adhesives for pink foam, Homasote, etc?

Well its the exact opposite as far as setup time, I used hot glue with great results. You just have to make sure you know exactly where the foam is going and work fast as it sets the instant the glue cools. A quick bead around the edge and a dab in the middle is all you need.  The other advantage is you can start scenery work on the foam immediatley

I have successfully used Liquid Nails Adhesive for Foam. Large tubes in my caulking gun.

I added several layers of pink foam board to plywood table tops to enable easier scenery/structure placement and manipulation. For adhering the foam board to the plywood I used Elmer's wood glue with very good results. To adhere additional layers of foam I used a product called Loctite available at any of your big chain home improvement stores. There are many versions out there...be sure to pick one that has foam board listed as one of the materials it is effective on. The one pictured below does and is what I used with good results.  -Len

I have good results with spray adhesives. I do all the cutting, gluing, carving and painting outside or in the garage. I use spray adhesives because I do a lot of carving with a hot wire carving set. Hot wire does not like thick glue. and you can stack layers of foam fast.

I used Floor adhesive to glue down my 3" foam.

http://drews-train-layout.blog...6/05/new-layout.html

Yep, that's what I used 15 years ago. Still strong.

A glue gun with sticks!

No mess, no fuss.

Building a Pink Foam Mountain

see here

http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowThread?id=958&categoryId=

 Gary, the glues you have been using are all water based.  Although they are safe for the foam, they need to air dry and the air just cannot get in to the center of the foam sheets.

Most construction adhesives, "Liquid Nails" and other brands, are solvent based: they will dry quickly, but they cannot be used on foam because the solvent dissolves the foam.  Big mess.

Several brands make a construction adhesive especially for foam.  Loctite's PL300 is an excellent choice, also Liquid Nails makes one specifically for foam board, and there are others.  You have to check and read the label carefully, if it does not say it is for foam board, it will dissolve your foam.

These adhesives usually come in caulking tubes, and you will need a caulking gun to dispense them.  

The hot melt glue will also work, and will probably be fine for what we are doing - no need for structural strength and so on.  But the hot melt glue becomes brittle and doesn't have the holding power that the construction adhesives do.  Also, the foam construction adhesives have an open time, you can slide and position the foam for a while after applying the glue.  They will harden overnight.  The construction adhesive for foam board is what you want to be using.

I have used this and it works beautifully.  Note that you can also get smaller tubes (around the size of plastic model cement) as well if you aren't able to use a large tube in your caulking gun.  I tend to do smaller modules and the tips of the large tubes can dry up.  The Home Depots and Lowes carry them.

George 

The Liquid Nails for Foam works great, around $4 for a standard size tube.

The Liquid Nails "Project" adhesive works great too, for under $2 a tube, and has a longer setting time.

We've used both, and both work well, just decided to stay with the "Project" stuff because we need so much, and it's half the price as the specialty "Foam" adhesive.

I use the white, fast setting Gorrilla Glue:

The reasons are:

1) it makes a very strong bond

2) It does not eat into the foam

3) When cured it has the same texture, cutting properties, and melting properties as the foam.  Thus you can cut into a stack of multiple layers without having to worry about separation, or encountering a glue layer or glue blob that cuts or melts differently.

4) It absorbs paint, glue, tru-scene fiber, plaster cloth, etc. the same as the foam.  In other words, once you glue the layers, you basically have one solid block of foam

I use Great Stuff expansive foam spray. But wear plastic gloves.

Elmers "Carpenters Wood Glue" works well on foams and adheres to most other types of materials.  It is water-based & easy to apply.   Allow about 18 hr. for total setup.

Tom B

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your great tips! Sounds like Liquid nails for foam is what I need to try. Gorilla glue looks intriguing, too...

Regards,

Gary F.

Clem

It sets in about an hour.  I scuff both surfaces with a knife, Stanley Surform, or equivalent.  I wet one surface and spread glue on the other surface. Clamp or weight in place.

I tried Liquid Nails Foam Adhesive, hot glue, Tite Bond and Elmers Glue. For me this works the best.

Try liquid nails or most universal urthanes in caulk tube, drywall type works

good for foam. Make no dust. Home Depot also has Big Tubes, 3.50 a tube.