Wanted: Temporary, Removable ABS Glue

Duble-sided adhesive tape fits the specification.

So does wallpaper paste, and Pritt (usual disclaimer) usually found in the office stationery cupboard.

You have defined your parameters for an adhesive and here is your choice...a bio-adhesive, which was first made made by our hunter-gatherer relatives. Seriously, a bio-degradeable-nontoxic child safe product must be edible, because we know kids put everthing into their mouths. So Elmers paste or glue is probably still the best bet. Most adhesive manufacturers would not spend research dollars or effort on a product with the properties you describe.

This will work, as well as wallpaper paste in the next post.

The problem will come if you intend to dissolve the "adhesive" from between the two plates. This will take forever, due to the thin section exposed to the "solvent".

Maybe you could peel them apart, the soak.

My first thought was Karo syrup, but it may dry tacky. How about liquefying different sugars until you find the best one for your job.

"accidentally" come up with the right formula. That's how post its and teflon came about.

WD-40 took 40 trys to get it right.

Good luck.

Thanks, all. I appreciate the input.

Just to be a little more clear, I know accidentally coming up with the right formula is about as likely as me winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Hmmmm, maybe I should have used a different example. You get the idea.

I'll try your suggestions. I was also going to try Polyvinyl Alcohol glue. I don't think it's designed for ABS but it's cheap enough to just see if it will hold ABS pieces as much as I need it to. It dissolves quickly in water, so at least that part is good.

Maybe there's an additive that would make it stick to ABS better? Then I'd have what I need!

it will require mixing the dry ingredients with water immediately before use, but you could try the confectioner's sugar/creme of Tartar icing used to hold together gingerbread houses. it melts quite quickly with water and it is quite literally edible.

PVA is carpenters glue but POly Vinyl Alcohol is completely different. Here is the MSDS for polyvinyl Alcohol it is mixed with wood alcohol which causes blindness if ingested...http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/P5282.htm

Hi Dr Tom,

Polyvinyl Alcohol is used in all sorts of products. For example it's the main ingredient in the "slime" toy (with borax) and in Elmer's School Glue No Run Gel. It's non toxic and when dry disolves with water (which makes moms happy). It's even used in eye drops.

Maybe at full concentration in powder form it's harmful? But I was just referring to the 4% or so solution used in Elmer's gel. If I could just get it to adhere better to ABS plastic....maybe some sort of additive?

How about regular chewing gum?

Hi SJO,

It may not suit the 2 items your are looking to hold together, but does it have to be an adhesive or can simple clamping suit the need. How about G-clamps or strong magnet one side and iron piece other side with the 2 ABS pieces in the sandwich.

how about low melting point wax? you'd just have to dip it in hot water.

• Hi SJO,
• Check out these suggestions please. and let me know how you get on.
• Can you tell me is it for kids to do projects and or designs with?
• What is the product you are making and are you using the inside of these pipes as a mold? Please tell me and I can find the correct glue or more correctly 'adhesive' which can be joined and soaked and washed off.
• I would try a PVA glue watered down so the glue is about a max' 20% of the mix.
• Because there was another suggestion of LMP wax. Low Melting Point Wax. This would seem to fit all criteria apart fro making an absolutely sound water tight joint.

• Non toxic plastic cement - Shop sales, stores & prices at TheFind.com This glue is best used for Polystyrene & ABS plastic.Non-toxic cement for plastic models. $1.86. Burbanks House of Hobbies ...
  www.thefind.com/crafts/info-non-toxic-plastic-cement
• Testors plastic glue - Shop sales, stores & prices at TheFind.comTestors plastic glue - 409 results from 83 stores, including Revell 1:25 `94 ... This glue is best used for Polystyrene & ABS plastic. # Non-toxic cement ...
  www.thefind.com/family/browse-testors-plastic-glue
  Show more results from www.thefind.com
• Product Listing - PVC-Glue1/4 Pint, (good for 50-100 glue joints of 1" pipe) of organic PVC Glue. This glue is non-flammable, non-toxic, has almost no odor, shippable
  www.flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?product=PVC-Glue
• Testors Non-Toxic Plastic Cement/Model Glue - 5/8 oz. Tube - 301621Tube Hop Ups. We are your Testors Non-Toxic Plastic Cement/Model Glue - 5/8 oz. ... This glue is best used for polystyrene, ABS, acetate, plexi-glass and ...
  www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/301621.asp
• Non-Toxic Cement 7/8 oz Carded (tes3522x) Testors Glue Plastic CementNon-toxic cement for plastic models. Joins polystyrene, the plastic models are made of, to polystyrene.
  www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tes/tes3522x.htm
• CR4 - Thread: Wanted: Temporary, Removable ABS Glue5 posts - 3 authors - Last post: 13 hours agoI'm looking for a glue that can join small pieces of ABS plastic. ... Seriously, a bio-degradeable-nontoxic child safe product must be ...
  cr4.globalspec.com/.../Wanted-Temporary-Removable-ABS-Glue - 13 hours ago
• CR4 - Thread: Temporary ABS glue that can be removed (dissolved)1 post - Last post: 17 hours agoI'm looking for a glue that can join small pieces of ABS plastic. The pieces are no larger than 3 inches ... E) Non-toxic, safe for children
  cr4.globalspec.com/.../Temporary-ABS-glue-that-can-be-removed-dissolved - 17 hours ago -

