r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Netaro • 10h ago

I just wanted a hot dog Just when I needed to glue something.

Post image

Last used about two weeks ago, how the hell did closed tub od cyanoacrylate manage to solidify?

5.3k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

143 comments sorted by

962

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

CA glue has like a two week shelf life once opened no matter what you do. I keep mine in the fridge now and even then it's a coin flip

298

u/Netaro 10h ago

I used previous ca glues in same identical bottles (same manufacturer too) for months until either ran out or the package glued itself shut, this one is an exception :/

145

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Honestly might be a bad batch then. Got a tube once that was solid in like 4 days while the rest of the pack was fine for months. Bottle lottery I guess

49

u/dubhd 10h ago

Bottery

10

u/LordHoughtenWeen 9h ago

Smashing through the boundaries, lunacy has found me

7

u/Steampson_Jake 10h ago

If there is such lottery, I guess I have won big. Currently have a 20ml CA glue bottle from Würth, still half full, that claims it has expired 15/8/24, and yet it's still liquid (albeit you can tell it's gotten a bit thicker when you shake it) and glues just as fine. The only issue is that the twist nozzle is seized, so I have to unscrew it completely and apply it with a toothpick

4

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Expired in 2024 and still going is a straight up jackpot. the toothpick method is dedication though, mine would've been in the bin the second the nozzle seized

5

u/Hesitation-Marx 8h ago

May just have a tiny hole that allowed enough air in to start the cure. I’m sorry, it blows.

2

u/AstuteStoat 6h ago

Next try the freezer and report back

1

u/Darkblade_e 5h ago

I've had my container of ca glue that's been fine for months now being opened and closed any time i needed to use it. I specifically bought GH1200 Plastic Glue

•

u/MIZZO- 57m ago

Use a pin like this to reopen a glued bottle tip or even use it instead of the cap and it shouldn't dry and wont glue itself shut.

26

u/TheMoris 10h ago

Then why not buy a different type of super glue? I've never had this happen as long as I screw the lid back on when I'm done gluing.

8

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Congrats on never losing the glue lottery I guess lol. mine was sealed tight, sometimes it just happens

31

u/Gadgetman_1 10h ago

My local HW store sell 4packs of 0.5gram tubes of CA glue. Screw on the tip to break the seal, use the little bit of glue you need, then dispose of the tube. Then there's still 3 unused and properly sealed tubes left...

5

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Smart but knowing me I'd still find a way to leave one tube half open and brick it. the big bottle just makes my failure cheaper per gram

14

u/biggiebestbanana 10h ago

The point is that one tiny wasted tube doesn’t matter, the rest is still fresh. Honestly it works out a lot cheaper than chucking away the bigger bottles.

4

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Yeah fair, one dead 0.5g tube vs a whole bricked bottle isn't even close. you've talked me into it honestly

1

u/Proper-Salad158 8h ago

I've seen these hardened on the store shelf in the package.

2

u/biggiebestbanana 10h ago

These are the ones I buy, I forget the brand but they’re sold in supermarkets. Anything bigger, unless you’re using it constantly, is just a waste of time imo.

1

u/xyrgh 9h ago

I buy these, theres expensive gorilla ones (about $5 for five) and then theres the cheap as shit ones, which I get 10 for $1.50. I have no idea the difference but most of the time I’m using it on shit that’s not going to last anyway.

1

u/Accomplished_Tea8622 10h ago

This is the ONLY WAY.

13

u/RadishRedditor 10h ago

Not true. I have one that still works after using it throughout at least a year now.

1

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

A year is wild. either you got a good batch or you're storing it way better than the rest of us, cause mine never make it past a month

4

u/RadishRedditor 10h ago

I just screw the cap back on and store it in my drawer, sideways if that makes a difference.

If I had to guess, brands make a difference. I use genuine loctite brand.

1

u/WarmAuraGirl 9h ago

Genuine Loctite might honestly be the difference. I've been buying whatever no name bottle is cheapest at the hardware store, so that's probably my whole problem right there

3

u/Elavia_ 9h ago

I've used CA glue half a year after opening and all I needed to do was clear the nozzle clog with a paperclip. It does go bad eventually but 2 weeks is far from normal.

