A guide to common glues used in terrain making

[@vikkiwilson5069]

8 months later with a memory like a goldfish in a sieve I watched this again. Thanks Mel

[@jjab99]

Who would have thought that a half an hour of listening to someone talking about glues could be so interesting? Mel you could talk the hind legs off a donkey and still have it's undivided attention. Well done mate another great video full of great advice and great ideas too, to help us all out. Many thanks mate you are a star.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+jjab99 Perhaps there's a career as a story teller waiting for me :-D

[@4hedgesfamily]

Mel, I found the Terrain Tutor about a month ago, and have watched it almost daily. I've learned a TON, and it's inspired me to get back into making wargames terrain (along with my 3 sons, which were part of the reason I got sidetracked in the first place!) Here are a couple of things I am sure you knew, but I didn't hear mentioned: I generally add a drop of dish soap (only a drop) to my PVA/Water mix. The dish soap helps break down the surface tension of the water, and the mix flows into all the little gaps and crevices easier. Super glue can be used as gap filler. I learned this from an old model railroading book. Fill the gap with baking soda. God old Arm & Hammer works fine, but avoid the open box in the wife's fridge. It aborbs moisure from the fridge and doesn't work as well. Once the gap is filled, brush off the excess around the outside of the gap. Now, drop a drop of super glue onto the baking soda. Let capillary action suck the drop into the baking soda. Wait a minute. It will dry rock hard and can be sanded, drilled, filed, or just about anything else. It works (as I understand it) because the reaction between the soda and the glue produces heat (which you can actually feel), which dries the superglue. I've used this on terrain, plastic and metal miniatures, and even knifemaking (another hobby of mine). Again, thank you for the tutorials! Please keep up the great work! Buck Hedges, Dog Hair Terrain

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for the info matey ;-)

[@SquidgyBidgey]

Damn good idea, never thought of using my heat gun to get rid of the hot glue spider webs. Hot glue/Superglue mix. Cheers for the warning, never considered that. The wife managed to get "Plastic Weld" into her eye. Luckily I was there to flush it through. Took her to the hospital and the MSDS that the doctor got on the stuff said they were supposed to treat patients exposed to that in basically a chem suit, as the fumes are so strong. That shit went straight in the bin when I got home. It was the bees knees for welding plastic together, but dangerous stuff. Doctor said she was lucky that that it got flushed so quickly as it could very easily have permanently damaged the eye and they were surprised it had not done so.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Squidgy Bidge Damn, that's nasty!

[@dougsundseth6904]

I've been working my way backwards through your archives as well; brilliant stuff. A few other adhesive options: 1) For lamination of flat materials, contact cement works really well. It's a bit slow and very smelly, but it's strong, dimensionally stable, and water resistant/proof. Of course, like most adhesives, it will eat expanded polystyrene. But ... 2) House paint (acrylic latex paint in the US) works very well as a barrier layer on EPS/styrofoam, allowing you to use almost any adhesive or spray. I've used spray-on rock effects over broken EPS to very good effect, for instance. 3) Epoxies work better than anything else if you have s small contact point that you want to glue (for instance, if you want to glue a street light down to your modelled street). The work even better if you pin first, then glue. 4) Glues aren't the only choice for permanent attachment. Double-sided Industrial VHB tapes are very easy to use, waterproof, heat resistant, and very high tack. Similarly, industrial adhesive transfer tapes (sometimes called "booger tape") can work very well. (Our test lab has tested them to about 140F/60C at 100% humidity under load for days on end -- we use them in window coverings).

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for the info buddy, there's a few things there I'll have to have a play with. The tapes are a new one, so I'll have to explore that one :-D

[@bigmaude31]

This was excellent. I have been enjoying all your back to basic videos. The best part is that they are applicable to crafts other than war gaming crafting.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Bigmaude31 I know there's a lot of non gamers who follow me, I just wish I could make my stuff more applicable to them as well as wargamers matey

[@belkozen]

A really cool web effect you can do with PVA and Super glue is to apply the PVA, then put dots of liquid super glue on it. Since the super glue polymerises rapidly in water and PVA is water based, you can get neat web effects. ALWAYS be careful with super glue, as it's generally toxic and like Mel said, be careful with vaporization of it. I prefer plastic glue for plastic models. Plastic glue will fuse the plastic a bit better anyway.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+belkozen That's interesting, I'll have a play with that mate, thanks for the tips!

[@GrimdarkSandwich]

This is the video I've been looking for for a little bit. Thanks so much for making it!

