Official Luthiers Forum!

What is the shelf life of CA and the best way to keep it fresh?

If properly made and packaged, CA can last two years or more. The bottle that the CA is packaged in is a vital link to the shelf life of CA. There are many different HDPE resins and there are only a handful that can properly store CA and isolate the liquid inside from the moisture in the air. The cap or closure is also very important to sealing out the water vapors that exist in the air we breathe. Some bottles use proprietary resins in the molding of the bottle and has a highly engineered triple seal closure to keep moisture out and the product fresh.

The handling of the product, once opened, is also very important to the life span of the product. Always keep the cap on when not in use, keep the nozzle clean from excess glue and contaminants, keep the CA bottle away from accelerators, and store the sealed bottle in a cool dry place. Also, be sure to allow the glue to go back down the nozzle before recapping.

Storing CA in the refrigerator, in an un-opened only container, will keep the product fresh for a long time. Do not freeze CA; 40˚ F is an ideal temperature. Once you first open the bottle, do not put the bottle back into the refrigerator as this will introduce condensation to the inside of the bottle, which will then react with the CA and it will actually start to set up.

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Rick Rosenberg
President
[url]www.GearUpProducts.com[/url]
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Rick, is there a way to determine if CA is still good?
Mike

I keep mine in a Tupperware type of container. And store it in a dry location since CA cures when it comes in contact with moisture.

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Another day, another dollar.

I've stored my CA in the freezer for years, with fine results. Same precaution when opening - I don't open it cold. Once open I leave the cap off and find that I generally use it all up before it starts to thicken too much. I only buy it in 1-oz bottles for that reason - any bigger won't get used before it goes off.

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Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
FRETS.NET

I buy in larger sizes, use only small amounts at a time. I fill pipettes from the bottle, close up tight, and only open to re-fill. It lasts a year, at least, sometimes more in the bottle without any changes that I can tell. It will last in a pipette for weeks without clogging or drying.

I did notice from our new sponsor, I think, that it said to keep in refrig. till open but not to put it back after opening due to condensation in the bottle.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Does it loose strength when it gets old or does it just have a longer open time? Also does the thin stuff age faster then thick?

I keep my opened bottles in an airtight glass container (aka a pickle jar) to keep the moisture out, and the fumes in.
Refrigeration only works before you open them.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince