The test
I split the test into a number of parts, doing various comparisons, to
give a complete picture of the differences between the two glues.
First was the gluing test(photo 5) - gluing the pieces and securing
just the horizontal section with a clamp, to see if the glue alone isLoctite Hysol is a two-part epoxy glue that started
to appear in the modelling world some years ago
(starting in the USA if I remember rightly) and
then spread to modellers around the world.
There are many different types of Hysol: the one
most often used in our hobby is EA9462, which
is available in a twin tube cartridge requiring the
purchase of a special “gun” which is needed to
squeeze the two components out in identical
volumes prior to mixing. It’s quite easy to find
in USA, but it’s less commonly available in
Europe and many other countries , whilst the price can be some-
what high!
Reading the various Hysol specs, I found out that there appeared to
be an alternative; EA 3425 should be suitable for modelling use, it’s
much easier to find in Europe...and it’s also slightly cheaper! To prove
its suitability I bought one cartridge to test. While I was waiting for the
glue to arrive, I decided to make a real life, home brewed, simple
comparison, and to share the results with everyone. Certainly it would
not be a “scientific” test, but it’s been done in a classic modelling way:
I mixed both glues at exactly the same time, applied them in the same
way, chose identical pieces of wood and let both test pieces cure for
the same time and in the same place.
These were the initial results:- Both glues remained workable for around one hour.
- After 3 hours the pieces were bonded but you could still mark both
glues with a nail. - After 12 hours they were completely hardened and could not be marked.
So at this point we have a first clear result: the curing time is exactly
the same. To illustrate the comparison, I invite you to take a look at
photo 1, where you can see both glues and the wood pieces used for
the test. In photo 2 you can see the glue components prior to mixing:
the white component is similar for both glues, but 3425 has a light
grey hardener whilst 9462’s one is amber in colour. Once mixed, 3425
has a yellowish-grey colour, while 9462 is white ivory (photos 3 and 4)
and 3425 is slightly denser than 9462.
1
2
3 4
Loctite HYSOL glues
Comparison between EA 3425 & EA 9462
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER:MAURI MACERA
Colle Hysol.e$S_Layout 1 08/03/18 11.09 Pagina 2