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• Embedding Media, Paraffin, Paramat, Paraplast, Peel Away Paraffin Asynthetic polyester wax with a very msds low melting point (37°C). Invented by Dr. H.F. Steedman, as a ribboning embedding medium. ...
  www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/.../embedding.aspx
• SouthWest Wax - Paraffin Waxes In a molten state, paraffin waxes are clear, colorless liquids of low viscosity. ... SDW 2006-002: Melting Point: 125 °F (52 °C) Scale Wax; BW 407: Melting ...
  www.southwestwax.com/paraffin.html
• Paraffin Wax Low Melting Point (450g) - Selles Medical Low Melting Point * 450g At Selles Medical, we always order in fresh pharmaceuticals. This can often delay an order by a further 48 hours. It is in the bes.
  www.sellesmedical.co.uk/.../2448-Paraffin-Wax-Low-Melting-Point-450g-
• Low Melting Point Wax, Low Melting Point Wax Manufacturers & Suppliers Alibaba - Low Melting Point Wax: Low Melting Point Wax Manufacturers & Low Melting Point Wax Suppliers. Find a reliable & professional Low Melting Point Wax ...
  www.alibaba.com/showroom/Low_Melting_Point_Wax.html
• Happy Living - Types of candle wax used for candlemakingIt's a soft wax with a low melting point, and it is best used for making candles in containers. Soy wax is fast gaining popularity. ...
  www.happynews.com/living/create/types-candle-wax.htm
• Low Melting Point Wax - Agar Scientific - Product listFor use where enzyme histochemistry is required. Melting point 45C. ... L4182, LOW MELTING POINT WAX (2 x 500g), Stock is available ...
  www.agarscientific.com/.../action_catalogue.asp?spx

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I suggest using a paraffin wax in stick form, and rub it lightly to form a continuous line round the pipe. Then push the joint together and heat the pipe with a hair drier. Do the same in reverse to dissemble

Take care.

Once again, thanks for the great replies!

I can see I'm causing some confusion. I didn't mean to imply this was for pipes. I know when one hears ABS mentioned it's usually in relation to pipes.

Let me try to clarify. But I'm still going to have to be a little vague for non-disclosure reasons. Let's try this:

Let's say you are teaching an engineering 101 class. You give the class an assignment to build a gizmo. The gizmo will need to do a task. The gizmo that can accomplish the task in the least amount of time using the fewest materials is the winner. Each student is given a box of materials to be used for the project. In each box is an electric motor, batteries, rubber bands and:

100 K'Nex toy pieces (made of ABS plastic)

100 Lego toy pieces (made of ABS plastic)

1 bottle of temporary, removable ABS adhesive

The class completes the competition, and Leonard from Big Bang Theory wins.

After class, you take every Gizmo and submerge it in a basin of warm water. In about an hour, the glue is gone and you separate and pile the pieces into a large bin, ready to be used for next semester's ENG 101 competition.

The glue would be used to strengthen the joints and bonds where ABS meets ABS, but only where there is already a physical clamping action by the joint itself. The adhesive will strengthen a physical bond with a chemical bond.

But the key is, it must be removable/dissolvable using a simple process such as soaking in a solvent, such as water.

I hope that helps.

Good grief folks get a grip. Plain old Elmers white glue fits this description to a T.

How about polygrip denture adhesive? it is actually water activated so if you want it to come off, just let it dry out. It has very good adhesion to low surface energy surfaces like most plastics.

Hello Rorschach,

I rather like your idea of Low Melting Point Wax. I sent in a couple of wax sites, but could not recall your name as I was typing it.

Take care.

Wow, I think I found it!

Master Bond has two adhesives (MB600 and MB602) that seem to fit my needs exactly. I've contacted them to get the specs and see if they'll send me a sample of each for testing.

Here's the link if you're curious: http://www.masterbond.com/tds/mb600.html

Thanks again, everyone. If these adhesives don't work as well as advertised, I'll be trying your ideas. I sure appreciate the feedback.

MASTER BOND POLYMER SYSTEM MB600... is also nonconducting ...great for ICB's

Try with acetone. First you have to dabble, by acetone, the sides you want to glue and then fuse them. Acetone will evaporate in the few seconds and you will get compact part.

Best wishis.

Milan

Primus, you didn't read the question. He wanted a TEMPORARY bond that was water soluble.