Using Adhesives by Steve Trackwell

CA's:
What brand you use is like Ford or Chevrolet, it's up to you. Remember they are anaerobic adhesives and set in the absence of air. Thin CA's are best for general assembly of balsa and light ply, woods that readily absorb the glue. Hardwoods and hi-density plywood do not bond well with CA's. The glue sets before it penetrates the fibers of the wood. Thin CA's also rely on a good fit of the parts being glued - no gaps.
Thick or medium CA's work best when you need to fill a gap in the joint you are gluing. They also work well to strengthen a joint by applying a second coat to form a smooth fillet of glue. Remember to store your CA's in the fridge (not the freezer) and allow them to warm to room temperature before using. If yo use a Kicker to speed the setting of CA's, allow the glue to wick into the wood before spraying the accelerator. Keep your kicker and CA's separate in your building area as fumes from the Kicker can migrate to the glue. Then you get to make a quick trip to the hobby store. Don't use CA's to bond sheet stock together when sheeting wings. it is much harder than the balsa and almost impossible to get the ridge of glue out when you sand. CA's bond our skin very well and plastic surgeons love the stuff. If you get CA in your eyes, get medical attention.


EPOXY: Always use an epoxy with a minimum of three hours cure time. Longer times work best in high strength areas. The longer the glue has to penetrate the wood fibers the stronger the joint. Three and five minute epoxies should be reserved to loan to your neighbor when they need a favor (they set too quickly). Always store your epoxies at room temperature. If your workshop is heated only when you are in it, take them with you back to a warm environment. Avoid freezing. If your epoxy gets cold, warm in it a tepid bath of water, never use a microwave to heat epoxy. Follow the manufacturers instruction, and mix equal amounts or ratios, depending on the type of epoxy you are using. Some epoxies are mixed by weight not volume. Thin epoxies only after they have been thoroughly mixed. Remember that epoxy cures by a chemical reaction with heat as a by product. Heat speeds the curing process. So, if you are mixing a large amount of epoxy, mix it in a wide shallow tub and less heat will be generated. Thin epoxy with Denatured Alcohol. If you have money to waste, buy Reagent Grade Isopropyl Alcohol. It's the purist you can buy, but save the money for that special engine you want or an extra servo or two.


Safety First: Both CA's and Epoxy should be used with adequate ventilation. Some of us are allergic to the stuff they put in these products. Non-sterile exam gloves are really cheap at Costco, just peal them off and pitch them in the garbage. Finger cots can be purchased at your local drugstore. Paper dust masks do not offer ANY protection from the fumes given off by these products.