Liquid Cement Vs. Super Glue: any difference?
Remember what we talked about in the article Best Glue for Legos? We recommended several glues. Superglue can be an option. If you choose to use super glue to bond Legos together while building, the resulting toy might become permanently fixed. However, I must admit that my approach might spark controversy—I proudly consider myself a Lego gluer. Nevertheless, there is an alternative that surpasses the effectiveness of superglue: liquid cement. Allow me to explain in the next section.
Liquid Cement Vs. Super Glue: Specs & Uses
⏰Full Cure Time
Liquid Cement: 5-10 minutes
Super Glue: 24 hours
🆚Best Suited For
Liquid Cement: Technical applications, plastic models
Super Glue: Metal, rubber, most plastics, aluminum, ceramic, china, wood, pottery, jewelry
🛠️Common Uses
Liquid Cement works effectively on polystyrene plastic, commonly found in plastic car, airplane, or military models; precise application along the seams, ensuring a clean and transparent bond.
Super Glue can be used to repair broken glasses temples (material-dependent); repairs small holes in latex gloves; holds loose stones in place on jewelry.
Technical Info
What Is Liquid Cement
Tamiya EXTRA THIN model cement is used to glue together plastic model kits that use polystyrene plastic.
✅How to Apply Liquid Cement
My first impression of this cement was that it brushes on super thin, giving a clean finish. Unlike super glue, it doesn’t need to be held together for long. Here’s how it works:
Using the brush provided, you apply a small amount of liquid cement between the Lego pieces, effectively acting as a substitute for super glue.
The best part is that if you happen to misalign the Legos during the gluing process, you can easily rectify the situation. Simply apply another light coat of liquid cement, and the pieces will effortlessly separate.
Effortlessly separate Lego Pieces
This feature is truly remarkable. Unlike traditional gluing methods, where you risk ruining the Legos 
and hindering the ability to start anew, liquid cement allows for easy disassembly. With a quick application of liquid cement, your creation will revert to its individual pieces, ready to be rebuilt. It’s truly an amazing solution.
Here’s what I thought and experienced after testing the product and considering the frequently asked questions.
Bond Polystyrene Plastic
Firstly, Liquid Cement is formulated specifically to bond polystyrene plastic. It softens or dissolves plastic surfaces, allowing them to fuse seamlessly. It’s important to note that this adhesive isn’t for everything.
Will Liquid Cement Work on Metal?
It’s a common question among model builders whether Liquid Cement will work on metal. I wouldn’t recommend using it on metal surfaces, based on my experience and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Although it’s great at joining plastic parts, it’s not good at joining metal or paper. It’s best to use Cyanoacrylate (CA) cements for metals like brass or stainless steel. For metal miniatures, CA glue is a better choice, ensuring a strong, reliable bond.
CA Glue Vs Super Glue: Filling Small Holes and Cracks, Wood Carving, Create Glassy Finish, Bond Wood and Rubber
There’s also the question of whether Liquid Cement is liquid poly. Nope. Unlike liquid poly adhesives, liquid cement is a solvent specifically for gluing styrene materials.
It’s important to note that Liquid Cement may not work with ABS plastic. The properties of ABS plastic are different from those of polystyrene plastic, which this cement is designed for. As a result, ABS plastic is unlikely to provide satisfactory results.
For anyone wondering if Liquid Cement can bond metal detail parts to a titanium finish kit, I should stress that it’s formulated for plastic to plastic bonding. Personally, I couldn’t get a strong bond between brass and plastic with this adhesive.
Use Krazy Glue
for metal detail parts instead of cyanoacrylate glue.
I wouldn’t recommend Liquid Cement for displaying completed jigsaw puzzles. In contrast to thicker glues that might be better, this glue is thin and absorbs quickly into puzzle pieces. You’d be better off using a glue designed for paper, like Elmer’s glue
.
For clear parts that attach to the model through seams, Liquid Cement can be used on the outer edges. There’s no spreading of the glue into the body of the clear parts because of its capillary action. However, it’s not recommended for clear parts. Touching the joint area is enough to spread the glue almost instantly if you want to use it for capillary action.
❌Cons
The type of plastic used in the figure plays a huge role when it comes to repairing it. Liquid Cement is made for polystyrene plastic, not PVC like Paw Patrol Ryder figures. My suggestion for PVC repairs is to explore adhesives specifically formulated for PVC.
Acrylic materials shouldn’t be used with Liquid Cement. Using it for fusing acrylic may not yield satisfactory results.
FAQ: Liquid Cement
Q: Can Liquid Cement be used for metal miniatures?
A: It acts as a solvent that softens or dissolves plastic surfaces, allowing them to bond together. However, it is not suitable for metal or even paper materials. For metal parts, such as brass or stainless steel, I recommend using Cyanoacrylate (CA) cements, available in different thicknesses. In my opinion, CA glue would be a better choice for metal miniatures. I hope this suggestion helps!
Q: Is this considered liquid poly?
A: No, it is a solvent designed for gluing styrene materials.
Q: Can Liquid Cement be used on ABS plastic?
A: I don’t believe it would work well on ABS plastic, as the properties of ABS differ from what this cement is specifically made for.
Q: Will Liquid Cement bond metal detail parts to a titanium finish kit?
A: No, it is formulated for bonding plastic to plastic. I have tried using it to bond brass to plastic, and it did not hold. For metal detail parts, I suggest using a cyanoacrylate glue like Krazy Glue.
Q: Would Liquid Cement be suitable for displaying a completed jigsaw puzzle?
