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Tool Review
BSI Cyanoacrylates
Bob Smith Industries, Inc. Cyanoacrylates
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by: Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]

Bob Smith Industries Cyanoacrylates

Introduction: BSI

Bob Smith Industries, Inc. started as a family enterprise in 1983. Bob Smith is a Radio Control hobbyist – and R/C National Champion - and the company produces a wide range of adhesives for hobby and recreational uses including Cyanoacrylates (CA) or ‘superglue’. BSI also makes products for military body armor and for ‘super hobbies’ – real life aircraft. Boeing uses BSI in their aircraft, both Cessna and Epic Aircraft use BSI CA and accelerator to manufacture their aircraft, and BSI products are used to manufacture UAVs for government and private manufacturing firms, including Northrop Grumman, Orbital Science Corp, All American Racers, SAIC, BAE Systems and Siemens.

Pretty impressive creditials as we review BSI CA for models! Modelers have six products to choose from
    • Accessories
    • Cyanoacrylates
    • Epoxies
    • Foam Safe CA
    • Odorless Cyanoacrylates
    • Threadlockers

BSI makes eight CAs for modelers and hobbyists
    1. INSTA-CURE™, water-thin fast drying CA that works great on balsa and soft woods.
    2. INSTA-CURE ™, their medium CA that cures in 5-15 seconds.
    3. MAXI-CURE™, a thick CA recommended for rubber tires on cars. BSI also recommends it as the best choice for plastic model assembly as it is a gap filler and can be carved and sanded.
    4. IC-2000™, this cures in 20-40 seconds. With rubber in it, IC-2000 is shock resistant and intended for bulkheads in boats and aircraft, as well as rubber tires.
    5. IC-GEL™, a special gel used on vertical surfaces that can also be used under water! Thick enough to be used as putty for plastic models, also possible to sculpt with it.
    6. INSTA-FLEX™, flexible and thin, shock resistant, useful for attaching hinges and with anodized aluminum.
    7. INSTA-FLEX ™, which bonds urethane and vinyl; shock resistant.
    8. SUPER-GOLD™ and SUPER-GOLD Plus™ are odorless CAs for attaching clear canopies in plastic model kits. It will not attack foam, either.
    9. INSTA-SET™, strawberry scented when joined with CA!
    10. UN-CURE™ debonder

BSI provides these products in three bottle sizes, a large refill size, and now pocket-sized containers. The pocket bottles have a new top with a pin in the cap that covers the nozzle, preventing leaks if the bottle is up-ended.

To enhance the precise application of glue, BSI has several tips and PTFE tubing:
    a. Extender Tip
    b. Extra Fine Extender Tip
    c. Extra Long Extender Tip
    d. Pocket CA Extender Tip
    e. PTFE Tubing
    f. Pocket CA Top & Cap
    g. Pipette CA Applicator (Fine tip and regular tip)

For more descriptive information about these CAs and their particular uses see the BSI website. BSI also hosts an extensive FAQ with answers by customers about specific uses. Also many useful links to other sites are accessible. Finally, they have always replied to my questions in a timely manner when I emailed them.
How do you use these products?
All CAs are not created equal. BSI has on their website a matrix that identifies the best CA to use for 13 different materials and functions.
Performance
I have been using BSI for over 10 years. I use it because of the variety of formulas available and product performance. In my reviews and features on KitMaker you can see the diverse materials I have bonded: ABS; acrylic sheet; cardstock; clear styrene canopies; hard and soft metals; nylon; paper; resin; styrene; vinyl; wood. While I have not used their foam-safe CA, I have talked to RC modelers around the hobby shop and have received positive feedback. In fact, several recent models I have built almost exclusively with BSI CAs, these being a wood and styrene building, a metal tractor, a wood/metal/plastic box car, styrene/resin/photo-etch aircraft. IC-2000 has also come to the rescue of ceramic figurines. (Elevating me to heirloom hero status!)

Used as directed these CAs are easy to work with when filling and sanding wing root gaps on aircraft, and filling the gaps under canopies without crazing the clear parts.

Additionally, I find the material of the bottle caps and nozzles to be resistant to clogging and gumming up. Whether in the humid Mid-South, western Texas, or the frosty Great Lakes region, I’ve been satisfied with garage shelf life, too.
Conclusion
We modelers are as guilty as anyone of brand loyalty. However, I ‘bonded’ with BSI CAs because of their performance and specialty formulas. (Please see the photos at the bottom of this review for examples of models and materials I have used BSI CA on including SUPER-GOLD for the canopies.) Admittedly, I predominately use three types, INSTA-CURE™, INSTA-CURE ™ and MAXI-CURE™. However, for special duty I swear by SUPER-GOLD ™ for attaching canopies and all things clear, while IC-2000™ has served me well for purposes when other types of CA have failed me.

I enthusiastically recommend these CAs to hobbyists of all modeling media that I’ve worked with.
SUMMARY
Highs: Several viscosity and formulas for a multitude of bonding tasks. One type will bond clear parts without frosting.
Lows: Nothing of significance.
Verdict: I ‘bonded’ with BSI CAs because of their performance and specialty formulas. They have performed very well with every material I have used them with.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: N/A
  Mfg. ID: Per product
  Related Link: Adhesive Selection Chart
  PUBLISHED: May 19, 2013
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 95.00%

Our Thanks to Bob Smith Industries!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR)
FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art. My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling! My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...

Copyright ©2021 text by Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Great review and agree 100%. BSI's Quik-Cure 5 minute epoxy is also great stuff and I've used it on tons of builds. In fact, I'm gonna be going to the LHS in a couple hours to get more since I'm running low.
MAY 19, 2013 - 03:55 AM
The odorless is the only way to go for me.
MAY 19, 2013 - 06:13 AM
A lot of LHS's rebrand these for their stores.... The bottles look just like the ones I get at 2 of the closest HS's to me.
MAY 21, 2013 - 04:42 AM
My lhs carries most of them. I've used most, but never thought of doing a review.
MAY 21, 2013 - 01:02 PM
   
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