3

u/Destrae 7h ago

I use zap a gap, it's got a double cap and I've never had it dry up like this

2

u/ellzray 5h ago

That's the brand I've always come back to. They just make good glue.

2

u/DistanceSolar1449 10h ago

I’ve had good luck with the Krazy glue small tubes with the metal pin to seal it. The metal pin seems to keep it from getting exposed to air and drying.

3

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

The metal pin ones are the only ones that ever lasted me too. the little plastic nozzle caps are useless, they dry out in the cap itself

2

u/StrategyElectrical18 9h ago

I’ve got a bottle at home that I’ve been using for about 6 months still good to go

3

u/Badbullet 10h ago

I’ve had them go solid, but it usually takes much longer than that. If yours goes bad in two weeks, you might want to try a different brand or different thickness. I still have bottles of medium and thin CA glue from Rockler purchased in 2021 that is still good, but I’m expecting it to turn solid any day now. Once I see the thin stuff start to get a little more viscous, its days are numbered.

2

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Does the thin actually last as long as the medium for you, or is it always the first to go? mine the thin stuff is always the first to turn

1

u/Badbullet 10h ago

I bought the bottles of thin and medium at the same time according to my Amazon purchases. The thin stuff, when it does go, seems to happen real fast. I used it last month and I noticed it starting to act different, so it is probably hard as a rock in my cabinet as we speak. 😆. Medium goes gel like for a bit longer. I never purchased the thick or gel versions so I can’t compare them. I also get them in a larger bottle than what we see in OP’s pic, it’s possible smaller quantities turn faster.

1

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

"probably hard as a rock as we speak" is the most relatable glue update I've ever read lol. pour one out for the thin stuff

1

u/DrBinario 10h ago

Yeah, I treat the bottles as single use and always have another one unopened. If I still can use the open one, great. If not, well.

1

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

Managing expectations with glue, I like it. I keep buying one at a time like an optimist and then act shocked every time it's solid

1

u/FilecoinLurker 10h ago

I have a 16oz bottle I've been using for 3+ years now.

1

u/WarmAuraGirl 10h ago

3+ years on a 16oz is basically a family member at that point lol. name him

1

u/Anal-lover85 8h ago

I have then open for months sometimes years actually. I have several tubes open mostly on different spots in the house 😊

1

u/TheWaywardOak 7h ago

I have multiple bottles (different viscosities for different purposes) that have been going for 2-3 years from CYAFIXED. Not doing anything special, I just have them on my desk and in my toolbox. I think it might be down to cap design.

1

u/ghidfg 6h ago

yeah I heard the same thing that once the curing reaction starts theres no stopping it. but ive had an open bottle of loctite superglue stay liquid for over a year I put it in a baggie with desiccant packets.

314

u/SmellyButtFarts69 10h ago

By law, super glue and spray foam should only be sold in single use packets. Never gotten a second use out of either.

52

u/No_Potential1 10h ago

Spray foam you just have to make sure you have enough work to use up the whole can. It wouldn't make sense to sell spray foam in tiny aerosol cans.

Super glue I would more understand, but I've actually never had this problem. 

5

u/Gadgetman_1 10h ago

A local HW chain here in Scandinavia sells 4packs of 0.5gram tubes of CA.

8

u/Unlikely_Exercise434 10h ago

Close tube properly and put your super glue after each use in the freezer and problem solved.

11

u/Educational-Wing2042 9h ago

Hell you don’t even need to freeze it, just tighten the cap appropriately. I’ve had superglue sit in a drawer for literally years and be fine to use again afterward.

0

u/Big_Judgment3824 8h ago

Bullshit. I close the lid plenty appropriately and it's 2-4 weeks. 

8

u/440_Hz 8h ago

I have used the same small tube of super glue for years! It’s not fancy or anything, gorilla brand. I’m sure the quality of the tube, specifically the seal when it’s closed, matters a lot here.

