Handling CA glue

[sydeem]

I have been building models here for three plus years and still can't get the hang of handling CA glue . I have finally learned the value of having "debonder" handy for clean up and to unglue my fingers. I have learned the advantage of using thick CA so I can position parts then hitting the joint with accelerator or "activator" to make an instant bond. But darned if I can keep the exit tubes open so I can use the darned glue again.

Seems like I have to have a pin and pliers handy to reopen the bottles for just about each use. I try to put the caps on as soon as I can (never enough time for thin CA) to keep the tubes from sealing over but nope - they are always shut when I want to use the glue again.

Would it be too childish to ask for a tutorial on handling CA glue ?

[Nortley]

Hi Syd, Here's one tip that may help. It's hard to control CA from the bottle. I dribble a bit of CA onto a piece of glass - I use a 900 psi multiport water level gauge glass, but a little scrap of glass with smooth edges works. Maybe a Cobra tachometer glass? I dip into the puddle of CA with a toothpick or wire and transfer the glue to the model. It is very easy to get a tiny drop just where you want. Mounting pins on parts can be dipped directly in the puddle. The puddle stays workable for a few minutes. Then just start a new puddle elsewhere on the glass. This avoids contaminating the CA bottle with dust, accelerator or moisture from the model, so the bottle will clog less. When the glass gets covered with cured glue, scrape it clean with a single edge blade and it's good as new.

[The creative explorer]

I found that keeping the bottles sitting nozzle up, it doesnt clogs up.

[jarrow]

I also tap the bottle a couple of times as I'm setting it down to get the glue out of the tip

[spinellid82]

Keeping the cap on the bottle as much as possible, tapping the bottle and the use of a puddle on a piece of glass are all good ideas that I also use. Refrigerating the bottle of CA when not in use helps to keep it fresh and it slows the cure rate some. I use a small sewing needle stabbed into the end of a piece of dowel as an aplicator, scrape the excess CA off every few dips with an EXacto blade and use debonder to clean it when you are done for the evening. And yes I do still an "episode" every now and then, usually when Bud helps me be a little Wieser. I actually glued my left hand to my right cheek a couple of weeks ago. Thank GOD I was home alone!

[Nortley]

When the tip clogs, always when you least need it, don't try to clear the blockage with a mighty squeeze - one of my classmates did that with the water thin stuff, glued his pants to his legs, walked funny all afternoon because we couldn't skip classes, then spent the evening in the tub working the stuff off because debonder didn't exist in that time or place.

[sydeem]

Thanks guys, this has been an education. I have been doing this CA stuff wrong all wrong from the start.

[xken]

The setup I use is a fine music wire bent with a needle nose pliars back on itself to form a small accute angle(less than 90) on the end, then bend a loop for a handle a few inches away from the tip. This makes a great applicator for one drop at a time and the "hook" helps to pick up the glue by capillary action. Any build up after extensive use of the applicator is cleaned off by applying debonder to the tip and then scrap with an xacto blade back to clean.

Then I use one ounce plastic vacuum formed cups turned upside down and squeeze a few drops of CA in the well formed on the botton of the cup. The rim provides a spot to rest the wire applicator. Just let the CA dry in the well and it will pop right off once hard and has been used for a while to get some build up.

Will try to remember to post a picture when I get home from work.

Ken

[xken]

Here is a picture of how I do it. Last night my camera batteries were dead. Anyway a picture is worth a thousand words. I have used this wire for several years now. For the cups, just let the glue kick off and once hard just pops off. The rim keeps the wire handle where you can grab it easily in the air.

KEN

[hot ford coupe]

Instead of using a piece of glass, I use some of those pesky CDs I get in the mail that I can't use. I've got a ton of them. Once there is no more space on the CD for a drop of the glue, out into the can it goes.

[Don Garrett]

I use small pieces of tin foil, tooth picks and straight pins. For large areas I just use a cut off scrap of sheet plastic as a spatula. That way I can simply toss whatever I use with no clean up.

Looks like everyone has their own way of dealing with CA.......