How To Use Cyanoacrylates:
From various sources on the internet.
- Heat and moisture will decrease the shelf life of CAs.
Unopened bottles can be stored in a freezer or refrigerator, but allow them
to reach room temperature before using. Keep your bottles in a cool place
that won’t be exposed to direct sunlight and store away from bottles of
accelerators. Due to the freshness of our CAs, their shelf life is about 12
months.
- With all CAs, the closer the parts fit together, the
stronger the bond. Always hold the bonding surfaces together as tightly as
possible. Any rough spots on the mating surfaces should be smoothed out.
Although CAs will hold objects together with considerable strength within
seconds, the full strength of the bond is not reached for several hours.
Allow for this before subjecting parts to maximum stress. Also, CAs are
generally a little less brittle and have higher strength when they are
allowed to cure on their own.
- CA glue is dangerous stuff. You should avoid skin
contact and always protect your eyes. The fumes generated when CA glue cures
are potentially harmful, they make the eyes water, and are at the very least
terribly annoying. Perhaps the most important tip to remember is to be
sure that you never glue yourself to anything larger than you can pick up
and carry to where you keep your CA solvent!
- We all use different things to spread glue. However,
the glue usually runs over everything, including your fingers. The other
problem with this is that the cellulose in wood and paper products is one of
those things that seems to hasten the curing of CA glue. It starts to get
tacky and ruins the application. Purchase some polyester batting (in sheet
form) that is used for stuffing quilts and pillows. To make an applicator,
cut a small piece of batting (about 2" square) and fold it, gathering
the loose ends and wrapping them with a piece of masking tape. It now looks
like a little mushroom with a masking tape stem (sit in front of the TV some
night and make a bunch). Apply two or three drops of CA on the applicator
and you will be absolutely amazed at how far and evenly it can be spread.
The applicator will not stick or cause the glue to set and can be used for
several minutes before it stiffens up
- Acetone can be used as a solvent but it is not as fast
acting. You can soak clogged tips in it to clean them up.
- Water in a mist bottle will serve as a cheap activator
but will cause white foaming.
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