Questions about CF glue

What is "CF glue"? I'm not familiar with the term.

I gave up trying to keep CA glue from drying in the tip. I now us a small paint brush to apply the glue exactly where I want it, in very controlled amounts and I then clean the brush in fingernail polish remover. It only takes about 30 secs to get the bristles clean and then I use again next time. No more issues with clogged tips or too much glue. Pull the cap off, don't spill it, and dip the brush. You're in business. 

BK

I saw a great tip on utube , the guy used a tea candle slightly hollowed out , he then puts his CA in it , he then uses a small applicator to put the glue where he wants it , claims it will last for days , because of the waxy surrounds .

Space Ranger

What is "CF glue"? I'm not familiar with the term.

'CF' is typically used for 'carbon fiber'...though, given the context, it seems Joe meant CA.

I typically use those little 'lipstick' packs of Krazy Glue (with a smaller tube dispenser inside), and rarely have many of the troubles Joe quoted. The key is to keep the dispenser sitting upright in its little base when not in use -- I usually give the bottle a little 'tap' on the worktable first, to encourage any collected adhesive to run down away from the tip -- and wait a few seconds before putting the little 'plug' back in, to minimize chances of gluing the pin in place.

I can't say I've never gotten the glue on my fingers...since it's clear and pretty low-viscosity, it's not always easy to tell where it's gone...but I've never managed to glue fingertips together, or even come close. That suggests you're using way too much adhesive.

Like the others, I'll occasionally 'decant' a bit for a more precise application. I have a home-made 'precision applicator' -- literally a piece of wire glued into a toothpick 'handle' -- that works perfectly for tiny applications; it can be bent or curved as necessary to reach nearly anywhere. When too much has built up on the tip, just clip 1mm off the wire, and you've got a brand-new tip.

CA adhesives come in a variety of viscosities, from very thin to gel. Try using the different types to see which is best for your particular application. Also, some are designed for different materials, i.e. porous or non-porous, etc. These ratings are mostly for application purposes, but the CA can still be used for other stuff. For an example, I have one I use for wood. It is a gel and designed for porous materials, but it also works just fine on plastic or light metal. But being a gel, it doesn't spread with capillary action the way a thin CA would. Then go with one of the previously mentioned means to apply and again, see what works best for you.

I use the glue made by Bob Smith Industries, though it's often branded for sale by this or that retail outlet (eg, HobbyTown).  The bottle has a tapered applicator tip.  Sometimes I'll use that to apply glue directly to the subject, sometimes I put a larger drop on a palette-those dummy credit cards in junk mail are good for this-and apply it with a toothpick.

As for not getting it on yourself, the only sure-fire way not to, is not to use CA.  But that's not an option.  Just accept that it will happen, and prepare for it.  Keep a bottle of acetone handy, particularly in the form of nail polish remover.  Acetone dissolves cyanoacrylate glue, and the cosmetic packaging is easier to open with one unglued hand than the can from the hardware store, with its safety lock cap.

I use the little tubes that come in multi packs. Both gel and liquid.

I put a drop on a piece of masking tape stuck down to my mat.

I took a good sized sewing needle and chopped off the top of the end with the eye,  making a fork. It holds a little drop of glue in the end that flows freely onto the model.

I dip it in the bigger drop and apply glue with it. I never try to apply glue directly from the container.

After a while I either use up the drop on the tape or it sets up, but it's workable for several minutes.

And since the needle is chrome plated, dry glue is easy to scrape off.

Bill

Space Ranger

What is "CF glue"? I'm not familiar with the term.

 

My mistake, I mean CA

Thanks to every one, being rather hyper, I tent to attempt to do things fast without any preliminary planing, the end result is glue all over my fingers. It looks to me that the best way to use the glue is some version of using a sewing needle together with a very small container, such as a bottle top, this way I will keep the main container safely closed and simply trow away the bottle cap when done. I also will ask the Admiral to get me some acetone to have it handy in case of spills.

Thanks for the proposed ideas.

Joe

You're welcome. All questions welcomed.

Bill

I also use the cap from a laundry detergent bottle to hold the glue bottle.  Even with the cap on, I don't like knocking it over.  Those caps have a nice wide base and are hard to knock over.

The caps from rattle cans are good for bases that are hard to knock over, too.  I use those when painting.  Testor's little square bottles fit right inside the inner cap, for example.

The tip design on the Gorilla brand super glue with the light blue cap has never gotten clogged.  It has a tiny, stainless steel peg on the cap that goes into the nozzle tip when you put the cap on.  Its a medium viscosity glue though, so precisely dispensing it directly from the bottle isn't going to happen.  I always have a pack or two of sticky notes which I use for super glue (also good for mixing epoxy, mixing/rolling Milliput snakes, and getting airbrush output just right before moving to the model).  I just put a drop of the glue on the top sticky note, use a toothpick to transfer glue from there to the part, and then I pull that sticky note off the pack and throw it and the toothpick in the trash where I can't accidentally come into contact with it while working.  Haven't gotten myself glued to anything yet using that method.

There is a debonder for CA glue.  I keep some on hand because occasionally I goof and install a part in the wrong place or at the wrong time.  A drop of that on a finger makes it easy to get the stuff off.  Maybe a bit hard to reach the bottle, remove the cap, etc with two hands glued together, but it can be done.  Vinyl or other disposable gloves are another answer.  I use them for painting, but have started using them more frequently to keep smears off of model surface- often CA glue smears.

I use super glue brand CA that comes in the small single use tubes. I put a small amount on a piece of plastic or aluminum foil then use The Glue looper to apply it. Here is a link to The Glue Looper http://www.creativedynamicllc.com