Problem with elephant

[Gabe]

Hi,

Just got my Papo elephant in the mail and quickly noticed that one of its tusks is "broken" (need to be glued).
What glue should I use to stick it back?

[HKHollinstone]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Hi,

Just got my Papo elephant in the mail and quickly noticed that one of its tusks is "broken" (need to be glued).
What glue should I use to stick it back?

I've never stuck that kind of plastic back together again, but maybe use UHU tube glue or Super Glue? Don't try it until others have suggested other things, just in case it doesn't work.
If it was broken in the post, surely you should write to the company/seller you bought it from and get another/refund?

[Gabe]

You know it's a good idea! I'll ask for a refund or a subtitue elephant.

Regarding the glue I had in mind the super-glue but was afraid it'll attack the plastic. Elmer's White Glue seems to be the safest idea though I'm not sure about its strength...

[philter4]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Hi,

Just got my Papo elephant in the mail and quickly noticed that one of its tusks is "broken" (need to be glued).
What glue should I use to stick it back?

I use an industrial brand of PVA glue, the most popular brand of PVA is Elmer's white glue. What I would do is to put some on a paper towel, a small glob, then wait between 5 and 10 minutes. Once the glue is sticky I dip the broken tusk into the glue and then stick it to the other piece. After pushing it together and holding it for 30 seconds or so I clean the excess glue off and make sure the pieces are aligned correctly then set it aside over night. If you did it correctly no one will ever know.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Gabe]

Well, the poor elephant is saved! I've managed to stick his tusk with Elmer's white glue and it worked like a magic! As soon as I did it I rushed to post the news in the forum and saw philter4's idea - boy, that made me so happy!

[HKHollinstone]

I'm glad that it's fixed! But it was still bad that it was damaged, there's nothing you can do now though. Still if you can't notice it, who cares!

[robertelephant]

Glad you got it fixed, plastic elephants and the real version seem to often cause me problems with chipped or broken tusks, the plastic versions are much easier to fix!
Elmers will hold, but it wont last forever and if you have any residue showing on the side of the tusk it can yellow or otherwise discolour,quite quickly but it is the easiest way.
Seriously the best way [ in my opinion], to fix is to mark the broken bit in the middle with a wet felt tip on its base, touch it back together exactlly as it was ,so you have the dot to touch both sides in the middle of tusk.
Then if the elephant has britains style soft tusks- heat a pin in a candle flame very hot and burn in a tiny hole several mm deep on both sides[ as far as you dare go with out coming through tusk- be careful!When far enough immerse in cold water to stop. Measure off a new piece of pin which will allow you to impale into both sides but also to set tusks flush.
Using a plastic safe super glue [ it says on the packet] put some on both ends of pin and on both ends of tusk and join all together. This will make this almost unbreakable!And invisible.It also allows you to fix tusks broke at the moulding because it is so strong.
For hard plastic like papos tusks or a major adaption of a schleich tusk I would use the same technique but instead clamp ele in a vice and drill with a tiny thin dremel drill bit instead of using just heat.
Ive fixed a lot of ele tusks and other broken animals this way,most common to have to repair are the Large britains african bull elephant-many of these are obtainable broken tusked with the pieces still there, most fidlly were the front legs reattatching back on a britains springbok- just for the challenge! And it worked so well I cant tell which it was out of my herd of 57!I also used the pin to put totally missing legs on a couple of britains flamingos and again very good results!

However if Elmers is working and you are happy Id leave it be!

[Gabe]

Thanks for the advice, Robert.
I think I'll leave it as it is... I looks good now.

[HKHollinstone]

Originally Posted by Gabe

Thanks for the advice, Robert.
I think I'll leave it as it is... I looks good now.

You'll have to upload pictures of it

[Bowhead Whale]

It looks like latex plastic is more solid, but way harder to fix than hard plastic!