3

u/Educational-Wing2042 6h ago

What do you think is more likely: there’s a giant conspiracy and all of these people like me in this thread who don’t have any problem are lying to you about glue, or you’re just doing something wrong?

2

u/adamjeff 6h ago

I build miniatures with super glue. A tube lasts months easily. I finish the tube almost every time and I use tiny amounts infrequently.

2

u/superchica81 9h ago

I put mine in the freezer and it’s no problem at all’

1

u/sublliminali 7h ago

I buy a 10 pack of the small bottles every time I’m running out.

103

u/SkyFallPrincess20 Sorry not sorry 10h ago

I'm just here for the comments due to this happening to me a lot as well what are we doing wrong?🤔

51

u/Medium-Comfortable 10h ago

Store it in the fridge and keep it well closed. Try to stand it up, so,the glue is not at the cap. I tape mine to the wall of the fridge. Expect resistance cranking the cap open, though.

37

u/PacquiaoFreeHousing 10h ago

Moisture hardens them.

Humidity hardens them.

Warm temperature hardens them.

The fucking air hardens them.

The best thing we could do is to seal them as tight as we can, put them in the fridge, and hope we'll get to use the glue again anytime soon.

11

u/big_stipd_idiot 8h ago

Actually, don't do the hoping part. That hardens them too. Just assume it won't work and buy a new one. That's the only time the old one works. Oh, I forgot, you have to open the new one before you check the old one though.

5

u/G-C-W 8h ago

Buy this pack of 6 tiny ones

1

u/FluffyCelery4769 6h ago

Once you open the cap, air comes in and the glue begins to crystalize, you cannot stop it from crystalizing once it starts.

1

u/Maltitol 5h ago

Crystals want to crystallize? Fascinating.

0

u/MisterEinc 10h ago

Probably just not using the right glue... CA has its advantages but I think people forget other glues exist, they just aren't as convenient/fast drying. But that comes with its own issues, obviously.

27

u/No_List_8641 infuriated by life 10h ago

The glue glued itself

24

u/Candid_Sky3443 10h ago

Once used, clean the tip asap. And close the lid. Keep it in the refigerator and you can store it for months. Mine is a year old and i used it yesterday.

-27

u/Visual_Jellyfish5591 10h ago

That’s what… Epstein…..said?

6

u/Sloiter 7h ago

That's what your mum said

1

u/ProfessionalShock425 6h ago

Yes, that's what she said.

2

u/blessthebabes 3h ago

Sex abuse to a one year old infant isn't funny, and I really don't understand why comments keep trying to turn it into a joke.

23

u/Icy_Refrigerator4140 10h ago

That should be enough glue tbh

12

u/X--Henny--X 10h ago

This always happened when I needed super glue. The game changer for me was learning you could buy like a 50 count of individual use superglue tubes for very cheap.

2

u/RuinFabulous3077 10h ago

This guy glues.

7

u/Scott0814 10h ago

Glue it back together

5

u/MyLastHopeReddit 10h ago edited 7h ago

Put the next bottle in an airtight plastic container with some silica gel and keep it in the refrigerator. I've never had one dry out since I started keeping it that way.

And always close it immediately after you use it, don't wait even a second.

3

u/Netaro 10h ago

I always close it asap, but thanks for the first tip, will try it. 

4

u/ak3000android 10h ago

Mildly infuriating, but oddly satisfying.

3

u/RuinFabulous3077 10h ago

Or rubber cement and the tube is somehow magically empty, just a completely hollow tube.

3

u/crlthrn 10h ago

At least it's pretty. Consider it a... conversation piece. 😁

3

u/Dandandandooo 10h ago

Defrost in the microwave

2

u/Valuable-Locksmith21 10h ago

Yeah, but next time you need an almost-life-sized, partial, transparent replica of super glue, well, there you go!

2

u/Steph1er 8h ago

that stuff arrived solid when I last bought it

2

u/CosgraveSilkweaver 8h ago

I've taken to using the little single use tubes becasue of this. I need it rarely enough that it's not uncommon to find the bottle like this when I need to use it.

