The Best Glue for Miniatures | Buyers Guide + Best Picks
The hobby of painting and creating miniatures is one that has taken off in recent years. With more and more people becoming interested and joining in with the hobby. This has led to a ton of really fun and interesting communities being formed and lots of resources to help newcomers to miniatures. But when it comes to making miniatures and models there are a few key aspects that people tend to forget about. One of the most important aspects, besides your brushes, paints or other materials is the glue you use. Let’s jump right into our list for ‘The Best Glue for Miniatures in 2020’.
Table of Contents
The Best Glue for Miniatures Guide
Glue is, quite literally, the thing that is going to hold everything together. So it’s safe to say that it’s pretty important to the process of making miniatures. Which means that you need to get glue that is going to work exactly the way you want it to. But with so much choice out there it’s pretty difficult to figure out which is the right type for you. So in this list we’ve rounded up a few of the best options that you can get right now.
Crafters Pick
We’re starting this list off with a simple and affordable choice which is great for beginners. We’ve gone for this glue from Crafter’s Pick, who specialises in all sorts of crafts and crafting tools. But the glue on show here is what we’re here for and it doesn’t disappoint. First, let’s talk about the bottle, we’ve got an 8 oz dropper bottle here which is plenty to get any beginner modelers started. In fact, it’s the biggest bottle that we have on this list so for those who want sheer quantity, this is a great option.
Now in terms of the glue itself, there’s some good and maybe some bad. As a glue, this stuff sticks to things really well, it’s great as an adhesive and should do a really good job for miniatures. Even if you’re working with larger figures, you’ll be able to use a good bit and still have plenty left over to use with the next batch. But let’s talk about some of the more disappointing stuff now. This isn’t a clear, transparent glue which may cause issues for some. If not used carefully your models could become a white blotchy mess and the surface texture might feel horrible as a result. But if you use it sparingly and apply just enough to get it to stick with no overflow, you should be good. It’s also not very thick glue and that can be annoying for people who don’t like dealing with runny glue. But for those who don’t mind that or are just starting out, this is still a fantastic option and a great choice to go for.
Pros:
- Large Bottle
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not Transparent
- Not Very Thick
Gorilla Clear Glue
Our next option is a bit more of a popular choice when it comes to the realm of glue. We’ve gone for this option from Gorilla, simply because it is some seriously great glue. You’ve probably heard about Gorilla in some shape or form from someone before. They’re a company that specializes in adhesives. Whether that’s tape, epoxy or even glue. And they’re all fantastic at their job too. If you want something stuck then Gorilla is one of the best ways to do it. The bottle here is a 5.75 oz dropper bottle, which is perfect for miniatures and models with its easy application.
In terms of the glue itself, we’ve got some great stuff here. This is a thick super glue that is designed to create very strong bonds between surfaces. This means that any models that need gluing are going to become one very easily. This particular glue is also transparent, meaning that even if you are a bit of a messy gluer, you shouldn’t make too much of a mess. Now there are a couple of things that we need to talk about with this glue and as good as it is there are some setbacks. The adhesive here is really strong and it dries pretty quick, so any potential mistakes with the gluing are going to be pretty hard to rectify. The glue is also something that you do not want anywhere near your skin since it dries very quickly and can act as an irritant. So if you have any kids, it’s best to keep this stuff well away. Overall though, this is a fantastic choice if you need glue that can stick things together well and quickly.
Pros:
- Great Quality Glue
- Large Bottle
Cons:
- Dangerous on Skin
Tamiya 87038 Extra Thin Cement Glue Fine Tip
Our next option on this list is something that is geared specifically towards toys and models. We’ve gone for this glue from Tamiya for its great application and quality. So this is a pretty different looking glue in comparison to the others on this list so far. Instead of a dropper bottle, we’ve got a small jar with a brush tip lid. This is actually the ideal kind of bottle you’d want for miniatures though. The brush makes applying the glue to models really easy and stress-free. The only downside here really is that the bottle is pretty small. Only giving you 1.3 oz to work with for your models. But as long as you don’t waste any of it, it should last a decent while.
The glue itself is a little different than the others we’ve had on this list. Firstly, this is a transparent glue which makes it great for miniatures. Any mistakes or accidents will be way harder to see. What also helps is the viscosity of the glue itself. We’ve got an extra thin glue here, which has its own positives and negatives. The application here is very easy, you simply use the brush in the lid, apply a thin coat and you’ve got a glued surface. Thicker glues can make thinner coats more annoying but with this glue, you should have no issues. The only real issue with this glue and glue of its kind is that outside of models, it’s kind of useless. There are a few applications that would work fine but this isn’t really a general glue. If you stick to just models though you should be good and this glue will be great.
Pros:
- Made for Miniatures
- Great Quality Glue
Cons:
- Small Bottle
- Strictly for Plastic Miniatures
Faller Expert 170492 Plastic Glue
Next up we’ve gone for a glue that is another mainstay in model making. We’ve gone for this option from Faller because of its high quality and easy application. So in the world of model making and miniatures this is another glue that is well liked by numerous people in the hobby. And that’s the case for a couple of reasons which we’ll get into in just a second. But let’s take a look at the bottle first of all. The bottle here is something that probably looks a little weird at first. Essentially this is a precision dropper bottle that allows you to apply glue with absolute precision. Allowing you to see exactly where the glue is being applied. Though it is a very small bottle coming in at 0.8 oz unfortunately.
