It's kind of a no brainer -- any adhesive which cures by exposure to air will start to degrade as soon as it is opened. The trick is to buy containers that are small enough to control waste.
I have a 1 oz. bottle of Gorilla Super Glue that's been open for a year and a half now, and it's still in good shape. I don't refrigerate it, although in fairness, it stays in my basement, where the temp stays between 55 and 65 Fahrenheit year round.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I use to use the CA that was like water but switched to the Gel when it came out. Much easier to control than the thin type. Takes a little longer to clear the tip.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I don't refrigerate it but I sure that would help. I use lots of CA in my modeling and I always have an unsealed bottle that I'm using.
I have found that even if the glue doesn't dry out that after a couple of months, CA loses its sticking power and has to be tossed.
I also use it for finger nail repair (classical guitar). I have found that after I open a fresh tube for this purpose, I will have to buy another one for the next nail that breaks rather being able to use the old one, even if the first tube hasn't dried up.
I look at the stuff as a consumable (like milk or maybe butter) and buy a fresh bottle every month or two when I'm at the LHS.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I used to have the same problems with CA, seemingly only lasting a brief and very short time after opening. But a couple years back, maybe on this forum, someone suggested a refridgerator. So, I dutifully tried it and the stuff never dries up anymore. I have 2 bottles in the basement fridge -- one is the very thin stuff and one is of the thicker variation. Both have been in there well over a year and still like just opened -- I used them both about 2 weeks ago.
I take it out of the fridge, use it, cold seems to not matter, and put it back in the fridge.
Try it! ken
Air, and more accurately, the moisture in the air, is the enemy. Once the bottle is opened, no matter how well you seal it back up, you've let some in. The cool dryness int he fridge definitely helps. Another thing that sometimes works is saving those silica gel dessicant packs that come in most anything electronic and sealing a couple in a ziplock bag with the jar of CA.
For the basic type of CA, I do what Mobile Man does - I buy the multipacks of tiny bottles and open one at a time. Sealed up it keeps for a long time, so worst case, instead of losing a big expensive bottle, I only lose one of the little ones and open a new one. As it figures, since I started doing that, I've not actually had one harden up in the bottle, even the one in my tool box which might go a month or more between uses. SO far though I haven't found some of the other variations liek the extra thick stuff in the multipacks, although the last bottle of exra thick I got to do all my resistor wheelsets lasted the entire time with the only thing happening being that the nozzle got a little clogged around the tip a few times but I was able to scrape that off and continue using it. It did have a different sort of cap than the usually pop on lid which seemed to make a much better seal so that definitely helped.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My LHS now sells CA from Bob Smith Industries in half-ounce long-nose bottles. It seems to be a better product than the last brand they carried. I don't bother to refrigerate it, as it seems to be fine until I get to the very bottom of the bottle, which takes me about 6 months.
However, I do practice Good Glue Hygiene. I let the tip fully drain by leaving the bottle upright and uncovered until I see the full opening. I wipe the tip with a paper towel, and chip off any glue that's hardened on the tip with a knife. That way, the cap sits snugly when I put it on, and no more air can get in.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
mobilman44 Frankly, CA is nasty stuff, and I really use it with respect and try not to mess with it.
Frankly, CA is nasty stuff, and I really use it with respect and try not to mess with it.
Eh? I've NEVER been able to use this stuff well in the train room. I use it in the infirmary instead of sending people over to the clinic for stitches for simple wounds.
ROAR, RN
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
My experience is that CA does have a shelf life once it is opened. Keeping it in a cool place does seem to extend its life, but if not used mine will harden up. Now, that said, I am using one that is sold under the brand name of my local LHS and since they don't produce it, it is definitely repackaged to their specifications. If I can locate another source for some of the brands mentioned in this thread, I will give them a try.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
CA can stay in a LHS for quite a long time as long as it is not opened. Once the bottle is exposed to air, is when the life is shortened. I started with Eastman 910 back in the 1960's. We always refrigerated the stuff.
Useful CA info below.
http://www.ca-plus.com/faq.html
Gidday, I use "Loctite 406" and have kept this current bottle in the fridge for about 18 months so far.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Brand makes a difference. I have a Pacer Zap-A-Gap opened since 1/2009 (I marked the date on the bottle) and it's still good. I just keep both caps on (it comes with an inner and outer cap) and the tip clean, no refrigeration. I have used "non-branded" hobby shop brands as well as little tubes as mentioned by another poster and they harden in about 6 mo. once opened. Pacer costs more but is far cheaper in the long run. I can't speak for the thin Pacer however, I don't use thin CA in general, the thicker style provides a few seconds setting time plus fills gaps, and I find it's much better for modeling. Thin only works if there is zero gap. Also, I use a liquid accelerator once the joint is positioned where I want it, to provide the instant bond at that point. One bottle of accelerator will last years.
I have had a bottle for going on over a year and I keep it in the refridgerator it last much longer that way.
I don't seem to have much trouble w/ CA going bad until you use about 1/2 the bottle. Must be the air within the bottle allows it to start to thicken. I have had a bottle last 6 months before this happens. I will always keep the nozzle clean, wiping off drips/ drools and clean/ scrap the build up from the nozzle to keep a good seal w/ the cap. I will use a piece of plastic as a gasket if the cap/ nozzle starts to get too crudded up. But once you reach this point- it is all downhill and the CA will start to go bad.
I have the best luck and longest lasting with Sattilite Hot Stuff, can't always find it, the Zap works OK, but doesn't seem to last nearly as long. The Loctite brands are by far the cheapest, but last the least before thickening. I have never refrigerated it, might try it instaed of allowing to sit on bench for extended periods.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Unlike Bob I have found once I opened a bottle of CA it hardened after only a few weeks at best. My LHS told me to refrigerate it. WOW! It works. I've had the bottle I am now using open for more than six months. When I need it it pull it out of the fridge, use it, and put it back in the fridge. Yes, it doesn't come from the manufacturer refrigerated nor does the hobby shop refrigerate it but once it's open it's a different story.
Most CA bottles/tubes are pretty small. Surely your spouse will grant you a cubic inch or two of the refer.
Good luck!
Hi!
I've used CA since it came out (for model building) and eventually came to the conclusion that once its opened, you either use it or lose it - sooner or later.
Soooo, my last two purchases of CA were multipacks of 5 small tubes. Thus, when one would dry up on me, it was no big loss as there was another fresh one to open.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I sometimes store a new bottle in the fridge until I'm ready to use it. After I start using it, I just keep it downstairs with my modelling stuff. Considering that it seems to keep quite well without being refrigerated, there doesn't seem to be any point to do that. Besides, stores don't refrigerate it, they keep it out on the shelf and I'm sure it's not shipped in a refrigerated truck.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
I have seen many different opinions on how best to store CA adhesives. I have not been too successful to date and wonder how you folks handle them. I could request some space in the fridge but that is not likely to be granted. Maybe a beer fridge next to the layout......Hmmmmm
73
Bruce in the Peg