Glue for PLA

[Swiffi]

What glue should I use for PLA filaments? I thought about gorilla glue, but I think it might melt it and I know that when it dries it foams up.

What glue should I be using?

[jfield]

I am using ABS pipe cement (yellow) and holds very well. You have to be able to put some pressure on the parts, 1 joint that I didn’t put pressure on, did not hold. All others held really well (I was not able to break them apart).

[Swiffi]

What does the yellow make it?

[jfield]

Seems to me I’ve seen purple colored ABS glue, but only tried the yellow. It is Oatey brand, ‘Premium Grade Yellow ABS Cement’. If you happen to have something else, you could test it out.

[RCole]

I would use acetone for a glue for PLA. See this video for more information. You can’t use acetone for smoothing PLA, but it works great for welding.

I also use my 3D Pen. Nothing like using melted plastic to glue plastic together.

[btdevine]

I read the title of this, and thought you were talking about glue for bed adhesion. Then when you said you were going to use gorilla glue I thought, “Nooooo!!”. But I read some of the comments and realized you were talking about glueing parts together. I’ve never used glue to stick parts together in PLA, but I’m guessing model glue might work as it’s intended for plastic parts. Gorilla glue would probably be too strong, as you thought. How big are the parts and how strong do you need the bond to be? I’d try model glue if they’re small parts, or maybe a two part epoxy if they’re larger. But that may also compromise the prints if you use too much of it. I’d just print some small tests and try some different glues and see how the PLA responds.

[Garyg]

Gorilla Glue works quite well on PLA socket type joints.

It expands into the pores of the PLA parts.

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Mostly it depends on what strength and assembly type is designed into the parts.

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Gorilla Super Glue ( GEL) works quite well with PLA and is not messy.

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If I need more strength, I use West System epoxy #105resin #206hardener.

West System epoxy is pretty expensive if you only glue a few ounces per year.

I usually go through a quart of epoxy on multiple projects made of wood or 3d printed plastic per year.

[Nave]

From the glue I’ve tried, I found that Gorilla Super Glue works the best. I haven’t tried epoxy, but if the piece isn’t too large than super glue should work fine.

[Perry_1]

+1 on the 3dpen. best 39$ investment you can make for you printer!

[Swiffi]

The only problem that I have with using gorilla glue is that it dries as a foam. I just tried loctite super glue and it holds well, but leaves a whiteish residue. I use black filament and you can clearly see the residue.

[Nave]

There is a Gorilla super glue that is different from normal gorilla glue. It performs similarly to loctite glue, just stronger. As for the white residue, I think it dries clear but I may be wrong

[RCole]

Thanks. It’s especially good SINCE I got it on sale for $19.