Thinning Super GLue?

[Miatatom]

Is it possible to thin it, especially if it's starting to get old and thicker. If so, what do you use?

[Harry P.]

You can't really save old CA that's starting to thicken.

Toss it and get fresh stuff.

[Mike Kucaba]

Try acetone. Chemist at 3M suggested that. There is a limit as to it's use though.

[Art Anderson]

CA glue really doesn't set up by evaporation, rather it crystallizes upon being stimulated by such things as heat, pressure, even the addition of moisture or reacting with simple chemicals (baking soda, for example).

In actual use, that crystallization process happens rather quickly. However, as it ages, CA glue can get thicker in consistency, which means it's already started to set up. I've had medium viscosity CA glue lock up solid in the bottle within a few months, while the current bottle of Goldberg SuperJet medium viscosity glue that I am still using has been on my workbench for more than a year now--gotta be some kind of record that!

Acetone may well extend the life of thickening up CA glue, but the only way to find out is to try it, see what it does. After all, it is the active ingredient in most CA Glue debonders.

Art

[bobthehobbyguy]

Might make sense to buy in smaller quanities. Walmart and dollar stores small tubes. Unopened can be stored in the fridge to help with the heat problem. Not sure if thinning with acetone would compromise the bonding strength.