[BEEJAY7]

Here's a little tip which may be useful for those new to the art of scratchbuilding.

A very handy product to use when tacking bits of bodywork etc onto models is Superglue, but you will find it "goes off", the cap gets stuck on etc after a fairly short time making your glue useless and forcing you to throw it away.

A very simple way to prevent this is to store the glue, when not in use, in your normal domestic fridge, don't ask me why , ( I'm a systems Enginer not a Chemist Jim!), but it does work.

Regards

Alan

PS Healthcare Warning - I suggest before adopting this approach, you purchase bottle of wine, chocolates, sexy underware, etc for your "significant other half" as she may not approve of finding half used bottles of Superglue stored in with the bacon!.

 

[GRAH1]

while on the subject of super glue ,I have an alergy to the stuff so I always take a anti hystermyne tablet before using it if I dont Im up all night coughing.

 

[McLaren]

So if someone wanted to eliminate you from a competition...

McLaren

 

[GRAH1]

QUOTE compotition

that person would also need to learn how to spell

 

[Fergy]

Thanks for the tip, Grah!

I'll try it - I'm always tossing half-used $5 bottles of the stuff out!

QUOTE she may not approve of finding half used bottles of Superglue stored in with the bacon!

My wife wouldn't say a word - she'd just sprinkle it on my next serving of bacon!

Think I'll keep it in the beer fridge in the basement... just hope I don't get confused one day.

 

[McLaren]

What?

 

[Difflock]

It may also help to try and ensure that the bottle/tube is stored upright to minimise leakage into the cap itself. Another tip is to wipe the tube before putting the cap back on.

Mark.

 

[alfetta]

Are you sure you don't mean, Wot?

 

[astro]

Found this great type of suoerglue in Wallmart whilst on holiday in USA:

its plastic container is desined to stay upright, and the lid has a brush on it so you can actually put the glue acurately where you want it, without having to use a microbrush up or a toothpick!

Hope they start selling it in the UK before I finish the bottle

 

[BEEJAY7]

Astro

B&Q carry these bottles, expensive way of buying Superglue, try your local model shop you will get a much better deal their or buy it through somewhere like Squires.

Regards

Alan

 

[Fergy]

Loctite also make this dispenser:

A sliding ring retains a screw cap securely and helps seal it. The "ears" on the sides are squeezed to dispense a drop from a needle-point tip. Shelf-life seems to be better than most other glues I have used.

I like the "Gel Control" formula - a thicker liquid that doesn't flow all over the place.

 

[Jimster71]

I wasn't keen on that dispenser when I tried it.

I got some B&Q generic superglue, that was cheaper than the brand versions. It has a metal rod connected to the cap to stop the top of the bottle blocking up when it's closed.

I did see a generic one in a local post office for 99p (3g tube) which seemed decent value compared to the usual £2.50 or so for the brand names.

 

[McLaren]

I work in Focus DIY so I get bargain discounts on proper Loctite (sponsers of which F1 team?). I hate that gel glue because it doesn't run everywhere. You have to aply it before putting two surfaces together, whereas the liquid stuff will flow down between them

. Also, the gel is actually in a tube, and the two "ears" simply do a less efficient job than two fingers. Consequntly, you never get the last bit out, and end up with bleeding fingers 'cos you squeezed so hard.

The brush stuff has been available for ages, and for the same amount of glue (5g) it is more expensive than tubes or regular bottles with spouts. The "always stand up" bottle is again more expensive than the little brush bottle even though they have the same amount of glue.

Interestingly enough, the glue in astro's photo is the most expensive item per kilo that we sell at Focus, weighing in at £798.00 per kilogram

Well that's all for this week's DIY factfile, same time time next week.

Mclaren

 

[Fergy]

To each their own...

 

[daleg]

Another trick i have used is to tap the bottle on the desk to knock the glue back into the bottle (the stuff thats trapped in the neck) seems to work for a while before you have to trim the dispenser back a bit

 

[DR STICKY]

another tip when using super glue
when using it breathe on it
it make the bond twice as strong
???? i here you say
the moisture in your breathe acts with the glue dries hard and quicker
that's why when you get glue on your fingers the moisture makes it go off quicker
so try that

 

[cheater]

It may be worth noting that there are actually two different readily-available "super glues" in the non-specialist arena: methyl cyanoacrylate and ethyl cyanoacrylate. Most of the common super glue is methyl CA; ethyl CA is most often sold for attaching fake fingernails.

Monty Ohren, the very experienced slot racer who runs the Best 'O The West motor blueprinting service in California, has indicated that the ethyl CA works better for gluing magnets into 1/24 motors. It seems to stand up under the thermal loads better, he says.

Here's a link to one company's specifications sheet for both types of CA:

Hi-Strength Super Glues

(This link is to a PDF file, thus Acrobat Reader will be needed: www.adobe.com.)

There is a lot of good information about methyl and ethyl CA in this PDF. There are differences in the properties of methyl CA and ethyl CA.

BTW, the cosmetics department is the best place to find ethyl CA. Just be certain that "ethyl cyanoacrylate" is listed as the ingredient, not just "cyanoacrylate." I've had no problem finding multiple brands of ethyl CA alongside the plastic fingernails here in the US.

 

[John Cahill]

it's probably unnecessary, but I just want to echo a couple of these threads....Alan's idea of sticking the CA in the fridge, works like a charm. Also, I have to go with Fergy's choice of containers...I LOVE that little bottle (especially in gel form). You can squeeze tiny little drops and place them with great accuracy.

enjoying all the good info....thanks guys

John

PS I'll bet that breathing trick works too...but being in Florida, I doubt I'll notice the difference

 

[cheater]

There is one caveat about storing CA in the refrigerator. Quoting from the PDF I mentioned:

"Cyanoacrylate adhesive must be stored under refrigeration at a temp of 40 degrees F (+/-5%) for maximum shelf life. Before opening, the container must be warmed to room temperature, otherwise water might condense into the bottle and cause hardening of the adhesive."

 

[monquispot]

if this has been mentioned.........darn

before recapping the glue make sure the spout is empty. any glue trapped in the spout will harden.

and store it upright.