"Darned superglue!" Topic

My superglue was getting past its prime, so I picked up a new pack at a local discount store (Ocean State Job Lots) – three tubes of the runny stuff for $1.49 USD, brand name Leader (which I never heard before).

There's no directions, but I recognize the system – unscrew the plastic cap, reverse it, and puncture the tube to open it, then screw the cap back in place. Simple, I've done it a million times before…

So I puncture the tube, and apparently the contents were under pressure, because superglue comes gushing out! (No, I was not accidentally squeezing the tube. Well, I don't think I was.) So my hands are covered in superglue, the tube and cap are covered in superglue, and some even dripped onto the floor (thank goodness I have one of those plastic floor protectors!).

Very carefully, I manage to screw the lid back on the tube of glue, and set it aside where it won't get stuck to anything. Then I make my way to a sink and wash my hands, which at least stops my fingers from sticking to each other, but I'll be peeling glue off my fingers for a few days.

Well, at least I didn't get any in my eye! (Or on my miniatures!)

I usually have the exact opposite happen when I purchase super glue from a discount store. Get it out of the package and open it up and go to use it only to discover it is all dried up!
Glad you didn't get it in the eye.

Finger nail polish remover (the kind with acetone) takes off superglue.

Cyanoacrylate adhesives were originally developed to bond skin, replacing stitches.

I had major robotic surgery in March and all 5 of my incisions were glued shut…..

Ugh. I have a mishap with Super Glue pretty much every time I have to resort to it.

I have never found a decent super glue package. If there is an air pressure difference between the room and the bottle you get a super glue fountain.

It dies up in the package, it dries in the applicator so you can't get the glue out, unscrew the top to get the glue with a stick and it dries in globs inside the bottle.

It's a great product, poorly packaged.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

I only use the gel. Making sure not to squeeze it.

+1. The gel works with no mess.

Gel or a better quality dispenser. I'm using Army Painter super glue at the moment, with none of those horrible issues the cheap stuff brings.

I use the cheap stuff, as I find no advantage from the more expensive types (they clog/dry too).

Just had another accident gluing down some 20mm figures… that runny glue has its uses, but argggh!

Never buy cheap glue. The formulation generally is more dilute and the packaging in invariably less sturdy. I always use up a bottle before it runs dry.

I always use super glue Gel. Never had a problem with it.

I understand gel superglue is less strong… because of the gel, basically. Still good for many purposes.

I buy the small poly squeezy bottles with removable glue tips. I transfer my cyanoacrylate into them. Works great and the dried glue is easy to remove from that type of plastic.

I live at 6500 ft above sea level. Learned long ago to open superglue outdoors, over the balcony railing, and pointed away from me.

++1 on using gel.

I use the loctite ultra gel control (black and blue container). Has always worked great for me.

I like Gorilla glue gel

I've been using a Woolworths 'essential" super glue I bought a year ago in a pack of 5 for about 5 bucks here in Australia. I opened it over 6 mths ago and use it still, and the lid comes off easily, the tube doesn't clog and it works on the miniatures. It also sealed a cut finger from a hobby knife. It's the best glue I've ever had, far better than all the 'brand names'.

Gel super glue might be less strong, but when used to fill small gaps you end up with a larger bonded area, which gives a stronger bond than a small area.

Horses for courses. I use both.

The dollar store has very small vials of CA glue, and they have a gel version. I like that because a tube/bottle of CA glue is trash not when it's empty, but when it dries and clogs. So three-for-a-dollar tiny tubes are a better deal than a four dollar name brand. I *wish* I used CA glue fast enough to use up a bottle of the good stuff, but I do not.

Have tried them all forms, no preference but each bottle is a help or curse but will go get another. Wouldn't doubt have used over 100 bottles

My favorite dispenser is from Loctite. No leaks, doesn't dry up and you can be fairly precise with it.

link

Hard to imagine wargaming without superglue!