Every owner of miniatures experiences breakage or replacement of the parts from time to time. To properly fix or replace a part, you will need to glue it using an appropriate adhesive.
It is also important to consider the size and the material of the miniature when choosing the glue. Some adhesives work great on metal miniatures but won’t hold plastic parts, while others work great on resin miniatures but can’t hold the FineCast ones.
All this information and the high number of available adhesives can be overwhelming. Because of that, we’ve compiled a list of the top 7 best glue for miniatures that you can buy. Along with the list, we’ve included a guide that will help you better understand both adhesives and miniatures.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Glue For Miniatures – Reviews
We have started our big research with more than 100 potential glue models for miniatures. In the end, 7 models that performed the best and passed our rigorous criteria got into our list of the best adhesives for miniatures. In this list, you will find adhesives for every type of miniature material and size, so you can be sure that you will find just the right one for your use case.
Our Pick
Bob Smith Industries - Maxi Cure/Insta-Set Combo
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: Instant
Viscosity: Medium
While no one adhesive is the best glue for miniatures, this Bob Smith Industries CA glue and Activator combo is suitable for most people, most use cases, and provides the fastest results. It’s an adhesive we’ve been most impressed with when we conducted our research, and we found that it works excellently on all types of miniatures.
Why did we mention that it is most suitable for most people and most use cases? Well, because of its versatility. This is something that is to be expected from a quality cyanoacrylate glue since it usually performs great on many different materials.
You will have no problem using this glue on plastic, metal, wood, or resin miniatures. For most fixes and parts, this glue will have enough holding power. The bond will be strong enough to make the parts inseparable.
We would recommend it for any type of plastic and resin miniature gluing, but we recommend it only for certain metal miniature gluing. For heavier and bulkier metal parts, you will be better off using epoxy like the J-B Weld 8265S that we reviewed later in the article.
The main reason that this adhesive is our number 1 choice for gluing miniatures is that it sets instantly. This property separates it from the rest of the adhesives on our list. The instant adhesion is achieved via the accelerator or the activator that is called Insta-Set.
This spray activator accelerates the polymerization of the cyanoacrylate (super glue) and makes it set as much as 10 times faster than without it. It speeds up the regular drying time by providing the necessary moisture needed for the super glue to set.
With this superb combo, you can finish your projects and repairs so much faster and get your results in no time. You no longer have to hold the miniature parts for a long time, as the bond will set instantly. Since we tried this amazing super glue and activator combination, we haven’t looked back. It is just so convenient and a huge lifesaver.
The Maxi-Cure super glue that we get in this combo is super glue on steroids. It has more structural strength than the conventional crazy glue models and is super easy to work with because of its increased viscosity.
The consistency of this glue is syrup-like and makes it go where you want it to go and stay where you want it to stay. No more running and dripping, as with liquid super glue. This whole set is so easy to apply since the only thing you need to do is to add a few drops of glue on one part and spray the other part with an accelerator.
The super glue is very resistant and can tolerate high and low temperatures with ease. It is also waterproof and will hold its bond no matter the weather!
You can be sure that your bonds will look clean and professional because of the clear drying properties of both the glue and the accelerator.
If you want to make your life easier and bond your miniatures parts securely, go for this Maxi-Cure/Insta-Set combo, and you won’t be sorry!
Gorilla Micro Precise Super Glue Gel
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 30 seconds
Viscosity: Medium
The most common answer we got when we asked around for the best glue for miniatures is the gorilla super glue. It is generally considered to be the most versatile and one of the strongest adhesives you can get for this type of application.
The strength of this adhesive is almost unmatched when compared to other cyanoacrylate adhesives. It is definitely on par with the Maxi-Cure glue we reviewed above. In our experience, it performs better on metal than the Maxi-cure, but Maxi-Cure beats it on resin and plastic performance.
Still, those margins are low, and both of the adhesives will work excellently on all miniature materials for most parts and fixes. They are both of very high quality.
The thing we love about this glue is its super easy and convenient application. The Gorilla has designed the dispensing nozzle to be able to put the glue in controlled amounts. You can apply this glue drop by drop and get just the right amount of it exactly where you want it to go.
We found this to be very beneficial when gluing smaller miniature parts that needed small amounts of glue. This feature provides you with enhanced control but also provides you with a mess-free application that leaves you with clean and expert-looking results.
You can expect this glue to dry in about 30 seconds, which is pretty standard for super glue adhesives. If you want to speed that up and don’t want to waste any time waiting on the glue to dry, you can combine it with a good accelerator like This One From Stick Fast.
All in all, this is a great glue for miniatures that works for most of the low to medium strength applications.
TAMIYA Extra Thin Cement Glue
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 60 seconds
Viscosity: Low
This TAMIYA cement is perhaps the most popular adhesive for plastic miniatures on the market. One of its biggest advantages is the plentiful information and ratings from users that tried this cement on their plastic miniatures. Most of the reviewers praise the quick-drying cement for its ease of use, strong bonding, and flowing through the gaps and cracks.
