Super Glue: How To Keep Shelf Life After Opening Container?

[Phreak Out]

I've never had tremendous success with shelf life for super glue (aka, C/A, cyanoacrylate). It seems like once I open the container (tube or bottle), that after a month or so, it's "glued shut" or otherwise unusable and I end up getting irritated and tossing the unused portion in the trash.

Any suggestions on how I can use my super glue, cap it, then use it in a month or two down the road?

Also, I just returned from Home Depot with 20g of super glue for $5.67. They were also selling a 6g bottle for $3.97 - I really don't understand: Who wouldn't want to buy more than three times as much super glue for less than 50% more than the smaller amount?

Thanks & happy flyin',

Brad

[ZzEther]

I had the same problem, when I used to keep my glue in my toolbox. My problem (might not be yours) was the glue bottle laying down in the toolbox. I started leaving the glue at home after throwing out too many bottles that were basically full. If I leave them standing upright, they are fine. I'm on the same bottle of CA now for a year and a half.

edit: I have to poke a paper clip down there every once in a while, no biggie.

[erwinseow]

Just cover the tip and put it in the refrigerator.

[chuckles_hp19]

Originally Posted by Phreak Out

Who wouldn't want to buy more than three times as much super glue for less than 50% more than the smaller amount?

Anyone who struggles to get more than 1 use out of a bottle because the lid is glued shut.

I think the secret is to make sure the nozzle is free from glue inside and out. By inside I mean "working" the bottle to get it to suck the glue back in whilst upright (carefully and away from anything glueable including eyes, fingers etc.) Not sure what the best thing for the outside of the nozzle is, paper towel?

BTW I bought 20g of superglue from Asda supermarket for £1 (aprox $1.65) but it's probably not worth the journey for those in the USA

[rojack]

On the bigger bottles, agreed. Wipe the tip with a paper towel or tissue or something, and squeeze a few times lightly (away from eyes!) to make sure there is no glue in the neck. Then store upright. I've had mine for at least 6 months now, as good as new.

For the little mini squeeze tubes, they are pretty hit-or-miss for me. I consider them disposable. Buy the big pack of 4 or 8 and just assume you will use each one time only. When I'm done with the little tube, I make sure the cap is on tightly when done, and sometimes the glue is still liquid next time I need it (maybe a month or so later) and sometimes the whole tube is solid or jelly.

[TheBum]

I use a regular straight pin in all my CA bottles. I've never had a case of clogging, but I sometimes have to remove the pin with pliers. I suppose you could use a small T-headed pin to get a grip, but you can't get the cap back on that way.

[ping]

DO NOT store it in the refrigerator after opening. Storing your unopened factory sealed bottles in the fridge will prolong the shelf life. Water formation is what makes CA go bad, it is impossible to prevent condensation from forming in an opened glue container. The repeated heating and cooling from going from the fridge to your workshop will only increase the amount of water that is getting into your glue.

What I have always done is buy the smallest bottle I need for a 2-3 month supply. If I know I have a large project coming up I'll get something larger but normally I only purchase the smallest sizes.

[ke6d]

I put mine in air seal container and leave it the the freezer. When I want to use it, it take it out and wait a just a bit for the glue to melt then put it right back into the freezer after use. All my CA bottles (2 oz size) last more than 10 years. The last batch that I bought are almost 5 years and and still good (I used it last weekend)

[Hellytriever]

TheBum: I use a regular straight pin in all my CA bottles. I've never had a case of clogging, but I sometimes have to remove the pin with pliers...


I've cleared the clog with a drill bit myself. Now the drill bit needs to be cleaned!

I must say that keeping the container in the freezer has worked best for me. I use Zap products almost exclusively, I make sure the cap area on the tube is "clean" and there is no build up inside the cap itself, prior to putting the cap back on.

Ping: Have you ever had any problems as a result of this condensation? I've never noticed this effect, what should I look for?

[thevirginian]

I store all my bottles in the fridge and clean the caps and nozzles by dumping them in actetone for a couple of hours. They look like brand new after that. I use my CA bottles until they are all empty.

[Phreak Out]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

The idea of refrigeration was very interesting to me so I checked out Permabond's web page: (LINK)

Permabond Cyanoacrylates

Store Permabond cyanoacrylates in their original unopened container at 2-7°C (35-45°F). Cyanoacrylates should be stored in fairly dry atmospheres. Usually the package is sufficient to prevent exposure but please keep this in mind when choosing storage facilities for cyanoacrylates. Permabond recommends that cyanoacrylates be kept refrigerated. They should be allowed to reach room temperature before use.

[Rookiepilot83]

I picked up a bottle of Maxi-Cure Extra Thick at my LHS about 6 months ago and its still good as new, I just poke a safety pin down the nozzle to make sure its clear before I cap it and like ZzEther said I make sure I store it up right but I do keep mine in my field/parts box. A buddy of mine got the big bottle of Maxi Cure Extra Thick and he said he purposely left the cap off while stirring it every day which made it even thicker which he says makes it work even better. I haven't tried this my self but his Maxi Cure seems to stay put better and dry faster than mine. Maybe Maxi-Cure has a longer shelf life than most CA's, I don't know but its the best CA Ive tried so far.

[thetable]

Mercury Adhesives CA, bottle/tip design works incredibly well for me, and the product isn't bad either.

[lewisflyboy8]

+1 on the T-pin. Works very well with the bottled CA.

[Phreak Out]

I have similar problems with polyurethane glue nozzles getting clogged. Yesterday I removed one of the crusty boogers blocking the nozzle tip using a little pin I sort of "permanently borrowed" from wifey's pin cushion. Let's hope she doesn't want it back.

[Beebad]

Clean the tip in and out helps and don't store it anywhere near the excelerator!

[jamming]

zapa gap lasts !

[ronm3313]

I use hte pin method and my LHS sells the caps. I just buy a couple of spares and when the pin doesn't work anymore I put on a new cap.