Official Luthiers Forum!

Why does the nozzle on CA bottles always clog and how can I keep them from clogging?


The CA in the tip of the nozzle is reacting with moisture in the small orifice and hardening. Typically once the CA hardens the user will take a pin and stick it down into the nozzle to open it up only to find it clogs up even quicker the next time. What happens is the pin scratches the inside of the nozzle, which allows even more CA to stay in the nozzle causing it to clog up quicker. This process will be repeated several times until the nozzle is no longer able to be used and gets thrown away.


Some companies have claimed to have a clog-free nozzle, which in reality is only a very long nozzle that you keep snipping the clogged end off until there is no nozzle left and still end up throwing it away. Other companies simply sell you extra caps and nozzles so you can replace them after they clog.



There are bottles that actually have an engineered nozzle that not only will not clog but has three different points of seal to assure the product inside is kept fresh and away from moisture. This cap has a blunt nose, stainless steel pin molded into the cap, which engages into the orifice of the nozzle (not scratching the insides of the bottle) to keep the orifice clean. Inside the tip is a calculated venturie shape, which pulls the CA out of the tip and back into the bottle once the bottle is stood upright. On the very tip of the nozzle is a tapered seat which engages with a tapered boss in the cap creating compression on the tip of the nozzle keeping the nozzle clean and the product inside fresh.



If the tip is wiped and the cap is replaced each time the user is finished with the product the nozzle will never clog. Also, always, always, be sure to allow the glue to go back down the nozzle before recapping. Tapping the bottle a couple of times will help with this.

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Rick Rosenberg
President
[url]www.GearUpProducts.com[/url]
[url]www.ricksguitartalk.blogspot.com[/b][/url]
[url]www.gearupproducts.blogspot.com[/b][/url]

This is the bit I don't get ...

I have no problem with glue manufacturers promoting their products on the OLF, but I think they should be a sponsor or take out a classified ad.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

I found Rick's post to be very informative. I could care less if he is not a sponsor and personally appreciate his contribution. Many of us are professional Luthiers, Suppliers, etc. and post what could be interpreted as "promoting our products".

Thank you Rick.

Man, that stuff glues my fingers together just looking at the bottle.
I try not to touch the nozzle tip to the surface I am applying glue to. This seems to keep the tip clean and unclogged. I've stopped using it due to adverse vapor reactions.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

+1 on Pipettes!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Pipettes here also...!!
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Stewart MacDonald always adds a few 'whip tips' or nozzle extensions that are like cut off micro pipette ends with each bottle of super glue... they keep the nozzle from clogging and let you get the glue exactly where you need it in a way that normal nozzles can't. If the end cures/hardens you just pull it off and pop on another one. I find that I only use a couple per bottle so I have a bag full of them. I also notice they're a sponsor.

Sponsor or no, feel free to PM me your price sheet. I use CA as little as possible, so I usually end up,having clogged nozzles and hardened product before emptying the bottle.

Same here - I put a whip tip on the bottle of SM thin and leave it; no need for a cap or anything. They send more whip tips with each bottle then I use. After each use I just make sure the CA is not in the tip by one of two ways; 1) after gluing just hold the bottle upright and squeeze out the excess on a paper towel or, 2) before you glue, hold the bottle upright and squeeze a bit then turn it over and use it, when finished turn it upright and release the pressure which will clear the tube. One disclaimer: my shop is always at 40-45% relative humidity so don't know what would happen if you are in a more humid environment.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I use the little whip tips like James said, and when I'm done I put a piece of blue or masking tape on the tip. Works great to keep the glue from drying out.

i use loctite ca and it seems to have a very well sealing cap which i also wrap up with tape when i'm done. i've had the same bottle for nearly a year now with no clogs. what am i doing wrong?

Looks like a perfectly fine product, but following the use/storage advice will prevent clogging in the vast majority of CA packages. How does its shelf life compare to competitors in accelerated aging tests?

whip tips. They stay open for a long time. If they clog, replace.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu