"How long can you leave out Super glue when modeling?" Topic

Just generally wondering about this.

I learned from you all on these forums not that long ago that refrigeration of Super Glue like Zap Ca is essential in extending its life. I had never refrigerated super glue before, and wondered why after a time it seemed to stop working! Now I know why!

My question here is as the title says. When you take super glue out of refrigeration to use it, how long can you keep it out of refrigeration before it would start to "expire"….is it like a matter of days? Weeks?

Thanks in advance!

It's photoreactive as well, so keeping it in the dark will help.

Cooling CA slows its degradation but doesn't stop it. No one can give you a definitive answer to your question because there are too many variables. How long did it sit on the shelf at the retailer, was it exposed to significant heat during shipping and storage, etc.

The best bet is to use name brand CAs bought at a retailer that you believe has a good turnover of shelf stock or directly from the manufacturer.

Truth is, though, that significant improvements in CA chemistry have been made since CA "expiration" was a significant problem. Chances are that, these days, a tube or bottle will solidify (kick) before it degrades to the point where it's no longer dependable.

XRV: +1

I buy the Chinese super glue at Walmart.
Four tubes for $1.46 USD plus tax.
They are open 24 hours a day so if I need fresh glue I go back when I need it.
I've found it to be better than most super glues available for a small portion of their price.
YMMV.

I generally favor epoxy as its bond is superior, but I always make sure I have an unopened package of superglue so that when the one I've started goes bad or goes hard, I can throw it out and open a new one.