Super Glue

[Mike 1017]

Does Super Glue lose its sticking power and the increasing time it takes to stick to a surface? I do use the Accelerator.

Mike

[ColonelKrypton]

Yes.

Fresh cyanoacrylate does work much better than old. Once open and exposed to the moisture in the air it will start to cure. 

I used to buy larger bottles in the idea of more for your money but I always ended up throwing away half the bottle or more.

Now, for hobby use I just buy super glue from the dollar store in the little containers. At the first sign of the top getting stuck on the small tube or having had an open tube for more than a month I just chuck it and get another.

cheers, Graham

[yh70]

i buy 2 oz bottles and never had that problem even using Accelerator, but when im not using it i keep it in a mini refrigerator.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

21 hours ago, ColonelKrypton said:

Yes.

Fresh cyanoacrylate does work much better than old. Once open and exposed to the moisture in the air it will start to cure. 

I used to buy larger bottles in the idea of more for your money but I always ended up throwing away half the bottle or more.

Now, for hobby use I just buy super glue from the dollar store in the little containers. At the first sign of the top getting stuck on the small tube or having had an open tube for more than a month I just chuck it and get another.

cheers, Graham

I have experienced this as well. I live in the sub-tropics and work in my garage. The heat and humidity seems to have a negative effect on the CA glue.

As Graham does, I now buy a bunch of the small bottles...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/353047744503?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D275041%2C274914%26meid%3Def229fca9a88451e9a8f7015ce3f74d1%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D353047739190%26itm%3D353047744503%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQueryRecall&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A353047744503ef229fca9a88451e9a8f7015ce3f74d1|enc%3AAQAJAAABEEK7FTfzsGw0VauxYyX1IOHjsuXJ1NPjVWebvOca%2BJbVzh3VqcrGnLFKHjKk2M42BtfNs8bK1jFneKBZqmubi3KHE1AoMHq2nwt0uPMf8mSVZtHylvRzpXfT3Kp51zyzV1I454U2UUV%2FuwD6k9cxOUUOV0dLBnN34H6GBqga1HUy1fiYp5ukqsBWEN00ZekBNQQ%2B4QUw59FI6TxgewuwcaqT7v3c1q%2FbhroY7KOgpPeB1jt8CVDut7zR3Abjf2gOddJe8XklZUZ1GueXK6JNM%2BqMuLKBw7BEPNF3TTpwFsHeKhLMRchu3muTmINbBDYBKdhE369n7kYjc3cxOBYgqcmwtTetInNBh4EiIOIFw4T3|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&epid=500635684&itmmeta=01JAT2TM17J3TK6JD5SE9HXNBB 

...and this seems to have solved the problem. This 'cheap stuff' works fine for me... -RRR

[Mike 1017]

2 hours ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

I have experienced this as well. I live in the sub-tropics and work in my garage. The heat and humidity seems to have a negative effect on the CA glue.

As Graham does, I now buy a bunch of the small bottles...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/353047744503?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D275041%2C274914%26meid%3Def229fca9a88451e9a8f7015ce3f74d1%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D353047739190%26itm%3D353047744503%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQueryRecall&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A353047744503ef229fca9a88451e9a8f7015ce3f74d1|enc%3AAQAJAAABEEK7FTfzsGw0VauxYyX1IOHjsuXJ1NPjVWebvOca%2BJbVzh3VqcrGnLFKHjKk2M42BtfNs8bK1jFneKBZqmubi3KHE1AoMHq2nwt0uPMf8mSVZtHylvRzpXfT3Kp51zyzV1I454U2UUV%2FuwD6k9cxOUUOV0dLBnN34H6GBqga1HUy1fiYp5ukqsBWEN00ZekBNQQ%2B4QUw59FI6TxgewuwcaqT7v3c1q%2FbhroY7KOgpPeB1jt8CVDut7zR3Abjf2gOddJe8XklZUZ1GueXK6JNM%2BqMuLKBw7BEPNF3TTpwFsHeKhLMRchu3muTmINbBDYBKdhE369n7kYjc3cxOBYgqcmwtTetInNBh4EiIOIFw4T3|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2332490&epid=500635684&itmmeta=01JAT2TM17J3TK6JD5SE9HXNBB 

...and this seems to have solved the problem. This 'cheap stuff' works fine for me... -RRR

Thanks to all for your comments. Graham I am going to buy those small tubes of CA

Mike

[peteski]

Yes, moisture will affect the CA glue, and cause it to gradually thicken up.  But if you protect it from moisture, it will remain usable for years.

Bunch of useful info you didn't know about this stuff is in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate

If you don't like reading technical and historical trivia, skip towards the end for the most useful info (like the shelf life). Personally I found it all interesting.

[peteski]

That *HUGE* link to the eBay item Rodney posted it chock full of tracking info. If you don't like to be tracked, use the short version  https://www.ebay.com/itm/353047744503  . No tracking!  FYI, when posting a link to an eBay item, all you need is the part up to the first question mark. Trim the remainder (including that question mark).

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

That *HUGE* link to the eBay item Rodney posted it chock full of tracking info. If you don't like to be tracked, use the short version  https://www.ebay.com/itm/353047744503  . No tracking!  FYI, when posting a link to an eBay item, all you need is the part up to the first question mark. Trim the remainder (including that question mark).

Thanks, man. I was wondering while people are always following me wherever I go... -RRR

[rattle can man]

you might be able to prolong its useful life once opened by putting it in a pill bottle with a desiccant pack (one of those little packets of silicone that says "do not eat") that seem to be packed with so many products.

