: I gather that MEK is now out of favour (because of health warnings), but I don't know what replaced it.
Perhaps MEK always was the active ingredient of the polystyrene glue which I used in my 10-13 yo modelling era?
Perhaps it is used still, but with greater attention to ventilation of the modelling bench?

In a model-railway environment, disintegrating when floating in water wasn't an issue.  Ugly joints were an issue, as the scale was very fine.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

In fourth year chem, I invented a solvent which would dissolve anything; I was going to make my fortune selling it, but was unable to find any material in which it could be packaged.

[andrei]

I long time (20 years)  I use to glue styrene,  acrilic dental (liquid)  know as Methyl Methacrylate Monomer to glue my boats , plastic kits , model trains.
Apply using a brush and dry in few minutes. High volatility. Normally I buy in dental stores.  
 
Is better than use MEK or other solvent.