Tips
The following are some insightful tips on how to use CA glue:
Surface preparation
– It is important to always work with rough surfaces because it significantly increases the available surface area — hence, increasing its surface energy. This allows the adhesive to easily bond with the material. In addition, the surface should be dry and very clean. Contaminants such as oil and dirt may affect the drying time and bonding strength of the glue.
Gloves
– It is good practice to wear gloves when working with super glues because they bond to almost anything and the human skin is no exception.
Masking
– When working with complex bonding surfaces, it is better to mask all the surfaces that surround the bonding area prior to applying the super glue. The use of masking tape minimizes the risk of problems occurring during application.
Bottle shape
– It is important to work with the ideal bottle shape for super glues particularly if you are dealing with objects that require a precise fit. As a rule of thumb, small squeeze tubes apply in all cases.
Storage
– If you want to properly store cyanoacrylate so that it lasts for a long time, try to clean up excess adhesive that is present at the opening. It is also good to squeeze out any excess air and to tightly close the lid. The main reason for ensuring that the lid is tight is to prevent contact between air and superglue that might result in an adhesive reaction.
Clean up
– Cured super glue can be extracted from a surface using one of two means i.e. chemical removal or mechanical removal. Mechanical means is generally grinding it or scraping it off with a tool. On the other hand, chemical removal involves solvents that dissolve it via a chemical reaction to leave the surface completely clean.
Uses
Super glues are used in almost all industries including woodworking, woodturning, carpentry, RC car model building, FPV plane building and racing, archery, high pressure seal repair, electronics, and more.
Conclusion
It's important to choose the right glue for the application. For infiltrating, stabilizing, and high gloss finishes, a thin viscosity CA will be ideal. Medium viscosity CA glues are ideal for general purpose repairs, fill cracks, and bonding close-fitting parts. And lastly, the thicker viscosity CAs are designed for bonding applications where users require longer drying times to carefully position mating parts for proper fit. Browse the CA glues in the link below to choose the ideal glue for your project.