[@maureenmonahan9158]

E 6000 is a heavy duty glue in a tube you might try for difficult or heavy pieces. takes time to cure but forms a lasting tight bond

[@StrongholdCrafterKev]

Great video, Mel. A lot of stuff I already knew and more I didn't know. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Stronghold Crafter Kev As long as you learned something, it's a win bud :-)

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Top work Terrain tutor, that tutorial was a Burster !... I can FEEL the benefit of it. As a hardware ignoramus it's given me a bit of a framework & helps direction and decision-making. I now have more confidence with glues. P.S. I feel a little more understanding of my HobbyTac now. Still a messy thing to use.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Vikki Wilson As long as it helped, I'm happy :-)

[@TheClangfor]

stellar Mel. As always, love it

[@royshaw9299]

revelle do contact glue as well for plastic

[@MuadMouse]

Great video, Mel! I actually didn't know about super glue's response to heat - nice tip! Since this is about the basics, I think a bit more focus on what NOT to use particular glues for would be in order. Especially, super glue and polystyrene, which give off very nasty fumes and eat away the polystyrene

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+MuadMouse Good point mate, I talked about it in the polystyrene vid but didn't mention it here

[@graemecollin]

Hmmm ... bit of a sticky subject ... Question ... which is that awful rubbery snot-like stuff (I'm guessing that it's one of the latex-ey ones) that they use to stick things to the front of magazines? I love the two-part epoxies - eg, Araldite ... once you've stuck something with that stuff, nothing short of a direct nuclear strike's gonna shift it! Shame that it takes geological timescales to harden ...

[@belkozen]

+Graeme Collin That's a latex glue aka Tacky Glue. Mel used some of it in his Ivy & Creeper video last week. For plastics, plastic glue is definitely my favorite. My models never come apart. I've had issues with super glues before.

[@MaineCoon79]

+Graeme Collin Also known as rubber cement. Plastic glues are great on polystyrene plastics (injection moulded plastics, like GW uses... if it comes on a sprue it's injection moulded polysterene), but do not work on PVC plastics like Privateer Press uses.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Graeme Collin It's a latex glue mate ;-)

[@kiblams]

Awesome stuff! great explanation of the different glues! I use the stay tacky spray glue for stencils.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+kiblams I'm assuming to hold the stencil to the piece mate?

[@kiblams]

+TheTerrainTutor two purposes of it really, the first is to hold the acetate in place while the cutter cuts the stencil out, and then its used when spraying to get a super sharp stencil.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

***** Nice, thanks for the tips mate

[@travishardinger7018]

Groovy video gave me some questions to ask. 1) I'm going to use Serissa Precision City Block buildings for my table and I'm wanting to add a cover to the windows like a plastic copper I think, but what type of glue should I use on plastic to keep it from fogging over? 2) If you wanted to add a window cover like what I am thinking is there something that you would do different to make it look better?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Travis Hardinger Avoid superglues, I'd use thick pva or a latex glue at a push mate. You can score the plastic to give cracks etc, you can draw lines (grind work) with a fine tip permanent marker or you can buy clear plastic sheets with stainglass, curtains, all sorts. Look for doll house windows on ebay mate

[@tollmart]

Great video :-) Would you be able to do a video on making roads from start to finish for games like Bolt action ? Thanks Mel your awesome

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Tollmart Greybeard It's on the list mate :-)

[@shakespeare5215]

I realise that this is 7 years old now, and you probably won't see this, but I was wondering if you think that bosch glue gun was worth it? And I suppose more generally, are builders/posh glue guns worth it?

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Another great video Mel. Thanx for the hot glue-on-super glue warning. I'd never heard that. I know that super glue FUMES can "frost" the area around them, but hadnt considered it a danger to my eyes. I use safety glasses or keep it under my magnifier when i work with that stuff. Had a friend get some in his eye once. They used cocaine to numb it so they could work on him! Do you have any use for rubber cement? It might work for putting clump foliage on trees?

[@belkozen]

Does rubber cement work pretty much the same as the latex glue Mel used in his Ivy & Creeper vid last week? I think it's a little thinner, but I imagine it would work the same. Maybe as an alternative to PVA for finer flocks or sand. And it's water resistant I think!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Bill D. in Iowa It's nasty mate, rubber cement is just a latex glue, so applications that need to be tacky or water resistant suit it best

[@mooncabbagere]

Hey, good to know I'm not the only glue nerd. The real test is, how often do you look up the MSDS glue to work out what it REALLY is? Noticed you haven't mentioned Urethane glues like gorilla glue, or Yellow Glue/Aliphatic Resin (Basically treated PVA). Yellow Glue tends to be very slightly more water resistant than PVA, so I wonder if it might be better for basing etc?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Mooncabbage I've never even heard of it, what is it? I haven't mentioned those as I don't really use them and so can't speak with experience on them mate.

