This is the is the hidden part of the iceberg of cost behind of 3D Printing that they don’t tell you about in the brochure. 
It’s the hidden cost of scamming the customer who doesn’t know better.
Beware of products claiming to be purpose-made for 3D printing. They are often everyday items relabeled, with their chemical composition obscured to appear as specialized glue.
There is a topic which touches upon various types of glue vs cement.
Understanding the difference between glue and cement can help you choose what’s best for you. Glue forms a chemical bond relying on its own strength, like crazy glue. Cement creates a weld by chemically melting materials together, making the bond stronger than the surrounding material, similar to metal welding uses heat. Plumbers as an example use cement, not glue, for joining PVC pipes. The provided link above offers more details.
If you use crazy glue, it works best on two smooth surfaces. Print on a smooth plate with the intended bonding surfaces facing the plate for optimal results.
Plastic Glue Vs Acrylic Cement Properties
| Property | Plastic Glue | Acrylic Cement |
|---|---|---|
| Bonding Strength | Moderate to High | Very High |
| Drying Time | Varies (minutes to hours) | Fast (seconds to minutes) |
| Flexibility | Moderate | Low |
| Clarity | Clear | Clear |
| Application Method | Brush or nozzle | Applicator needle |
| Chemical Resistance | Moderate | High |
| Usage | General plastic bonding | Acrylic and Plexiglas bonding |
If it were me, I wouldn’t use glue, especially anything marketed specifically for 3D printing. These products often cost 30% - 70% more just for the label. For example, compare the chemical composition of white 3D printing glue sticks to Elmer’s or other classroom glue sticks. They are chemically identical and even come in the same tube and packaging from the same factory, but the 3D printing version can cost up to 200% more. Why 200% more? Purely to convince the buyer that if it costs more, surely it must be the best, right? It’s all part of the scam.
While it might be appealing to select a product that uses terms like “Specially formulated” or “Nano Polymer Technology”, I learned by reading labels and requesting MSDS from that manufacturer that anytime you see these terms, assume you are being scammed. Also, the prettier the package the greater the con.
You can pay $10/oz for something with dubious results in a pretty box, or choose an ugly package for $3/oz. The choice is yours.
This is the material I use. It is a 5oz tube. It is very runny so it is best applied using either a small disposable brush or you can use even a cotton swap. I actually printed up some shallow ink wells for this purpose and just squeeze an amount into the well and then spread it using the cotton swab. That gives you a lot more control than squeezing it our of a tube.
Note that there are other “Plastic Cement” on the market that likely work equally well. Old style model cement like Testors used to have these solvents but because of inhalant abuse, it was reformulated and no longer qualifies as a cement.
