Adhesive Types
A guide to common adhesives used in model making
PVA & Wood Glues
Wood Glue (Aliphatic Resin)
Stronger than PVA for wood-to-wood joints. Open time ~5–10 minutes; clamp 30–60 minutes; full cure ~24 hours. Sandable when dry. Water-resistant once cured. Not suitable for plastics, metals, or sealed surfaces.
Aliphatic resin glue — the yellow, slightly thicker cousin of PVA. It’s stronger than white PVA on wood, sets faster, and sands cleanly without clogging abrasives. Once cured, the joint is typically stronger than the wood itself.
This is the standard adhesive for any serious wood-to-wood joint — balsa, plywood, hardwood, softwood, and MDF. If you’re building structural frames, planking hulls, or constructing wooden model aircraft, wood glue is almost always the right choice. Open time is short — around 5–10 minutes before it skins over — so work quickly on larger assemblies. It needs clamping pressure for 30–60 minutes and full cure takes around 24 hours. Works best on well-fitting joints. Like PVA, it’s water-based and only effective on porous materials — it won’t bond plastic, metal, or sealed surfaces.