question about materials

[ThoroughBreed]

During a recent visit to hobbytown to check on some decals that still haven't been replaced by microscale, my sons friend went with me to find some items he needed for his nitro rc car. Well after he looked around for some screws and so forth for the car, we were talking about how to repair the shell on it, as the type of plastic isnt real super glue compatable. I found a bottle of tenax-7r welder cement and thought we would try it. It worked great, as we put in some bracing on the inside of the shell and repaired some breaks/cracks.
Well afterwards, I thought about the cement and some old Heljan buildings I have that have seen better days and thought to try it. It worked great on those! I didnt think I'd ever find the best cement to use on those. I had asked on a few forums, but never got a good response and kinda wrote them off as unusable.
So, heres the point of this topic, what kind of cements, fasteners, solvents would noobies/moderates/even the greatest modelers use for types of plastics/woods/roadbed and so forth?
Maybe a list would be nice and everyone could chime in with what theyve used for certain applications. It could kinda be a beginners guide to needed supplies.
I use the following items:
for foam,cork roadbed, and track laying----elmers glue or plain latex caulk spread with a small putty knife, it makes it so that if you need to make adjustments whilst laying, the items are easily moved without loss, and can easily be removed from the items if you decide to remove the track, just soak with warm water.
for most plastics---- nothing like the good old super glue, or CA as folks like to call it. If applied correctly, makes great joints with plastic without a big mess. I can buy it from the local grocery store, 4 tubes for a buck, and it seems that the cheaper the stuff is, the better it holds. And as I recently found, TENAX-7R for older plastics and styrene.
tapes--- regular electrical tape for use when you need to cover surfaces to keep old contacts from reappearing, as inside the athearn bb locos when you remove the clip from the bottom of the motor for dcc purposes;
household 2 sided tape---- used to attach dcc decoders and electrical to inside of shells of locos, also used for extra weights in the same area as well as for cars.
Oh, I also use fishing weights, semi flattened with a hammer, to add weight to make the cars track better and to make the engines pull better.
I'm a great recycler, scavenger, or pack rat as the wife says. I won't throw away plastic items such as from packaging materials, that can be used for windows, walls, and so forth. I use old medicine bottles, cleaned, to store screws, couplers, and other parts.
Large magnets come in handy to retrieve items that have been dropped in small places.
Small clamps to hold walls and other items together.
Surgical scissors and clamps for helping with detailing.
So, if you all will help with this list, I'm sure someone will find it useful.

[Eastern Roads]

I currently use five different adhesives on the layout. My most used is Elmers White. I just went through a gallon jug of the stuff, as it's super useful for thinning down and using for ballast, and scenery, and wood based materials.
I use thin and thick CA when the thin won't make the contact, and when I'm putting two different materials together (like the flatcar thread).
Then I use Gorilla glue for when I really have to hold something down. I used some the other day on a base for a station that was warped. I glued it directly to the layout.
Then I use another all purpose glue for holding weights, and having a stronger hold on keeping odd materials (other than plastic) together.
Oh, yeah, then the ever present plastic cement in the tubes.
I've used latex caulk/ liquid nails- projects, for holding down the foam sheets that are part of the base of the layout.

Now if you REALLY want to drive my wife crazy, then we can talk about the stuff I squirrel away and scrounge! (she tosses stuff if she doesn't think SHE needs it!) The other day we went down to the local reservoir trail, and they have this really great HO scale Bluestone. She saw the bag of stone, and just scratched her head!!

Tools? Well, anything from a framing hammer to a jeweler's screwdriver has been used here. Pics for that later...

[ak-milw]

I use most of the above mentioned adhesives in one way or another. I also use the Liquid Nails for projects to glue my track down.For wood kits I prefer Elmers wood glue, mainly because it is water proof and will not fall apart with humidity or a slip of the water spray bottle.

[domiluk]

I like to use Elmer's glue for wood I get that two side tape from the mirror dept. at wal mart I use all kinds of super glue but for glue that you use on plastic I go to home depot an get quart of MKE it's a paint solvent it works just like tenax-7 and cost less and you get more for your money.If you use some be sure to put it in a glass bottle use it just like tenax.

[ThoroughBreed]

Originally Posted by domiluk

for glue that you use on plastic I go to home depot an get quart of MKE it's a paint solvent it works just like tenax-7 and cost less and you get more for your money.

See, thats something I didn't know, already helped one person. TY sir.

[Trainman1965]

Now you are saying that MKE is a paint solvent if so how does this work. I mean does it melt the plastic back togather.

[Daryl]

MEK acts like a plastic welder

[domiluk]

trainman yes that what it dose I like it because all you do is hold the pieces together and apply the MKE I use a brush what i did was when the tenax bottle was empty I refilled it with MKE now I have and a little bottle to work out of. now whenyou use it the first time take two pieces of old plastic and try it let it set for about 30sec. it will get harder with time and if you want to take it apart just add more MKE and apart it comes.