10 replies to this topic

[jetmex]

Many of you know that CA type glues tend to thicken as they age, which limits the shelf life. Since it tends to be a little expensive, here's a tip to make it last longer.

Store your CA glue in the refrigerator. I put the bottles inside a small plastic Dixie cup on the door so they're out of the way, and the cup will contain any spills. Obviously, keep the bottles tightly capped, and return them to the fridge when you're done! This works for the accelerator, as well.

[Jamie 'Haggis' Haggo]

Nice one mate. I find CA glue bottles are like biro pens, you never seem to see one that has had all the ink used up!

[Cleveland Model Resins]

The fridge trick works well. My Father who builds R/C flying model aeroplane thingies with 4 foot plus wingspans has shoved his CA in the fridge for years. Semms to make it last forever. I know when I was in the RAF the stuff was kept in cold storage - never knew why until I took up modelling again years later. And boy, was that CA good stuff! It kept the wings on Hercules C.Mk.1's a treat!

[Hacker]

l read somewhere that CA was orginally developed for medics in the feild to seal up wounds until they could get them to the surgical units. There where several times l have cut myself with a hobby knife when it slipped and l used the glue to seal the wound. it worked great. As for putting it in the frig l have done that for years myself

hacker

[Coolie]

You know I found the cheap and nasty 7 tubes for a dollar to be great for filling gaps etc so I dont much care about how long it lasts...I think I might start this though heehee I went looking last night and found 5 tubes that were cactus

[Cleveland Model Resins]

I get cards of 20 little tubes of the stuff from the local £1 shop - it is VERY low viscosity and is fantastic for plastic sticking!

[LSP_Matt]

roger that on the fridge.

Qn: How do you keep the nozzle clear and free of XS CA. I find after a while my lids dont want to sit properly on the containers.

I wipe them down after use and they dont spill over but after a while it doesnt seem to matter.

Solutions?

Cheers Matty

[jetmex]

Matty, you can buy CA glue debonder for that. It was made for klutzes like me to separate our fingers after gluing them together. Tower Hobbies carries it, and your local hobby shop might have it as well:

http://www.towerhobb...s/towr3800.html

A little bit on a paper towel works wonders on gooped up glue nozzles.....

[LSP_Matt]

Ah...thanks for that Jet...I'll check out my local.

Cheers Matty

[Earl]

I keep my CA bottles next to the mustard and pickles in the fridge as well. But, for debonding I use regular acetone from the hardware store at far less cost than the debonder from the hobby shops. I have a glass jar with acetone on my workbench and after using the small applicator nozzles, I remove them from the glue container and replace the solid cap. The thin applicator nozzles go in the jar of acetone. When it's time to glue, I pull out the nozzle with tweezers, the acetone evaporates in seconds and the nozzle is clear for use. Works like a charm ever time. As the glue bottles give out, I keep the old nozzles so my jar usually has a small collection of nozzles to choose from.

I use acetone for debonding parts or even dumping PE parts in the jar and let the acetone do the job. A word of caution, acetone evaporates like crazy so don't forget to put the lid back on ASAP. Also make sure you use tweezers and don't get too curious about how much the fumes can smell.

Earl

[LSP_Matt]

Thanks Earl...

Matty