Will keeping cynoacrilate in the refrigerator extend shelf life? Are there other ways to extend shelf life?
I keep it in the refrigerator sealed in an airtight container.
The cold may help reduce volatility, but sealing the container from oxygen most likely does more to preserve it.
Lower temperature does indeed extend the working life of CA, and the airtight container helps as well. But the greatest enemy of CA “in the tube” is moisture. Fridges tend to be a pretty high-humidity environment, so proper sealing of the container is the key.
Thank you both for your replys,
The limited shelf life is the reason I buy only the smallest containers of the stuff. I know that it is cheaper per ounce in a larger container, but if half of it hardens in the container it is no bargain.
Yep,I just tossed three of the big ones,all hard as a rock.
Another key when using it is to place a dab on some throw away surface, instead of applying it directly from the bottle. This way you can cap it right away, and only the excess you squeezed out that isn’t used is thrown away. I’m using one of those Zap products, bottle is half empty and still good. It has both a needle plug cap and a cover that doesn’t come in contact with the glue - this really helps in keeping the integrity of the seal.
regards,
Jack
I use old business cards for that. For gel CA either glossy or matt cards work. For the regular CA, I find it absorbs into the card and I waste a lot, so I save the glossy cards for the regular CA (I use far more gel stuff to get the slower setting time). I keep CA accelerator handy in case I want to speed things up when I get everything in perfect position.
Thanks don,I’ve been using old business cards for quite a while now. It only absorbs on the first go around,then kinda seals itself off .I’ll often have two viscositys of cyno puddled depending on what I’m doing.cards also are great for painting figures with vallejo
Another option you may want to consider is to get Gorilla Glue Super Glue. Not so much for the quality of the glue but rather for the design of their container. It is specifically designed to maintain the life of the glue. I have had a container for 5+yrs that just sits on my desk and the glue inside is as good as new.
YThats what I do. I put some on a piece of masking tape stuck to the bench top. It isnt absorbed, and peeling it up to throw away is simple.
Thanks to all for your input