Overview
One of the most common adhesives in a turner studio is cyanoacrylate glue, or as it is more commonly called, super glue or “CA” glue. Super glue can be a valuable addition to the adhesive collection in your wood turning shop. Here are some cyanoacrylate glue storage and usage tips to help you get the most out of this versatile adhesive product.
Cyanoacrylate glues storage
Most cyanoacrylate glues have an average shelf life of approximately 6-12 months once opened. Unopened bottles can be stored in the freezer for an extended period of time. However, once a bottle has been opened and exposed to atmospheric moisture, different storage procedures are required to avoid premature curing in the bottle.
- Unopened containers: Unopened jars should be stored in the freezer for a longer shelf life. Before use, allow the bottle to equalize to room temperature by allowing the bottle to sit overnight on the bench before use.
- Open containers: Do not store open bottles without their caps, unless you live in areas that typically have very low humidity levels throughout the year. Exposure to high humidity can cause premature curing of the cyanoacrylate adhesive in the bottle.
- If you buy your cyanoacrylates in bulk containers and transfer them to smaller applicator bottles for use, make sure these bottles are made from polyethylene for best results.
- Do not store open cyanoacrylate adhesive containers near your hand pump accelerator bottle. During the summer months, high temperatures can cause accelerator vapors to blow out of the pump’s spray unit, causing premature curing of any nearby uncapped bottles.
- Do not store Opened bottles in the freezer. When removed, condensation can develop inside the bottle causing premature cure of the adhesive.
- For best long-term storage results, store opened cyanoacrylate adhesive bottles in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and a desiccant pack to absorb moisture from inside the jar. When stored this way, you can usually scoop every drop out of the bottle and dispose of waste.
Prevention of tip clogging
It is a common fact that cyanoacrylate adhesives tend to clog the tips of your applicator bottles if stored improperly. To avoid tip clogging, clean any residual cyanoacrylate from the outside of the applicator tip and allow the remaining adhesive to flow back into the bottle before replacing the cap. Do not touch the tip of the bottle to a surface that has been sprayed with active accelerator, or the accelerator will cure the cyanoacrylate inside the nozzle. If you prefer, you can buy replacement bits from most wood turning suppliers, so you can always have some clean bits on hand and just change them when needed.
Using cyanoacrylate glue to fill deep voids
I regularly put crushed stone and other materials on many of my wooden furniture. These are secured with cyanoacrylates or epoxy, depending on the filler used. If you are using cyanoacrylates with deep voids, or as a binder for inlay work with crushed stone, you should allow sufficient time for a Total thickness cure before sanding the filled area. The time this takes is variable, but can take up to 24 to 36 hours or more, depending on the depth of the filled area.
While you can use an accelerator to help speed up the overall cure time, nothing can replace time. It is best to let the adhesive dry without any accelerator in deep voids, as excessive use of the accelerator can cause it to form and freeze. In severe cases, bubbles can form under healed skin, ruining the appearance of your scale.
If possible, do not use an accelerator and allow the part to cure naturally before beginning to sand the area. Not only will your deep fill area look better, it will sand more easily when allowed cure completely before sanding. There is simply no substitute for time here. If you try to speed cure in a deep fill, you may end up damaging the turning, requiring extensive repair.
Additionally, sanding before the filled area has fully cured can present a safety hazard as the deeper layers of the void can still be runny, even when the top is rock hard. By sanding too early, you risk exposing the lower layers of liquid that can spray your body and cause injury.
Using accelerators
If you have worked with cyanoacrylate adhesive products before, you may occasionally have noticed a white haze or frost on the cured surface. This phenomenon is called blooming or frosting. High levels of ambient humidity or improper use of accelerators can cause violent cure reactions, resulting in frost or blooming when cured.
To remove blooming and frosting
- Use low-odor or low-flowering products. These are specifically formulated to reduce blooming and frosting. The manufacturer will indicate on the label if the cyanoacrylate adhesive is a low bloom version.
- Reduce the humidity in the studio before use. Dehumidifiers should be set in a 40-50% range for optimal results. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, choose low humidity days for your cyanoacrylate inlay job.
- Add cross ventilation to your workspace to dissipate curing fumes, before they can be relocated to previously filled areas.
- Reduce the amount of accelerator used or eliminate it entirely.
