I bought this quite expensive “thick” CA glue, and although I tried everything, it got clogged. (I did not put a needle or anything through the opening to keep it open, because in my previous experience it just gets attached to it…)
So: how could I open the thing? How can I avoid this from happening again?
(Also, there are those plastic “Testors” glues; and the plastic "needle likes to get clogged, too. The Revell glue has a metallic needle that can be unclogged by a little flame, but what do you do with the Testors?)
Thank you.
I’m not sayng this works 100% of the times, but I’m pretty happy with my 97% success rate… After each use, before closing the CA bottle, I put a drop of liquid polly (normal liquid glue) at the tip of the CA bottle.
I just empty the nozzle by squeezing the air in the bottle up through the nozzle to clear it and then replace the cap. If I can visually see through the nozzle then I am happy. Once clogged the only solution I have found is to physically cut below the obstruction I have had no luck with trying to open a passage and keep it open. Another thing that can help is to not apply the glue directly from the bottle but to drop a small quantity onto a Post-it or similar and then apply with a tooth pick. If you apply directly from the bottle and there is any plastic dust (probably more noticeable with balsa dust - I build flying models also) present this will just serve to speed the clogging process. If I need to run in a fillet of glue then I use a hypodermic needle attached to the bottle nozzle. These are used only once and I am lucky that I have ready access to needles being a Veterinarian. Keeping CA in the fridge is a good habit to get into.
Get some dynamite!![}:)][}:)][:D]
Just like anything in liquid form that we as modelers use (Paint, glue etc), air sets the liquid to a solid. By keeping the bottle upside down when not in use, no air trapped in the nozzle will set the glue. Of course you need to make sure the cap is firmly on and you will get dried glue now in the bottom of the bottle. Try to keep glue from getting on the outside of the nozzle as well. A quick wipe with a rag while still wet (not tissue or paper product!) will help to prevent this.
Some have also mentioned to keep our good “Super-Glue” in the fridge…Wiping the neck after every use helps, but not for long. I also try topour some glue on a small tupperware box lid (Don’t tell my wife I do this), and then use a toothpick or similar object to apply the CA, not an easy one this…
after each application i take the needle to it and then blow a little air in the tip. ive never had any clogging since i started this ritual.
to unclog it (i’m sure this isnt very healthy) i use my molars. just crack the glue and you’ll be set!
If I get a clog in my CA bottle, I usually take the largest drill bit in my set, place it in my pin vise, and drill it out. Wiping the nozzle off after each use helps as well. I also use the technique of tapping the glue bottle a few times on the tabletop to force the glue in the neck backdown into the bottle. Then I squeeze the air in the bottle a few times to clear the remaining glue from the nozzle.