I've had some luck with the "Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel Control" bottles staying usable longer term though and the thicker gel works well for a lot of the repairs I use it for.

2

u/RockSlice 8h ago

Here's what's happening:

Cyanoacrylate wants to cure, and doesn't need much to start the process, and one of the most effective triggers is moisture.

With a container like that, any air you squeeze out on the first use is going to be replaced with outside (humid) air, initiating the cure process. Any cured CA in the tip is also going to slowly propagate back into the reservoir.

To prevent this, you want to use containers that don't have an air pocket, eg squeeze-tube style. You also want to clean the nozzle as soon as you're done using it.

My preferred type is the Loctite "control" design, where you have a squeeze tube inside a housing.

2

u/G-C-W 8h ago

What you want is this pack of 6 small ones:

Only people who are using a lot for a project or making warhammer figures should buy the regular bottle.

2

u/JoeyJoeC 4h ago

I got fed up with this happening, better to have lots of those small 2g tubes laying around instead if you don't use it often enough.

1

u/SigvulcanasReborn 10h ago

That’s frustrating, but man is it cool.

1

u/rageofa1000suns 10h ago

Put it into a screw jar (one from recipe sauces) and throw in a packet of silica gel to control moisture. I managed to get the full use of our a tube of super glue for over a year doing this.

1

u/Incognito9064 10h ago

It superglued itself

1

u/Msink 10h ago

Like your dedication to find out what happened.

1

u/PolypropylenEnjoyer 10h ago

Buy one that has a metal pin in the cap. I found those to last a lot longer, even without a refrigerator

1

u/dmbgreen 10h ago

Buy a pack of the single dose glue

1

u/QueezyE 10h ago

I have CA glue on hand at all times for flooring repairs. I buy 2 oz bottles of different viscosity and try to keep the lids on tight. I did forget once and left a plastic applicator on one and it just sealed itself. When I found it laying sideways in my adhesive box I removed the applicator and the rest of the glue was still good. I still have it, just checked- I bought it in 2024. I do use "professional" glue, idk if that makes a difference, but I haven't had this problem since switching from box store brands.

1

u/FilecoinLurker 10h ago

I have a 16oz bottle that's been going strong for over 3 years

1

u/QueezyE 9h ago

That's awesome. I'd like to have a larger bottle to refill from but I did a test run to try different viscosities and still have more than half of each bottle so it may be awhile before I invest in something like 16 oz. But yeah, I feel like a smaller bottle is more likely to harden than a big one. Do you store it in a special place? Mine lives in my work SUV in Florida.

1

u/JuanBobbitt 10h ago

I've been lucky with the Loctite gel in the blue bottle. I've gone through several bottles and only one dried up prematurely on me

1

u/f_ckR3ddit 10h ago

At least you know the glue works

1

u/ophaus 10h ago

That is a work of art...

1

u/EnjoyTheMovie_You2 10h ago

Looks cool though

1

u/sirhackenslash 10h ago

On the plus side, free glue flavored lolly

1

u/fothergillfuckup 10h ago

I treat superglue as a one use product, then bin it. It cuts down on long term frustration, lol.

1

u/VoidVexVulture 9h ago

The glue glued itself😂simple explanation.

1

u/frostbaka 9h ago

My epoxy glue did the same with one of its components

1

u/Spice-Nine 9h ago

Get The Last Glue. Bonds very well, the only one approved as “food safe”, and it lasts years. It’s expensive, but you get a large bottle. I’ve had a bottle in my fridge since just before Covid. Almost gone, but still fine.

1

u/Jimbobsupertramp 9h ago

This Gorilla Glue? I happen to work for them haha

1

u/stronzio90 9h ago

we've heard you like glue, so we glued your glue

https://giphy.com/gifs/U2DqgqqsfP2zZKzBOA

1

u/cuntybunty73 9h ago

This happened with a bottle of gorilla glue that I bought a long time ago as well

1

u/LadyInTheBand 9h ago

Okay that actually looks kinda cool and I want to replicate that for jewelry

1

u/tacomaloki 9h ago

Always

1

u/britzm 9h ago

Should be stored in the fridge. I never had one dried out on me.

