Bob Smith Industries

04/04/2026

We received this message from a modeler on Tuesday:
My name is Walter Clubb. I live in Maryland. I started building wooden replicas of ships in 1978. Started out with Crazy Glue. As time went on I found your Insta-Cure. I would like to compliment you on your Products that I have been using since the 80's. I have 26 ships I built still in my house (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14cwy1iqFAt/). Finished my last one 3/25/26. Not one of my ships has failed since using your glue. Not one of the planking on my hulls has sprung out. 46 years and they are like the day I built them years ago. I belong to quite a few model pages. Whenever questions come up about what glue to use, I have no problem saying yours is the best. After I post them I’m surprised how many positive feedbacks I get. Telling people the CA dries clear is big when doing a lot of gluing. I hope you read this. You are and will always be a fantastic company to me. Thank you again for great products.

01/05/2026

Today our distributor in the UK fowarded an e-mail he received from an exceptional model car craftsman. The weathering on the 3D printed offroad van makes it nearly impossible to distinguish the model from a full size one. It isn't beautiful, but it is very realistic.
"I’m not sure if this email has reached the right person but I just wanted to say thanks for making awesome glue. I’m sure my endorsement doesn’t count for much because I’m a 1 man models maker but I wanted to share a few pics of the 1/10 scale model I designed, 3D printed then assembled with Bob Smith glues. I’ve tried all sorts of adhesives over the years but I’ve found the best now. It’s stronger than the model.
Anyway here you go. Hope you like the finished product.

Kind regards,

Lee.

12/17/2025

https://latestnews.bsi-inc.com/2025/12/glue-smugglers-compliment-or.html

Manufacturer of Epoxies, CAs, Accelerators, Thread Lockers, and Super Glues used around the world for hobbies, manufacturing, and repairs. .

12/11/2025

To Catch a Smuggler

BSI has had a Chinese company marketing our adhesives in China for six years. They have put “a lot of effort into exposing professional users to BSI products and their excellent features”. Yesterday they informed us of the reason sales in 2025 have seen a decline. They discovered that a hobby shop in North China has people that are visiting the US purchase BSI’s CAs in bulk from retail model shops. They then hide them in their luggage on their return trip to China, bypassing the freight charge and import duties that our official distributor must pay. We have begun steps to prevent this from happening in the future, but we can’t help but feel it is a compliment that BSI adhesives are considered superior enough to have them smuggled into China.
Along that same line, for the past year we have been receiving more than a dozen inquiries a week from “companies” that want to sell our products online. We have rejected 98% of them. An important reason for the superiority of BSI’s CAs is their freshness by the time they get into the hands of consumers. BSI could have a short-term gain by establishing these new “dealers”, but the likely result would be some consumers receiving products that are old after the dealer takes too long to sell our products. Our reputation is too important to take that chance. Our established dealer network has done an excellent job for BSI. Some dealers get products to consumers in less than a week from the time the adhesives are bottled.

07/23/2025

We established Smith Bros. Hobby Center back in 1973. Jason, the current owner, along with David have maintained it as a modeler's paradise in Northridge, CA.

My trip to Smith Brothers Hobby Shop at 8941 Reseda Blvd, Northridge CA.A lot of cool and vintage models at good prices. Enter from the rear.

06/24/2025

This morning we asked ChatGTP (the top AI site) "Who makes the best CA glue?" This was the answer:

When it comes to CA (cyanoacrylate) glue, a few brands consistently get high marks for reliability, bonding strength, and quality. Some of the best-known and trusted CA glue brands include:

1. Bob Smith Industries (BSI)
Product Lines: "Super Glue" & "Finish", and "Thin, Medium, and Thick CA"

Why it's great: Known for offering a wide range of viscosities (thin, medium, and thick) and a very strong bond. Their CA glue is popular among hobbyists, model makers, and woodworkers.

2. Loctite
Product Lines: "Super Glue" (various formulas)

Why it's great: Loctite is a household name in adhesives, offering reliable CA glues. Their products are available in various viscosities and are often designed to bond plastic, metal, rubber, and wood.

3. Gorilla Super Glue
Product Lines: Standard, Gel, and Brush & Nozzle varieties

Why it's great: Gorilla's CA glue offers fast bonding and high strength. Their gel version is especially popular for vertical surfaces or where more precision is needed.

4. Starbond
Product Lines: "Premium CA Glue" (includes thin, medium, and thick options, as well as "high viscosity" and "flexible" versions)

Why it's great: Starbond offers premium CA glue with a focus on high-quality bonding and precision. It’s highly regarded in the woodworking, crafting, and repair communities.

5. Quick-Set
Product Lines: Quick-Set CA Glue (various viscosities)

Why it's great: This brand is known for its rapid-setting CA glues that bond quickly, often used in applications that require precision and speed.

6. Krazy Glue
Product Lines: Standard and "Max" formulas

Why it's great: Krazy Glue is another widely recognized brand for CA glues, offering a strong and fast bond. It’s a go-to for general use and smaller bonding projects.

7. Titebond
Product Lines: "Instant Bond" (various viscosities)

Why it's great: Titebond is known for woodworking adhesives, and their CA glue options are similarly reliable, offering strong bonds that set quickly.

8. Slo-Zap
Product Lines: "Slo-Zap" (a slower curing CA formula)

Why it's great: Known for its slower setting time, Slo-Zap is a good choice if you need a bit more working time but still want a strong bond.

Best CA glue depends on:
Type of project: Are you bonding wood, plastic, metal, or a delicate surface?

Viscosity: Thin (for tight spaces), Medium (for general use), or Thick (for gap filling).

Drying time: Quick-drying or longer working time?

04/21/2025

NOVA IPMS Model Classic 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL4W_jFrJlo

The number of beautifully built plastic models is mindboggling.

Although I had a few models in the show, this is an attempt to show every model in the classic. My club didn't ask me to do this and I'm doing it on my own t...

03/12/2025

"Flight" photos of the PBJ-1J.

03/04/2025

Peter Matsukawa of Matsukawa Design sent us photos today of the fishing lures he makes using acrylic paints and reflective tapes. Like many other fishermen, he seals the lures with BSI's Slow-Cure 30 minute epoxy to produce a clear and beautiful finish on them.

12/30/2024

Mark Frankel was a superb modeler known for his Skyray and T-34 R/C models. He was one of our heroes since he also authored the ultimate book about the Douglas F4D Skyray. His last book about the history of North American Aviation's Columbus, OH factory was 80% complete when he developed a sudden illness and passed away in 2020. His friends and family completed work on what is an excellent book and it was published last year. The Appendix included this great image of the tail fins of a 1959 pink Cadillac and the aircraft that inspired them.