AC glue, using

CA Glue is a near-instant bond, but is brittle and will not have as much strength as PVA wood glue.
So, the CA glue is used to tack the parts together while the PVA cures out.

It is a way to “cheat” if you don’t have very many clamps.

-- "Hard work is not defined by the difficulty of the task as much as a person's desire to perform it.", DS251

i use 2p-10 with good luck i ushally get the medium as thin goes everywhere :<)))

+1 to DS Comment

-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN

I dont use ca much for flat work but use it quite a bit in turning, for attaching chuck glue blocks and reinforcing/filling cracks and defects. As for method of use, when attaching a block to a blank I use the thick ca applied to one surface and spray the other with a bit of accelerator, place, then use a bit of weight and let it set for a few minutes. For crack fill thin ca followed by medium then a light spray of acc. CA readily absorbs into wood, especially the thin. I only use it when I will be removing a 1/16” or more material so the surface will not have ca on it only the defect. For bigger defects/cracks I use epoxy.

For templates etc you might try turner’s tape, a double sided masking tape. Holds well and doesn’t creep like carpet tape, which is more like duct tape.

Be careful with CA glue. On another forum a lady spilled a bottle on it on her foot. It set off and really did a very nasty burn on her foot. Getting the shoe off caused even more damage. Also not good to breath the fumes. It has it’s uses though, just requires some care when dealing with it. Makes a great finish on pens.

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Hope this isn’t hijacking this thread.
How can CA be kept “fresh” after the bottle is open?
I’ve bought sets of the thin, medium and the thick gel in 2 oz bottles to save money and all but the thin CA have set up and hardened in the bottles and are unusable after a couple of months. I barely used the other two but I did open them and cap them. Also, the nozzles have a way of clogging up. Are there any tips for these issues?
Thanks for this thread ControlFreak. I have never heard of the CA and PVA used together!
Learning some valuable tips here.
Jon

I keep my 2P-10 glues in the shop fridge. I also have a long “tee” pin that is used to open the neck of the glue bottles if they get clogged. So far the glues have held up well.

-- [email protected]

Jon,

Try storing it in a refrigerator. I buy my CA in 16 oz. bottles and then dispense into 2 oz. bottles to use. The big bottles are stored in a small fridge on the back patio and I’ve never had them go bad or dry out.

The 2oz. bottles have a tapered nozzle but I also use an even smaller tapered nozzle extension stuck onto the end of that. These just sit open on my workbench and never dry out. The only issue is if the tiny nozzle clogs but that is cured by cutting off the very tip to open it up again. I get everything from www.exoticblanks.com. They’re primarily a pen-turning supplier but have lots of other nice to have stuff.

+1 on OSU55 approach.

JON,
I store my small CA bottles nozzle down and I have had it last for a 2 or more years without setting or clogging. Humidity in the air is one of the things that will cause the CA to set so anything you can do to keep moisture out of the bottle will help extend its life. I’ve read that storing in the fridge will help extend the shelf life but it may be a good idea to let it come to room temperature and wipe off the bottle before opening to remove any condensation. I’ve only done that when I buy an extra bottle that I won’t use until I empty the current one.

-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

ive been using bob smith mediumCA glue on wood projects for quite a few years- projects that dont do much more than sit there. mostly scrollsaw projects. never once used that activator and havent ever had a problem. apply CA to one piece then clamp/press together for about a minute. its a strong bond.