Gluing a much loved toy together

[GeorginaA]

Okay, so I probably shouldn't have given ds a 3+ large model car (that used to be mine) to play with in the first place (he's 22 months) but he absolutely adores it. Anyway, the spoiler has sheared off, partly due to him being a bit rough with it, and probably partly due to a bit of plastic fatigue. Replacing the whole car is not a possibility, nor is just binning it!

So, I'm left with gluing it. Can anyone recommend a glue that a) is good at bonding plastic and metal together and b) is a "safe" substance to glue a child's toy together. I get the feeling I might be asking the impossible, but I thought if anyone would know, mumsnetters would!!!

you need some epoxy glue (the stuff that comes in two parts and gets sticky when you mix them).

As far as I know, epoxy is perfectly safe when dry (it's like fibreglass resin), but it is the only thing that'll do the job and keep the thing stuck together!

lucy, might superglue be OK? I have used epoxy-type glue for things like sticking shoes back together when the sole is coming adrift, but I think a spoiler would only be attached in a very small area and superglue might be better - Georgina, although it's very dodgy stuff if you're not really careful with it (and I usually find I can only use a tube once, because the cap glues itself back on, so it's a bit expensive) once it's stuck and dry it is safe enough. I think!

Mind you, having fixed it, if you give it back to DS better resign yourself to more bits coming off - eg steering wheel, wheels, mirrors - which maybe aren't so easy to stick back. (Speaking from bitter experience here!) Could you find him a comparable one suitable for toddlers and put yours away again until he's older?

Superglue's pretty good and fairly straight forward but do NOT let the tube go anywhere near your DS! It's fine once it's dried, obviously.

LOL thanks all.

I have discovered some epoxy glue in dh's toolbox so I'm going to give that a go (simply because I can't find any superglue and this way I don't have to spend anything unless this fails!!!). It's heartbreaking as he always brings me things to "fix it, mummy" and this is the first major thing I haven't been able to fix (well apart from the toy I trod on when he was really small, but I binned that and he never noticed it was missing )

I know I shouldn't give it back to ds afterwards, janh, but he's spent all morning before nursery asking for his "porch dar" (porsche car!) and I don't hold out well under pressure Think I'd better just get good at gluing. That said - the spoiler seems to be the most "fragile" bit in it. The steering wheel and bits inside are quite hard to get to even with small fingers (yes, I know children are resourceful... ) and there are no mirrors. Mainly, though, I'm just trying to justify my weak will...

Will let you know if the glue works.

This happened with DH's tractors that we got out of the loft for DS (also 22 months at the time) - he even sheared through the metal of an axle - we took it back off him, superglued it and (because we could see him searching for it) bought him a friction Travis. Also used superglue to glue back the headlight on one of those little Brums.

I think the glued bit will always be weak. Maybe now's the ideal opportunity to teach him "careful". He may understand that he needs to be gentle or it may break again.

Let me know if you need a trip to A&E because you have a spoiler glued to your hand!

Don't worry, SoupDragon. I'll give you a call so you don't miss the entertainment

Yes, forgot to mention (had dd on my lap yesterday). If the surfaces are spotless then epoxy glue should be strong. Superglue is just not as strong.