Re: CA ?s

I wouldn't buy CA in large quantities unless you use it for finishing pens or use an awfully lot of it. It has a fairly limited shelf life. I just had some thin CA thicken up. I have had it for over a year and I hear that's fairly phenomenal. Shelf life is usually about 6 months.

I wouldn't mix it either.........that's just asking for trouble. Too easy to contaminate and cause premature thickening or setting up. Others may disagree, but that's my opinion and what works for me.

Barry

"Barry N. Turner" wrote: (clip) I wouldn't mix it either.........that's just asking for trouble. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well, Barry, I DO mix it, but I don't mix large batches for the reason you cite. The advantages of mixing are:

at work. We also allow the bottle to warm to room temperature before opening it and using it to fill small applicator bottles. That's because the chilled liquid will condense water from the air, into the adhesive, and shorten life.

Doesn't freeze, at least not at the temperature in my freezer. Cool slows most all chemical reactions, so that's the rationale.

bottles at work. We also allow the bottle to warm to room temperature before opening it and using it to fill small applicator bottles. That's because the chilled liquid will condense water from the air, into the adhesive, and shorten life.

CA needs moisture to cure. Refrigerators and freezers are usually drier than the ambient air. Storing CA in a sealed bag or case with a desiccant can also help the shelf life.

To see moisture in action, put a drop of CA on something and breathe on it, it'll cure much faster than usual. R/C model airplane folks have been doing this for years.

Barry

While what you say is true, I doubt that moisture can get through the plastic of an unopened bottle of CA, mooting the fact that colder air holds less moisture - that's why it's "drier." The shelf life is determined for material in an _unopened_ container, which has all the moisture it'll ever get trapped inside, and still thickens, though the esters will polymerize at a slower rate in cooler temps.

Acidity also retards polymerization, which is why, even on wet cherry or oak, you're well advised to add a shot of accelerant to the wood prior to gluing, or be prepared to hold them together for a much longer time.