The biggest advantage of this extra thin cement is the fact that it is very low viscosity. This means that it has a water-like consistency, flows between the little gaps on your miniatures, and makes the bond extra strong and resistant.
We really like the brush that comes with this contact cement as it makes the application a breeze. It is located on the inside of the cap and is a great tool for the precise and controlled spreading of the adhesive. It makes the result clean and mess-free since the cement goes just where you want it to go.
The strength of this cement is phenomenal. It is by far the strongest glue for plastic miniatures you can find. It dissolves or melts the plastic a little bit, which makes the joints inseparable and long-lasting. If you work with a lot of plastic miniatures that require gluing, this is the adhesive to go for.
Some people complained about the extra quick drying time of this adhesive, but we think that this is beneficial as you will finish your work a lot sooner. If you prefer to have a bit more working time, then an epoxy like J-B Weld 8265S can help you get a few minutes more for assembly. You can expect this cement to dry as quickly as super glue since it’s so thin or low viscosity.
Another reason to go for this adhesive would be its affordability. When applying this glue, a little goes a long way because of the cement’s low viscosity and precise applicator. Just this one 40ml container can last you through gluing hundreds and hundreds of plastic miniatures.
All things considered, this is by far the best glue for plastic miniatures. It dries fast, creates strong bonds, and is super affordable. We can’t think of a reason to go for anything else other than this cement if you want to glue plastic miniatures.
J-B Weld Original Cold-Weld Steel Reinforced Epoxy
Drying Color: Dark Grey
Setting Time: 4-6 Hours
Viscosity: High
This is, without a doubt, the strongest adhesive on our list. It’s the original Cold-Weld steel reinforced epoxy from J-B Weld that we always use for heavy-duty fixes. When we were thinking of adhesives to try on metal miniatures, we immediately thought of this superb epoxy. Metal needs extra strength and extra resistance, and that is precisely what this adhesive has. It is, in our opinion, the best glue for metal miniatures you can buy.
As we already mentioned, the main reason we went for this epoxy is the immense strength of its bonds. The unbelievable tensile strength of 5020 PSI, coupled with a great shear strength of the bonds, makes this epoxy a preferable one for metal miniatures. The bonds will withstand the increased weight pressure from heavy metal models, and the longevity of those bonds will be ensured because of the high resistance and flexibility of this adhesive.
From all of the adhesives we reviewed, this one holds its bond on metal miniatures the best. The resistance of the adhesive also makes it a preferable choice. This epoxy can withstand extreme temperatures of up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. A lot of adhesives tend to dissolve when exposed to high temperatures, but this epoxy doesn’t. The J-B Weld epoxy is also highly resistant to water and moisture. All of this means that you can be sure that the bonds will stay intact in any kind of environment.
Besides metal, you can also glue plastic, resin, and FineCast miniatures with this epoxy. It is very versatile and works on many different materials excellently.
The only drawback is the high setting time of this epoxy. It can take as much as 6 hours to set, which means that you will spend much more time on your miniature bonding project and that you will need a clamp to secure the parts. Still, there is no better performing adhesive on metal miniatures than this one. If you want to ensure the strongest and most durable bond that will last as long as your miniatures, you will have to sacrifice a few hours more. It is totally worth it.
Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Crafting Glue
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 1 to 5 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
If you need glue for bonding miniatures made of paper, wood, and fabric, this is the adhesive to go for. It won’t damage the materials and is simple to use and remove if you screw anything up.
This is PVA glue, which means that it works excellent with wood. It bonds stronger than the wood itself and does a great job at bonding paper and fabric miniatures as well. This is the best glue for any type of wood miniatures you can find.
The advantage of working with this glue is that it isn’t toxic and doesn’t produce dangerous fumes that can affect your health. It is safe to use indoors and doesn’t require a well-ventilated area to work with it.
We especially like the super-easy removal of this glue. You can wipe it with some hot water, and it’s gone! This is great if you mess up assembling some parts and need to break them free. This would be near too impossible with epoxies and very difficult with super glue adhesives.
Most of the PVA adhesives take a long time to dry. We are talking hours in some cases. This glue, however, sets in only 1 minute on most materials! You can experience longer drying times when gluing fabric, but in most cases, you will be finished in no time!
We got the best-looking bonds compared to all other adhesives on this list when we used this glue on miniatures. It dries crystal transparently clear color, which gives you that clean and professional-looking bonds. This, combined with the easy clean-up, will make your projects clean and tidy.
This advanced crafting glue is our number 1 choice for gluing wood and fabric miniatures. It has strong bonds, is affordable, and leaves you with tidy results.
Bob Smith Industries BSI-201 Quik-Cure Epoxy
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 5 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
While the J-B Weld epoxy is the toughest and the strongest glue for metal miniatures, you sometimes want something that’s close but doesn’t take as much time. This Bob Smith Quick-Cure epoxy is just that, as it sets in just a fraction of the time a normal epoxy would.
It is called the 5-minute epoxy because that’s how long it takes for it to set. The manufacturer says that you can handle the part after only 10 minutes which is insanely fast!
