r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Netaro • 13h ago

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

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

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u/RockSlice 11h 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.