Super Glue & CA Glue

At Frontline Hobbies, we stock a huge range of superglue from premium brands like Zap-A-Gap, Deluxe Materials and more, so you can tackle any modelling project you’ve got planned. Shop the range online for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia or free shipping on orders over $150 (to metro areas)!

What exactly is superglue?

Superglue (cyanoacrylate adhesive) is a kind of fast-bonding, high-strength, instant adhesive engineered to bond with almost any material. Superglues are highly resistant to extreme temperatures and moisture and are compatible with stone, metal, wood, plastic, glass-ceramic, paper and most other materials. 

Superglue generally comes in liquid or gel forms. Liquids are better for penetrating cracks and fractures, and they dry a lot faster than gel glues. Gels are a more flexible bond than liquids and their higher viscosity means there’s less dripping — and less mess for you!

Superglue is also incredibly strong — because of cyanoacrylate glue’s properties, the bond between the glue and your model is almost unbreakable. For some perspective, cyanoacrylate adhesive broke the Guinness World Record by lifting a car weighing more than five tonnes with just nine drops of superglue! 

How long does it take for superglue to dry?

A quality superglue will dry and set within a matter of seconds. However, for a full bond or fixture, we recommend leaving the parts undisturbed for at least 10 minutes. Generally speaking, for the glue to be fully cured, you should wait a full 24 hours.

Zap-A-Gap glues are colour-coded based on how long they take to dry. 

• Green — Medium Cyanoacrylate. This glue provides a super fast bond and is great for gap-filling.

• Pink — Thin Cyanoacrylate. This glue provides a 7-10 second bond, which gives you time to adjust pieces after the glue has been applied.

• Yellow — Thick Cyanoacrylate. This glue provides a slow bond that will not run.

Keep in mind that superglue bottles can dry out quickly once opened, so be sure to put the lid back on the bottle as soon as possible to keep the bottle fresh and usable. 

FAQs about superglue

Is there anything superglue won’t stick to? 

While superglue is exceptionally strong, there are a few different plastics that superglue and CA glue will not work with — for example, certain plastics including polypropylene plastic, Teflon plastic, Delrin plastics and high-density polyethylene plastic. CA glue will also struggle to stick to wet or oily surfaces, smooth surfaces like glass and metal, and dirty/rough surfaces.

Is superglue waterproof? 

Yes! Once the glue is set and cured, the glue is completely waterproof. During the initial drying process, the superglue will use water vapour in the air as the “trigger” to activate its adhesive properties.

Is superglue permanent? 

For the most part, CA glue or superglue can be permanent. However, it can degrade over time if it is exposed to moisture or solvents like acetone. If you need to remove superglue, there are steps you can take to slowly and safely weaken the bonds — baby oil and warm, soapy water, for example, can soften superglue bonds. Just soak the glue and use a dull metal object to gently pry the glued pieces apart. 

If one round doesn’t work, simply repeat the process to reduce the build-up of glue. 

How much superglue do I need to use? 

A little bit of superglue goes a long way — unlike other forms of glue, superglue starts bonding with the item as soon as it’s exposed to moisture in the air. This means that a thicker layer of glue can actually decrease the strength of the bond and increase the amount of time it takes to finish bonding. 

As a rule of thumb, use one small drop of glue per square inch of the item you’re gluing.

Shop superglue online or in-store with Frontline Hobbies!

Secure your model building project with a thin layer of superglue from Frontline Hobbies — we offer fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia as well as free shipping on orders over $150. Alternatively, come and visit us in-store — our team would be more than happy to help you find the right glue for your project!