Some of you might ask, does that increased speed sacrifice the strength of the bond? Well, yes, but not too much. The tensile strength of this epoxy is 3500PSI, which is around 1500PSI lower than the J-B Weld model but is still sufficient for metal miniatures bonding.
We think that the best strategy would be combining these two epoxies and using the J-B Weld on the heavy-duty parts while using the Bob Smith Industries on smaller and lighter parts.
Another interesting advantage of this epoxy is the clear drying color. Most epoxies leave this ugly grey or tan-colored residue when they dry. This residue is sometimes visible and can ruin the looks of your miniatures. This epoxy, however, doesn’t have that problem as it dries crystal clear. You won’t sacrifice the looks of your bonds while you’ll retain the great tensile and shear strength of an epoxy.
Faller Expert Plastic Adhesive
Drying Color: Clear
Setting Time: 30 Minutes
Viscosity: Medium
The last glue on our list is a plastic specialist. It is a German Faller expert plastic adhesive that is specially designed to bond almost any type of plastic phenomenally. We found that it does an excellent job on plastic miniatures and that it’s a great choice for that application.
The glue is designed for a super-precise application. The thin and long nozzle provides you with a controlled way to dispense glue onto your small miniature parts. The glue comes out of the nozzle in small drops so that you can get just the right amount of glue on your part.
The consistency of the glue is medium, which is a viscosity that is similar to syrup. This type of ‘thickness’ is preferable by most people and makes the glue stay in place while not being too rigid.
The bonding power of this glue is exceptional on plastic. It does take some time to dry, but when it does, you can expect long-lasting and extra-strong bonds. The strength of the glue is on par with the strongest models we reviewed in this article.
This glue is supposed to do one thing, and it does it superbly. It glues plastic very well, but that’s the only thing it really can do. If you want to glue metal or resin miniatures, you are much better off going with one of the models we reviewed above.
Best Glue For Miniatures – Guide
In this section of the article, we will go through the features you should pay attention to when choosing glue for miniatures. These are the criteria that we based our reviews upon.
Miniature Material
The first and the most important thing to look at is the type of miniature you want to glue. Is it a metal one, or a FineCast miniature, a plastic one, or a resin model? This is crucial for choosing the right adhesive for your miniature.
Metal
For metal miniatures, we always recommend going for a high-grade two-part epoxy adhesive. We recommend them because epoxies are considered the strongest adhesives you can buy. Metal miniatures are the most demanding when it comes to gluing their parts, and there is usually a lot more to bonding them successfully than just using the right glue.
Metal miniatures are considerably heavier than all other types of miniatures. Some people love them because of that, while others avoid them for that very reason. Be that as it may, that makes them much more challenging to bond long-term. For joining the parts properly, many people drill through the parts and wire them to minimize the weight stress on the joint.
This will help the parts stay together properly and eliminate the use of clamps. The epoxy can then ‘share’ the stress of the heavy-weight metal parts and therefore ensure the longevity of the fix. The downside of using this glue is that the epoxy resin is expensive and difficult to work with if you’re not experienced.
Plastic
The plastic miniatures are much easier to bond than the metal ones. A wide variety of glues work on this material, but only certain adhesives will bond your plastic miniature parts efficiently.
A lot of plastic miniature collectors use super glue to bond the parts. While super glue works very well, there are others equally strong and even more efficient adhesives. We at Boostuphome like to use thin plastic cement for most of our miniature part bonding.
Using this adhesive turns out to be more economical and gets the same or better results than most of the super glue models we tried.
Different Materials
If you have a lot of different material miniatures that need to be bonded, then using super glue might be your best bet. Super glue works on all miniatures materials, plastic, metal, resin, and even wood.
The best super glue models worked on all miniature parts we tried them on. They aren’t necessarily the best glue for any type of miniatures but work great on all of them, which makes them a great choice for most people.
They come in super glue gel and liquid forms, as well as many different sizes and prices so that everyone can get one.
Viscosity
You should pay attention to the viscosity of the glue you are choosing for your miniature models.
If you tend to have miniatures with gaps, like those push-fit models, then using a thin or low viscosity glue is the best option. It will seep through the gaps and cracks and fill them with glue much easier than the more viscous adhesives.
For bonding parts that need a controlled and precise amount of glue, getting an adhesive with higher viscosity is preferable. It will stay where you put it and flows less, which makes the application clean and accurate.
Drying Time
The last thing to pay attention to is the drying time of the adhesive. This is very much a personal preference and something that you should figure out for yourself.
If you are not experienced enough or need more time for assembly of the parts, then go for a slower setting glue.
If you, however, want to achieve the fastest results possible, go for an instant set adhesive like the insta-set and maxi-cure combo we reviewed above.
- Drying Color: Clear
- Setting Time: Instant
- Viscosity: Medium
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
That about covers it for everything you need to know about the best glue for miniatures.
The most important thing to remember is to choose the glue based on the type of your miniature. After you identify it, go for an adequate glue that is strong and resistant.
Any of the adhesives we reviewed are great choices. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
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