[stitchdup]

6 minutes ago, rattle can man said:

you might be able to prolong its useful life once opened by putting it in a pill bottle with a desiccant pack (one of those little packets of silicone that says "do not eat") that seem to be packed with so many products.

that would shorten its life, the descicant is there to adsorb damp and stop things smelling fousty

[Bainford]

7 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

that would shorten its life, the descicant is there to adsorb damp and stop things smelling fousty

Moisture and humidity are the killers of CA shelf life. Storing CA with a desiccant might just do the trick. It's an interesting suggestion. 

[peteski]

1 hour ago, stitchdup said:

that would shorten its life, the descicant is there to adsorb damp and stop things smelling fousty

Well, no.  Desiccant (by definition) absorbs moisture from ambient air, so it will prolong CA's shelf life It is not just about musty smells.

[Mike 1017]

Maybe a small empty bottle of Salsa should work or put in a Ziplock Bag?

Mike

 

[robdebie]

On 10/21/2024 at 4:38 PM, Mike 1017 said:

Does Super Glue lose its sticking power and the increasing time it takes to stick to a surface? I do use the Accelerator.

I would say six months, for a container that is opened regularly.

Rob

[peteski]

On 10/21/2024 at 10:38 AM, Mike 1017 said:

Does Super Glue lose its sticking power and the increasing time it takes to stick to a surface? I do use the Accelerator.

Mike

I should have also mentioned this in my earlier post:
  As CA ages (moisture exposure), CA glue doesn't specifically lose its adhesive power. It just gets thicker and thicker. So if you bought the extra-thin CA, it will eventually change its viscosity to "regular", then "gap-filling", then thicker and thicker.  I don't really think its thickening reduces its adhesive properties.  Still, if you bought the extra-thin CA, you bought it for a specific tasks for which gap-filling CA would not really work well.  Yes, the setting time also gets longer the thicker the CA becomes, but that is also true with the thicker versions right from the factory.

Example, while using accelerator factory fresh extra-thin CA will set in just couple of seconds, but a factory fresh gap-filling CA will need 15-20 seconds to fully set.

[robdebie]

12 hours ago, peteski said:

I should have also mentioned this in my earlier post:
  As CA ages (moisture exposure), CA glue doesn't specifically lose its adhesive power. It just gets thicker and thicker.

My experience is the opposite: my CA glues do lose their adhesive power after (say) six months. It's usually the first signal the glue is getting too old. The second signal would be that it starts to form strings.

I write the opening date on each container, and simply replace them after 6+ months. Almost every time I replace a container, I note that the glue works much better. The cost is minor.

Rob

[peteski]

8 hours ago, robdebie said:

I write the opening date on each container, and simply replace them after 6+ months. Almost every time I replace a container, I note that the glue works much better. The cost is minor.

What do you consider as "working better"?
As I mentioned, if I bought the extra thin CA and it thickens up due to its age (and being exposed to humidity), I can't really use it for applications which specifically require extra thin CA. I still use it when the task calls for a "regular" viscosity CA.    It still bonds well (as a "regular" viscosity CA).  If it keeps getting even thicker, I just throw it away. I don't hold it to the time when it becomes stringy.  So I guess the definition of what "works good" is can vary from modeler to modeler.

[robdebie]

22 hours ago, peteski said:

What do you consider as "working better"?
As I mentioned, if I bought the extra thin CA and it thickens up due to its age (and being exposed to humidity), I can't really use it for applications which specifically require extra thin CA. I still use it when the task calls for a "regular" viscosity CA.    It still bonds well (as a "regular" viscosity CA).  If it keeps getting even thicker, I just throw it away. I don't hold it to the time when it becomes stringy.  So I guess the definition of what "works good" is can vary from modeler to modeler.

Don't make this a battle of who's right. I share my experiences, you share yours.

Rob

[peteski]

9 minutes ago, robdebie said:

Don't make this a battle of who's right. I share my experiences, you share yours.

Rob

No battle. That's why I stated "So I guess the definition of what "works good" is can vary from modeler to modeler. "  We both presented our experiences. What is still "good" for me is not the same as "good" for you.

[Mike 1017]

Does humidity effect CA while still in the container or it effects the CA when you try to glue parts together.

Mike

[peteski]

On 10/26/2024 at 10:36 AM, Mike 1017 said:

Does humidity effect CA while still in the container or it effects the CA when you try to glue parts together.

Mike

It affects the CA still in the bottle. It you are in a humid environment and you leave the bottle open (even if it is just  a small opening at the top of the applicator cap, the moist air will enter the bottle and slowly begins to thicken the liquid.   This process takes quite some time (again depends on how humid the air is and how long the bottle is left uncapped).  The humid air will not affect the actual bond in any meaningful way when you glue parts together. If anything it might help to set it faster, but not in any measurable way (not like if you apply CA accelerator to the fresh joint).  That's been my experience.

CA can also leach out of the plastic bottle and frost its outside surface. I guess the polyethylene the bottles are made of is not 100% impervious to CA.

[NOBLNG]

29 minutes ago, peteski said:

 I guess the polyethylene the bottles are made of is not 100% impervious to CA.

Yeah, I’ve got no trouble glueing the lids on the CA bottles.?

[Nolan]

On 10/27/2024 at 2:15 PM, NOBLNG said:

Yeah, I’ve got no trouble glueing the lids on the CA bottles.?

I hear you!  I gave up on the larger bottles.  I use the dollar store mini tubes and then slip these precision micro-tips over the nozzle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVQKHDJ?th=1  

The same company makes the Zap-A-Gap brand of mini tubes.  The Zap-A-Gap don't seem to outgas (fog) as much, but I've only seen them in hobby shops.

Nolan