Gluing LEGO?

BrownRiceMafia

Hey everyone,

So this year I wanted to make LEGO gifts for all my friends' birthdays, mainly since I now have an income I can use to BrickLink as much as I need. I figured since most of my friends don't play/build with LEGO anymore, it would be best to glue the models, to keep them "alive" as long as possible.

What I'll probably do is build something out of my own collection, BrickLink another copy of it, and then glue the second one together.

I only want to use glue for these future models, not for my other MOC's, hence why I have not gone out and tried out various products myself. So here's the question: for those of you who do glue your builds, what do you use? Any and all feedback would be very much appreciated.

-JL

DadsAFOL

MEK is what Lego model builders use.

nexander

I have used several shop bought types of glue and say MEK all the way! The problem is that it isn't easy to get a hold of for the general public (well in this country).

Apparently airfix style plastic cement is a easier to get hold of alternative, only a bit glupier. You can get it with a needle type nozzle. Just don't use too much and do a test on 'scrap' bricks a day before you use it properly in case the glue is wrong and discolours the bricks. You also get a feel for how much to use.

CCC

MEK is good and should be easily available from model shops. I also have some DEK (pentanone, the next one in the series). It is slightly more viscous so doesn't run as much if you need to apply it to a vertical joint.

Although regular old superglue works fine although can be very hard to unglue if needed and stains parts more if you are sloppy applying it.

nexander

I found superglue was fine when I glued some black plates together with a stormtrooper fig but discoloured the set of red legs I was using for the flash a few mins later. Hence no more superglue or standard supermarket style glues for me (except epoxy resin for gluing Lego to metal).

just noticed you can get mek from amazon if you aren't near a model shop.

akunthita

Just to hold pieces together simple school glue works fine. The benefit is that it won't damage the bricks, and it can be removed. BTW, I wouldn't want to receive a glued LEGO model as a gift. It becomes completely useless. 

I would rather make the models sturdy enough that they won't fall apart. This way if the recipient wants to play with it some, they can. Maybe you will turn someone on to the hobby and now you will have a LEGO buddy. 

If the model is fairly large and complex, you might want to include printed out instructions, in case the recipient wants to play with it some, then put it back together. That would be a more interesting and dynamic gift. 

SumoLego

Model glue tends to deform the plastic, and stains the bricks.

ChrisJThunder

Talk with President Business about the Kraggle :P

And though this doesn't directly answer your question, I wouldn't worry about gluing together those gifts for your friends. They don't sound like hardcore Lego fans, so I would be surprised if they disassembled a gift made of Lego from a friend.

BrownRiceMafia

akunthita said:

Just to hold pieces together simple school glue works fine. The benefit is that it won't damage the bricks, and it can be removed. BTW, I wouldn't want to receive a glued LEGO model as a gift. It becomes completely useless. 

I would rather make the models sturdy enough that they won't fall apart. This way if the recipient wants to play with it some, they can. Maybe you will turn someone on to the hobby and now you will have a LEGO buddy. 

If the model is fairly large and complex, you might want to include printed out instructions, in case the recipient wants to play with it some, then put it back together. That would be a more interesting and dynamic gift. 

Yes, I would only glue it for people I know would never touch it and would not want to deal with broken bits/wear.

BrownRiceMafia

ChrisJThunder said:

Talk with President Business about the Kraggle :P

And though this doesn't directly answer your question, I wouldn't worry about gluing together those gifts for your friends. They don't sound like hardcore Lego fans, so I would be surprised if they disassembled a gift made of Lego from a friend.

Yeah, I'm more concerned about them falling apart over time. If they want to break them down themselves they are more than welcome to.