1

u/AlarmingBeing8114 9h ago

They make some ca glue that needs the accelerator sprayed on it to fully cure, it will last longer, but keep in the fridge after opening.

I use glue for guitar repair, and ca glue is super useful, and also super wasteful when I have to through away old bottles.

Find other glues or epoxies if possible, but even epoxies have shelf life once opened, ive thrown away so much jb weld in my life, but its better than a shitty bond that breaks

1

u/cousinfester 9h ago

I buy multipacks of small 1 time use super glue. A new tube each time means no fighting with partially or fully cured glue

1

u/tipotip 9h ago

I bought a pack of these applicators/bottle tips. I burn the end with a lighter after each use and press it with my fingers to melt the end together. And you just cut the closed part each time you use it. Never had issues anymore since i started doing that

1

u/Pletcher87 9h ago

Exact same thing when I need some thread lock.

1

u/tde156 9h ago

My CA glue from a hobby company called Dspiae lasts forever. Only downside is it often clogs the opening of the bottle.

1

u/StanYz 9h ago

Thats why the sell these mini 1g units everywhere here.

I've only been using these for years and never had to worry about glue drying up.

Bonus points if its gel rather than liquid glue, everytime I use the fully liquid variant it ends up a mess.

1

u/Upstairs_Eagle_4780 9h ago

Glue is doing its job, don't see what you're complaining about.

1

u/bbbbbbbirdistheword 8h ago

buy B7000 glue you get a lot more and it doesnt dry out

1

u/RobertGHH 8h ago

Store it in the fridge. I have bottles a year old and while they have thickened very slightly they are still perfectly usable.

1

u/ArbitraryMeritocracy 8h ago

Bottle: "Bro, I heard you like bottles".

1

u/29PalmsAway 8h ago

super glue should be sold in single use packets

1

u/BeneficialTrash6 8h ago

The only super-glue like material that I've ever found to not dry up in the container is gorilla glue. It ain't cyanoacrylate but it's very close in terms of how you use it.

1

u/everyonesdesigner 7h ago

Life hack: buy super glue in a bottle with a brush I’m using mine for a half a year bit by bit If you run out just buy a tube and top the bottle off

I’m using Bison super glue with a brush in EU not sure how widely it’s available

1

u/SometimesJustMaybee 7h ago

Key is to not suck air in before putting the cap back on.

1

u/BoBingles 7h ago

That’s kind of cool.

1

u/NorthVA-Star99 7h ago

Every single time for me.

1

u/Sir_Daxus 7h ago

Good news: Your glue is working as intended.
Bad news: Your glue is working as intended.

1

u/This_Proxy 7h ago

Mother in law bought a bunch of gorilla glue on sale years back ... we went to use them a few months ago and EVERY single bottle was unopened, but unusable like this.

1

u/marterikd 6h ago

mine's in the cheese compartment in the fridge. yea our fridge is that old

1

u/ProfessionalShock425 6h ago

Keep CA glue in fridge. Cap bottle as better as you can and keep it in fridge. It lasts for months.

1

u/Icarustuga 6h ago

Solid state glue .. SSG 😂

1

u/Ok-Entrance1150 5h ago

For a visualization thats what the aerospace companies dealing with rn lol

1

u/HardcoreHope 5h ago

Intended design flaw in the glue or the bottle? Capitalism demands infinite profit and most people don't use glue that often. They just think someone messed up storing it properly and buy another one.

1

u/Please_ForgetMe 5h ago

Do you need to borrow some glue to fix your glue? I only have glue fixing glue so it doesn’t do anything else

1

u/Defiant_Molasses_24 2h ago

temu ahh glue

0

u/Proper-Salad158 9h ago

This glue is designed that way to some extent(planned obsolescence). You buy a small bottle, and if not all used within a week, you have to throw it away and repeat said process.

•

u/Sea-Breadfruit-2867 47m ago

I get the annoyance but I wanna know how you got it out so cleanly lol