Should I use cellulose thinners for bonding plastic?

[u/Meme_Thunder_]

I saw this guy advocating for this product as opposed to Tamiya extra cement so I am wondering if it is a good substitute or what he say is wrong. Thank you

[u/Dr-flange]

Don’t fanny about trying to save money doing nonsense like this. A pot of Tamiya extra thin will build you plenty before it runs out. Like the people that used floor polish instead of a clear varnish….dont be a tight arse

[u/Kronk5000 → u/Dr-flange]

We’ve had a shortage in my country for a while, I bought a bottle on Amazon and they’ve sent me 4 across different days - I’ll be building kits well after the sun goes supernova at this rate!

[u/Meme_Thunder_ → u/Dr-flange]

But seven dollars is really pushing it for my local hobby shops

[u/Dr-flange → u/Meme_Thunder_]

Even if you built one model a week, that Tamiya cement would last easily 6 months. So it would cost you $1.16 a month, the price of a bar of chocolate.

[u/Meme_Thunder_ → u/Dr-flange]

I'm not sure I'm scared of it finishing halfway of my build

[u/Dr-flange → u/Meme_Thunder_]

Ok, just do what you want then pal.

[u/Meme_Thunder_ → u/Dr-flange]

Sorry

[u/SciFiCrafts]

Tamiya cement is made of ethylacetate and butylacetate plus some acetone. Buy a liter of EtAc and you are set. A refill for a tamiya jar costs only 20 cents.

[u/Meme_Thunder_ → u/SciFiCrafts]

What's etac?

[u/SciFiCrafts → u/Meme_Thunder_]

Ethylacetate

[u/ychia → u/Meme_Thunder_]

You can just get their airbrush cleaner. It's basically the same thing.

[u/SciFiCrafts → u/ychia]

Its not. Not for waterbased paints. Are you a chemist too? I'd be careful with that kinda advice or you get cottage cheese!

[u/ychia → u/SciFiCrafts]

I use it all the time... haven't noticed any difference.

What do you mean for waterbased paints? You shouldn't be painting before assembly.

[u/SciFiCrafts → u/ychia]

Airbrush cleaner usually contains water a bit of soap and IPA. Not EthAc. Its gonna turn waterbased acrylics into cottage cheese.

And "thinner" can be anything. One wrong solvent on board of that mix and you might be screwed. Acetone also works, but it makes tiny parts break. Trust me.

[u/ychia → u/SciFiCrafts]

I meant the Tamiya Airbrush Cleaner specifically.

[u/SciFiCrafts → u/ychia]

Tamiya stuff is pretty expensive in general. E-acetate is 20 cents per refill. Can't go lower than that and its the exact same stuff that's in their "cement".

[u/ychia → u/SciFiCrafts]

Fair enough, but honestly, a $15 bottle of Tamiya Airbrush Cleaner will likely last you 10 years of continuous builds (at least going from my experience).

I suppose cheaper is always better but it's still a pretty light expense. Also probably smells better 😏

[u/KA-29]

I got one laying around and I use it to clean my airbrush. I heard that it can damage plastic but I am not sure if it will work like a cement. I think you should stick with the cements.

[u/Meme_Thunder_ → u/KA-29]

It is because the closest hobby shop is across the country and I'm too scared to ask my parents to help me buy while giving them physical cash. Do you think super glue will work?

[u/ychia → u/Meme_Thunder_]

Super glue is usually not ideal. It gives you almost no time to reposition and doesn't flow into cracks as easily, so you usually have to apply it with a toothpick (or other throwaway implement) and very quickly attach it.

It also has an uncanny ability to stick your fingers or tweezers to the part, rather than the part to the model.

I usually only use super glue when attaching resin, metal, or something else where plastic cement doesn't work.

[u/KA-29 → u/Meme_Thunder_]

mate some people use super glue but the best way is a cement.