The glue here is fantastic and very high quality. It is fast acting and once applied dries pretty quickly. The glue sits right between being thick and thin making it the best of both worlds. But this is another glue that isn’t really designed for general purposes. This is specifically designed to glue models and miniatures together. So if you want a glue that is more general, then you’d best look elsewhere. But in terms of its performance in the realm of miniatures, it’s fantastic. The only surface it falters on is wooden surfaces. So if you have a wooden miniature that you want to glue for whatever reason, you wont get good luck here. This glue is designed for plastic surfaces strictly. But overall this is a fantastic option for those that want some really high quality glue for their miniatures in a very accurate bottle.
Pros:
- Great Bottle Design
- Great Quality Glue
Cons:
- Small Bottle
- Strictly for Plastic Miniatures
Games Workshop Citadel Plastic Glue
Our final option on this list is specifically geared towards models and miniatures. We’ve gone for this glue from the Games Workshop, for its high quality and great application. Another glue that has been made for models and miniatures and this is another great choice. The bottle here is a 7 oz dropper bottle with a metal tip on the end. Does the metal tip add anything? No not really, but it works like any other dropper system which is great. And the size of the bottle is nice too so you’ll be able to get some good use out of this for sure. For those that want a bottle to last them a little while longer than others, this is the kind of size you should be aiming for.
In terms of the glue itself, it’s a high quality plastic glue. Which means you shouldn’t use it for anything other than plastics. Resin materials should be fine but it won’t work as well as with plastics. You can try it on other surfaces but there’s no guarantee that it’ll actually stick. There’s also reports that if you don’t keep the glue in a room temperature situation or in a well conditioned room it may clog. But as long as you keep it upright and check on it often it should be fine. Overall this is another great glue that, when applied, dries really quick and forms strong bonds. For plastic miniatures and plastic models, this is a fantastic option and will be a great addition to your arsenal.
Pros:
- Great Quality Glue
- Large Bottle
Cons:
- Strictly for Plastic Miniatures
Buying Guide – Best Glue for Miniatures
If you’ve come this far into the list and you need a little more information before you decide which glue to get, we’ve got you covered. In this section we’ll be giving you some helpful information that should help you out with your purchase.
The best kinds of glue for miniatures
So we went through a handful of different glues in the list that are all great for miniatures. And you’ll probably notice that they were all specifically ‘Super Glue’. This is because when you’re gluing a miniature together you don’t want them coming apart again. Super glue is often stuff that can dry very quickly and leave behind a very strong bond afterwards. But it isn’t the only kind of adhesive you can use, it’s just the easiest.
The other kind of adhesive you can use is an epoxy. Though this method is a little more complicated, it actually is applicable to a wider range of model types than super glue and plastic glue. Epoxy has two parts that need to be mixed before they can be used as an adhesive. Once these parts have been mixed you need to apply them to the model of your choosing and make sure that whatever you’re sticking it to bonds. This is the cure time and can depend on a ton of factors like the materials you’re using, the temperature and the epoxy itself. Using epoxy is a really interesting process but it’s definitely more work. Look into it if you’d like to give it a try, it’s really interesting.
Plastic glue is something that’s been mentioned and featured in the list and it works in a very interesting way. It’s also known as plastic cement and instead of simply hardening and forming a bond between two different surfaces it does something different. It essentially melts to plastic surfaces together and fuses them. Essentially fusing and forming two separate pieces together to become one. The problem is that plastic cement can’t really be used for anything other than plastic. It just won’t work since it isn’t really a glue.
Buying Tips
- Check around tabletop communities to see what their preferred glue to use is. Whether that’s by chatting to people in forums or asking some of your friends. The best way to find out what you should get is by checking out first hand opinions.
- Be sure that the glue you get is going to be compatible with the models that you’re going to be using it for. For instance, if you have resin models, do not get plastic cement because that just won’t work.
- Be extra careful with super glue and make sure none of it gets on your skin. Most super glues are skin irritants and are a pain to wash off without acetone. So if you’re a messy gluer, be sure to use latex gloves or make sure to have some paper towels nearby.
- If the glue you have isn’t working, don’t just add more because it’ll just end up being messy. Instead start with a small amount on a test piece and see how it reacts. Temperature, surface type and the amount you use will all have an effect on the way the super glue forms and hardens.
- Always use a small amount of glue when using this stuff on miniatures. You don’t need a lot and a little is going to go a long way. Plus more glue won’t really help in the majority of situations.
- If you’re a complete beginner to painting and gluing miniatures, check out some YouTube videos on how everything works. Don’t jump in and work without a plan or some idea of what you’re doing. That’s just going to end up with a messy model and that’s no fun for anyone.
- If your glue doesn’t come with a brush or isn’t a dropper bottle, be sure to have something to apply it. Whether that’s a toothpick or a very small brush. You need some kind of tool to apply it, otherwise it’s going to be a mess.
Verdict
That’s that for our list for some of The Best Glue for Miniatures. If it’s helped you out at all with your next purchase, be sure to let us know down in the comments! Thanks for reading.