A: Personally, I would not recommend it for that purpose. The glue is thin and absorbs into the puzzle pieces quickly compared to thicker glues. Instead, I suggest using a glue specifically designed for paper, like Elmer’s paper glue.
Q: Can Liquid Cement be used on clear parts?
A: I use this glue on clear parts that attach to the model through seams. The glue’s capillary action only affects the seams and does not spread into the body of the clear parts. However, I do not recommend using it on the main body of the clear parts, only on the outer edges. If you plan to use it for capillary action, simply touching the joint area is sufficient for the glue to spread almost instantly.
Q: Would Liquid Cement be suitable for repairing a plastic Paw Patrol Ryder figure? I don’t know the type of plastic it’s made of.
A: I believe the plastic used for your figure is PVC, while Tamiya 87038 is intended for polystyrene plastic, typically found in plastic car, airplane, or military models.
Q: Does Liquid Cement work on PVC plastic or just ABS?
A: No, it is specifically designed for Polystyrene Plastic.
Q: Can Liquid Cement bond acrylic?
A: No, it is not suitable for fusing acrylic materials.
Q: How does Liquid Cement compare to the old Testors glue in the red tube? Is it better than Tamiya Quick Setting glue?
A: It is quite thin, similar to water, and sets fairly quickly, usually within 30 seconds to a minute, but it takes longer to fully cure. It can be applied in multiple coats without being visible. Whether it is better or not depends on your definition of “better.” Personally, I prefer it slightly more because I work on small models.
Q: Would Liquid Cement work well for attaching 3D printed PLA items together?
A: It is specifically formulated for styrene plastic only. If your 3D printer uses styrene plastic, then it should work.
Q: What does it mean exactly that this is a thin cement adhesive and not regular glue?
A: Essentially, it is designed to fuse plastic model parts together. It works exceptionally well for that purpose by altering the surface of the plastic, allowing it to bond. However, it does not function like regular glue when it comes to joining metal pieces together.
Q: Why are some people receiving bottles with Japanese writing instead of the correct bottle?
A: I’m not entirely sure of the reason. It could be a case of mixed-up crates during the supply process. However, rest assured that the product inside is the same; only the labeling is different.
Q: Is this the sameas the extra-thin Tamiya glue available in the United States?
A: To the best of my knowledge, it is the same product. It dries very quickly and can fill small gaps between two pieces when assembled.
Q: Will this glue work on LEGO sets without causing discoloration or fading?
A: You should not encounter any issues with discoloration or fading when using this glue on LEGO sets. However, I recommend testing it on two LEGO pieces first to ensure compatibility. In my opinion, it works just as well as any other glue available for this purpose.
What is Super Glue
✅What Can Super Glue Fix?
I used it to fix a broken vase my curious cat knocked over. Ceramic pieces bonded back together seamlessly with super glue. Also, I fixed a necklace with some loose stones and it’s held up great. For shoes, gel version worked great for resetting the soles. If it gets wet, the gel can foam up. Don’t use too much.
When fully cured, this glue can withstand temperatures between -65°F and 220°F. As a bonus, it’s waterproof, which came in handy when I fixed a leak in my shoes. I was confident the repair would last because it was waterproof.
Application
Super glue is pretty straightforward to apply, but you need to be precise. My advice is to wipe off any that gets on the nozzle right away before it dries and clogs. Unlike some other super glue brands, I haven’t had any problems with the cap getting stuck.
Ordor
There’s no harsh odor, which is nice. If you use too much in a confined space, it can cause eye irritation. Overall, it smells a lot less pungent than plastic cement.
I even used it on my coworker’s glasses after the temple piece broke. So far, it’s held up well. Take note of the frame material, as metal may take longer to cure than plastic.
The only caution would be not to use it for repairs that involve the microwave, like fixing a mug handle. I use this super glue for most household fix-it projects. This product is versatile, durable, and easy to use.
FAQ
Q: Does this glue expand like the regular Gorilla Glue?
A: No, it doesn’t require much to get the job done!
Q: Can I rely on this glue to be waterproof?
A: Absolutely! I’ve personally used it on various items such as shoes, repairing a necklace with loose stones, and even fixing a vase broken by a curious cat. I find the gel version particularly useful as well. However, be cautious when using the gel version as it activates and foams upon contact with a small drop of water. Applying too much may result in excess fuzzy white dry glue, which can be easily removed. The gel variant worked exceptionally well for resetting soles in shoes. I hope this information helps!
Q: Can I use super glue to repair a hole in my latex glove?
A: You may be able to repair the hole if you cover it with another material and use the glue to hold it in place. 🙂
Q: I purchased a similar brand of Gorilla Glue, but the top became unopenable after a few uses. Does this product have the same issue?
A: Personally, I haven’t encountered such a problem with this glue. However, since it is super glue, it’s important to be careful during application. If you accidentally get a drop on the nozzle, it’s best to wipe it off immediately or allow it to dry before replacing the cap. If you’re not careful, the glue may behave as expected!
Q: Does super glue have less odor compared to Tester’s Plastic Cement?
A: It has virtually no odor at all. However, I have noticed that using too much glue and being too close to it can cause eye irritation. But in general, there is no significant odor!
Q: Does this glue bond plastic models?
A: Yes, it is suitable for bonding plastic models.
I’m Ronald Stevens, a Mechanical Engineer obsessed with adhesives, glue, and all things sticky! My passion began in childhood when I’d always be the one playing with glue during arts and crafts. And I’d spend hours researching and experimenting. Happy reading, and remember: stick with the best, and you’ll never be stuck in a mess!
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