Monday 13 January 2014

Baking soda ... a boon from the hobby gods

Gluing very tiny parts with small surface areas to a figure or model kit is one of my main pet peeves as a miniature hobbyist. At best of times it requires a huge test of patience, a trait that I do not have in abundance. In a worse case scenario, the very thought of having to get a tiny part to bond strongly at a correct position/angle is enough to put me off the figure or model kit in question. A crying shame considering how some cool miniatures require you to work with extremely small parts.

Pure baking soda or otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate

A recent project i.e. Knight Models Logan (aka Wolverine) threw up the very challenge that I dreaded as it involved gluing thin blades to Logan's hand. Solution to my fears? Pure baking soda.

Attaching Logan's claws was made easier with the baking soda-super glue combo

Now baking soda (otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate) is usually used with cyanoacrylate glues (in my case Shellys Supa Glue) to create a hard but lightweight adhesive filler. Based on this concept, I was mainly interested in two characteristics that this mixture has namely a very fast bonding time (almost instantly) and the relative strong bond that is created. Both characteristics appealed to me, especially the first one, as a longer bonding time when dealing with tiny parts will invariably result in the said part not adhering correctly to the figure/model kit. A faster bonding time is always preferred.

When mixed together, pure baking soda and super glue form a strong bond that hardens almost instantaneously

It is important that you use pure baking soda and not those that have been mixed with flour. It shouldn't be too hard to get a hold of as I got mine from a wet market of all places. As to the actual process, what I found worked best for me involved the following steps:

1. Place a small drop of super glue on the figure/model kit
2. Dip the tiny part into the pure baking soda so that some sticks to the end that you want to glue
3. Attach the tiny part to the figure/model kit and hold carefully in place for about 2 seconds

Warning: The steps above prevent your fingers from coming into direct contact with the mixture which releases heat when reacting with each other.

And there you have it. An effective way to glue tiny parts on to your miniature figure or model kit. For me, pure baking soda is certainly a time saver and manna from the hobby heavens.

http://shireworks.blogspot.com/p/knight-models.html

11 comments:

  1. Baking soda + super glue. That's an interesting formula. Will definitely try that in my next application on very complex parts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just be aware that the bond forms almost instantaneously!

      Delete
  2. You can also use that combo to fill small gaps and strengthen joints as it is easily sandable. I do love this little idea though as i need to assemble Alice from Tale of War and I'm not sure I can do a decent job of pinning her super petite legs (54mm my @$$!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heh heh ... I hear you. A lot of 54mm miniatures have very tiny parts. ^^

      Delete
  3. Thanks for this tip, that I did not know.
    Greetings .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A quick search online should give you more information. I came across the super glue-sodium bicarbonate combo from watching a video on how it was used to create a filler for fixing a certain part of a guitar.

      Delete
  4. Super glue becomes brittle with age, how does the baking soda affect that? This is a very interesting idea! Thanks for sharing this tip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I understand it, the pure baking soda-super glue combo creates a bond that is stronger than just super glue itself. It has do partly with a chemical polymerization process. There are some science educational web sites that give further info but I have yet to find the actual chemical equation. Although I took 3 years of pure organic chemistry as part of my biochemistry degree, I can't really recall the actual chemical process though I believe it is exothermic in nature i.e. it releases heat.

      Delete
    2. Oh yes, it releases heat alright. Got some on my finger today while gluing Alice together; (BTW she is actually 32mm which explains her petite stature) it burns quite a bit -_-

      Delete
    3. Ouch ... the steps I suggested above actually prevents you from coming into direct contact with either the super glue or the baking soda. I have added a warning to make it clearer just in case. Thanks for the feedback.

      I guess it comes second nature to me not to touch chemicals with my bare hands after dealing with chemicals in the lab for four long torturous years studying biochemistry for my degree. Hope it didn't hurt too bad! -_-

      Delete
    4. Nah, more of a surprise after using super glue for years to close up various cuts. Just a slow steady warming sensation. Damn strong bond on alice though :)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...