CA Glue Shelf Life - Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag
In this episode, luthier Robbie O’Brien discusses the shelf life of Cyanoacrylate glue and shares additional tips for its application.
Video Transcription
[on-screen text reads: Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag]
Mailbag question: What is the shelf life of CA glue?
Robert O'Brien: Today's Tips du Jour mailbag question comes to us from Ohio. "Robert, what is the shelf life for cyanoacrylate glue? Thanks for your videos, David, in Ohio."
CA glue shelf life
David, not all CA glues are created equal. I like the Hot Stuff brand made by Satellite City and available from LMI. According to the manufacturer, the shelf life on this glue is about one year. However, here's a little tip. If you put it in the freezer, you can at least double the shelf life on the glue.
Other CA glue tips
Let me also show you a few other tidbits that will help you use CA glue. So, David, here's a variety of CA glue products. You can get it in thick, medium or thin viscosity, the thin viscosity being water thin and the thicker viscosity being a little bit less than a gel. You can also get it in what's known as a user-friendly odorless version, and I really like this version because the fumes are not irritating to the eyes and nose.
One of the first things you'll find when working with CA glue is that sometimes the spout or the cap will become clogged. Here's a little tip for you. You can purchase extra caps and spouts and just swap them out when they become clogged, and you're right back in business.
Another issue is how to apply the glue in a certain location without getting it everywhere else. Here's a way around that. These little tips can go on top of the spout and allows you to apply just a small drop exactly where you need it. Another way of doing that is just to use a small pipette. The pipettes also work great for removing excess glue if you happen to get too much.
Now, CA glue already dries very quickly, but if you need to speed up the process, get an accelerator. You can get it in a pump version or in an aerosol version. And finally, I recommend having a little solvent on hand in case things go bad and you glue yourself to your work piece or to your workbench. I had a friend once that happened to.
So, David, I hope this answers your question about the shelf life of CA glue. I've also done several other videos on YouTube about the uses of CA glue, and I think you'll find them useful as well. And happy building.
[on-screen text reads: More Luthier Tips and online courses available at www.obrienguitars.com. Private and small group guitar building and finishing instruction available.]
