What's the best way to bond LEGOs together?

[Crono]

I just ordered 3 LEGO building sets off Amazon for a project (building a LEGO computer case). I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to permanently bond them that will be strong enough that the case won't fall apart if I need to move it.

Would good epoxy do the trick? Or would acetone, to "melt" the plastic pieces together, work better? Any other related suggestions or ideas would be helpful as well, as this is a project I've been wanting to get started on and complete for a long time.

 

[Falloutboy]

I would just use some super glue

 

[PottedMeat]

ABS cement/adhesive if they're still made from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene

 

[datalink7]

Plastic Glue would be my guess. It melts the plastic a little bit but I'm not sure if Lego's are the right kind of plastic or not.

 

[ahenkel]

I wouldn't use a plastic glue or abs cement on Legos.They may alter the shape of the lego because they chemically weld the plastic. I would use a hobby shop super glue something like this http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/hot/hothst-4.htm?source=froogle would work.

 

[mjrpes3]

Why not do an experiment with both kinds and see which works best. Then you can post your results back here and play a small part in furthering mankind's knowledge of all things great and small.

 

[BassBomb]

have your case in an aluminum shell and build the legos around it (so the lego can stick to your shell with an adhesive)

btw its LEGO plural not LEGOS

 

[DT4K]

have your case in an aluminum shell and build the legos around it (so the lego can stick to your shell with an adhesive)

btw its LEGO plural not LEGOS

LEGO is not plural. It's the company name, not the name of the product.

Sorry, no advice on the adhesive, but definitely post some pics when you're done. Sounds cool.

 

[Fritzo]

Bake them in the oven. Like Shrinky Dinks.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

Cyanoacrylates

google. any glue thats a CA should work just fine.

<--- builds plastic models

 

[Snapster]

LEGO is not plural. It's the company name, not the name of the product.

Sorry, no advice on the adhesive, but definitely post some pics when you're done. Sounds cool.

Proper Use of the LEGO Trademark on a Web Site
If the LEGO trademark is used at all, it should always be used as an adjective, not as a noun. For example, say "MODELS BUILT OF LEGO BRICKS". Never say "MODELS BUILT OF LEGOs".Also, the trademark should appear in the same typeface as the surrounding text and should not be isolated or set apart from the surrounding text. In other words, the trademarks should not be emphasized or highlighted. Finally, the LEGO trademark should always appear with a ® symbol each time it is used.

As per their own site.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

To all the CA sayers, nay. Testors model glue is perfect. Melt the Legos.... please. It doesn't melt the teeny tiny model parts, not in any amount that will deform Legos. You will not need that much glue between the blocks because they already have an incredible mechanical bond.

CA, epoxy, or urethane glue simply are not going to stick the Lego's together that well. They are ABS.

 

[sdifox]

Butane torch?

 

[Turin39789]

solder

or have them bronzed

 

[Sahakiel]

Depending on the size of the LEGO blocks and the design of your case, you could also try screws. Small bolts for attaching to plates, long screws if you're bolting lengthwise.
A long time ago, in an unrelated project, I found that dried blocks of paper glue were strong enough for load bearing. Ended up carefully coating a lot of tiny wooden poles just for fun.

 

[ussfletcher]

I would probably just use duct tape.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

pro-tip:
Build some small panels
try stuff out on them first

 

[Modelworks]

sand paper + super glue. Use the sand paper to roughen the surface.
You can also use high temp hot melt glue, low temp will work too but it doesn't hold as good.

 

[mect]

To all the CA sayers, nay. Testors model glue is perfect. Melt the Legos.... please. It doesn't melt the teeny tiny model parts, not in any amount that will deform Legos. You will not need that much glue between the blocks because they already have an incredible mechanical bond.

CA, epoxy, or urethane glue simply are not going to stick the Lego's together that well. They are ABS.

Agreed. To cause deformation, you'd need to immerse the blocks in the solvent, not just apply a little where they connect. I've never done legos, but at least with Plexiglas, you want to use a really fine syringe and apply it to the creases and let capillary force pull it in.

 

[*kjm]

Why don't you just use silicone caulk? It will hold, you could take it apart if need be down the road and it is cheap.