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How long will HotStuff Original CA last if kept at normal room temperature? Should I assume it is good if it still glues scrap together or should I be replacing every certain amount of time with fresh, like I do with Titebond?
Thanks, Wendy

No "official" guidance I know of, but it seems to be that when it goes off, it seems to get thicker. At that stage (and I've had several) I just bin it.
I may be corrected, but if it glues scrap, and the wood shears, you're good to go.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I've noticed it gets thicker too. I have not experimented with it but I think I also notice that as it ages it needs more clamping time. That's another experiment I would like to do regarding strength with age.

Just curious, how old has it been when you noticed it getting thicker.

It lasts forever if unopened but as soon as you open it, it seems to be however long it takes for the tip to clog completely...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I find that it looses its strength from the time the bottle is opened. I have to toss quite a bit of it. I test it by seeing how quickly it can grab my fingers and hold them together. Of course, I'm talking about a smear-smidgeon of the stuff.

I think it really depends on how much humidity it is exposed to. I have had it last for months or had it start thicken up in just a few weeks.

Keep it tightly caped in the refrigerator and it will last a lot longer.

It seems that smaller quantities go bad much quicker than large. At least that has been my experience. I don't use it much for guitars but I do keep it around because I do use it for a lot of other things.

Bob

I just learned recently that once opened CA should not be put back in the fridge. This was a surprise to me as well in that I have always done this, put it back in the fridge.

Here's a link to Rick Rosenberg's site, he's a sponsor, and the one who educated me on not putting open CA back int he fridge: http://www.gearupproducts.com/faqs.html

Good read Hesh thanks. It surprised me though that folks were unable to use it clear to the end of the bottle. I wear gloves and when the bottle gets clogged I just grab the tip and give it a turn. The clog just pops off and I'm back in binneth.


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California is for ever...

Until the big one hits, of course!

The reason CA get syrupy and loses strength is because of its hygroscopic properties - it adsorbs water from the air. And as we all know, water is not a good glue. Once the seal of the bottle is broken, water can enter the CA. To keep mine fresh as long as possible, I buy the smallest bottles and then store them in a glass pickle jar with the lid screwed on tight. Consequently, a bottle can last me about two years. I purchase the brand they carry at Hobby Lobby. The cap has a metal pin that clears the nozzle whenever you recap it.

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

Do you mean to say with the pickle jar method you can store a bottle for two years that has been opened or ones that have yet to be opened?

It must have something to do with the pickle juice that keeps your CA for 2 years?


I use Titebond in the 2oz bottle but right after opining it I pitch the cap and use a T-pin to seal it. I have to push it in really hard at first but it seals the neck of the bottle the full length so I never get any clogs. Sometimes need to pull it out with a pair of pliers but it is never clogged up.


Bob

Opened. The point is to have fresh glue. As in one bottle at a time.

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

I'm a pen turner and use CA to finish my pens. I leave my CA uncapped once opened. I will go through 2 oz bottle in a couple of months, and so have never had to worry about it thickening up before use. The other responses are absolutely correct that higher humidity will speed up the process of thickening. My shop is pretty dry though. Most turners here keep their CA open all the time. It is still good though, even as it thickens.

For the thin and med stuff, which is what I use the most of, I put a StewMac whip tip on the bottle when I open it and I leave it that way. I make sure the tip is clear after I apply glue and that's that - I leave it that way and the glue lasts for 3 or 4 months. I toss it when it gets too thick. Shop is also at 40% or so.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"