is superglue good for anything?

[Jet Black]

apart from gluing together human flesh? Regardless of what I try to stick to what, superglue bonds almost always seem to break rapidly, regardless of setting time, unless it's my fingers or something like that. The stuff might be handy for attaching borg implants, but it's damn near useless if you want to actually fix anything.

[Monad]

Yeah it's pretty useless. I tend to use Epoxy resin (the stuff that comes in 2 parts) for serious glueing.

[munnki]

Apart from sniffing?

[Haswell]

Yes it is shite and doesn't do what it says on the tin. I use Araldite (which is an epoxy resin) takes time but job done.

[rigorist]

It works pretty well for tack bonding model rocket fins.

[Gooch's Dad]

I used a lot of different adhesives in my 20 or so years of doing optomechanical engineering, but cyanoacrylates were generally considered useless. I think they find some use in medical devices, but I never found a good use for them.

2 part epoxies can work wonders, though. For bonding optics to various metal mounts, there's really nothing better, although the epoxies can shrink enough to break the glass, or stress it to the point where it is useless.

[Loren Pechtel]

Superglue only works well when the two surfaces fit together quite well. The thinner the layer of glue the faster it sets up and the stronger the joint will be. In most cases we don't have this perfect bonding surface.

Note that that's why it's good at sticking body parts together--they're flexible so when you press a drop of glue your finger spreads flat against the surface. You get a thin layer of glue, the ideal bonding situation.

[Berthold]

And, it needs some moisture.

Which is why it can be demonstrated so nicely with the handle of a coffee mug. :)

[crazyfingers]

The superglue made specifically for wood works well. I've built two wooden ship models with the stuff and it's great.

[Jet Black]

two part epoxy....damn I'd forgotten about that stuff. thanks.

[Daynna]

duct tape! super glue of the south!

[Haswell]

Superglue works wonder in A&E where scalp wounds and certain cut wounds need quick closure.

[BWE]

if you need a tiny bit of methylene chloride to melt plastic it is available in the quickie mart.

[Criada]

It's very useful for demonstrating fingerprints on plastic... though letting teenagers loose with it in lessons in order to do so is a bit hairy!

[TySixtus]

I use it at work a lot, but only on plastic parts. It has a pretty good shear strength for what I use it for (fixing plugs, multiple pin receptacles, smaller electronics, shit like that) but I wouldn't ever use it for anything load bearing or something under even moderate stress. It is also pretty good for using as a bolt retainer ala Loctite.

[Bane]

Shoe glue is useless too. I also don't recommend using "No More Nails" on anything heavier than a ballpoint pen, or anything even mildly load-bearing. It's fine for sticking cables to skirting boards, though :)

[OldGit]

A strategic dab of superglue is sometimes very handy for holding a job in place until the epoxy or solvent glue sets.

[lordshipmayhem]

If you're really desperate, the stuff can be used to raise fingerprints on all kinds of surfaces that ordinary fingerprint powder just is useless at. So, you can use it to determine who read your book and lost your place on you.

[LoneWolf]

I only use it for closing small cuts in lieu of a bandaid.

[Kaessa]

I only use it for closing small cuts in lieu of a bandaid.

This. It works wonderfully on paper cuts. Other than that, I can't think of anything.

[Jobar]

Superglue works well when the parts to be attached are smooth and impermeable. They use it to mount rear view mirrors to the inside of windshields- nothing else will do for that job, unless you abrade a spot on the glass.

[openeyes]

I only use it for closing small cuts in lieu of a bandaid.

This. It works wonderfully on paper cuts. Other than that, I can't think of anything.

That's my best use of superglue also--to glue together those nasty splits I sometimes get in the winter on the edge of my fingers when they become overdry. As a pharmacist, I sometimes have recommended it to customers when they have the same problem, but with the caveat that it's an "off-label" use and they should be careful not to glue separate fingers together while holding the split together as the glue dries. I find glue works much better than bandaids in that you can wash your hands frequently before the glue wears off, and the split is often healed after one application.

[Valheru]

People tend to use too much super glue, which is why it has a reputation for suckiness. You need the thinnest of layers, and a very good fit.

[Horrorfan]

apart from gluing together human flesh? Regardless of what I try to stick to what, superglue bonds almost always seem to break rapidly, regardless of setting time, unless it's my fingers or something like that. The stuff might be handy for attaching borg implants, but it's damn near useless if you want to actually fix anything.

Use baking soda with the superglue. I put together metal models. I first clean what I am going to glue they I apply a little glue then sprinkle baking soda on it then put the other part on. It sticks and sticks good. Unless I drop the models they do not come apart.

I have had good success with that trick with my models. You can also use it to as a filler for small cracks and such.