[@mooncabbagere]

+TheTerrainTutor Yellow Glue is a kind of wood glue. Best known is probably Titebond from the US.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Mooncabbage I'll keep an eye for it, is it latex based?

[@mooncabbagere]

+TheTerrainTutor Yellow Glue is water based like PVA. It's basically the same white glue, but either heat or chemically treated (can't remember which) to change it's properties. In my woodworking experience, the drips seem to set rock hard, compared to white glue which is sort of rubbery.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Mooncabbage I'll check it out mate ;-)

[@DerMartexus]

Great overview! :) I think, you forgot the little blue one. Is it plastics cement or plastics glue? I know the one from Revell and use it for glueing together plastic stuff. It melts the plastic surface and combines the parts.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+DerMartexus 16mins in bud ;-)

[@DerMartexus]

Haha, I think, I didn't listen.

[@DanielGarcia-wi3eb]

Love the videos!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Daniel Garcia Cheers mate

[@bibbly1234]

Bit off a noob question, the other day I put some static grass down using the "clumping" technique, then went back the next day to seal it and it had turned into a mat, with no texture whatsoever, I'll be replacing it, but want to avoid it happening again, any reason why it happened? I'd assume that it's something to do with the glue, and the technique not giving a particualrly great affect anyway, but like I said, I'm pretty new, so I thought I'd ask the experts

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+bibbly1234 sounds like the glue was too watery mate, a thicker glue would hold the fibres upright whilst it cures. Wetter glue tends to suck them down into a flat patch

[@TheRedleg69]

New to all this. Any reason not to use spray adhesive for sealing?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It's not a sealer mate

[@chad8907]

So much info thank you so much!

[@readhistory2023]

Thanks for the info. Very helpful!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Hoehner Tim Glad it helped mate

[@SHAHEERNO1]

Hey Mr. Mel, would like to know, I don't have acrylic clauk /filler in my country, what alternatives I could use for base terrains. Silicon? I do have patex latex but it's hard. Also PVA glue isn't available exactly as it's name, could I use any glue to stick up flock? Or should I search for wood glue?

[@begosanchezfotografia9304]

You are a crack!!! Congrats on your knowledge and comunication

[@ajtaflan5387]

Hey Mel, great vid! what is the best glue to use when gluing Plastics to MDF? I just purchased some model train trees and found your vids about the MDF modular woods!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

super glue or hot glue

[@ajtaflan5387]

TheTerrainTutor thanks mate!

[@tableterra]

Hey Mel, what are the best glues for attaching hydrocal rock molds to insulation foam? Thanks!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Grip adhesives mate

[@brerrabbit4265]

That's funny. As I watch this I'm building a bunker out of cardboard blue painters tape and Elmer's glue. It's all I have at the moment. Lol

[@TheTerrainTutor]

If it works, do it!

[@IDICBeer]

I didn't know there were so many glues! lol

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+IDICBeer There's many more than these bud, these are just the common ones ;-)

[@davidmartin1793]

a gripping tutorial Mel.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+David Martin Did it hold your attention mate?

[@davidmartin1793]

I was glued to the spot Mel.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

David Martin I hope you don't become too fixated with my videos mate :-)

[@davidmartin1793]

+TheTerrainTutor I'm not that tacky Mel :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

David Martin You had me there for a moment ;-)

[@royshaw9299]

tamiya comtact glue wil do plastic

[@kayprins6779]

anyone know a latex glue brand that they sell in sweden?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+KagBB 25 Soz, can't help bud

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+KagBB 25 Try ringing a craft shop and ask them what brands they carry

[@kayprins6779]

they don't know it under the name latex glue :), so maybe I should have asked, does anyone know what latex glue is called in sweden?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

KagBB 25 rubber glue?

[@kayprins6779]

I'll try that, thx

[@andreathomas3170]

i love pva 😍

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Andrea Thomas Me too

[@royshaw9299]

humbrol cement glue will plastic

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+roy shaw It's a plastic glue mate

[@royshaw9299]

yes it glue's plastic of all type

[@JamboJamie100]

I LOVE all your videos and you explain things greatly. You gotta atop breathing through your mouth but. Kinda sounds like your slurping the air up. Kinda aggravating hahaha. Other than that keep up the good work :D

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Mr Jamie McC I struggle with breathing through my nose mate, it's been broken a few too many times ;-)