How to store CA?
 

Hi. I purchased my first bottle of CA the other day. What's the best way to store it after it's been open? I was told that the fresher the CA, the better. Should I put it in the fridge?

RE: How to store CA?
 

A lot of people store it in the refridgerator, but that's not always the best. CA activates from moisture, so you want to store in a completely dry airtight container. I have a set of Food saver vacuum containers that I can put the CA in and suck out all of the air to keep it completely dry. If you don't have that put them in an airtight container and drop in some of those silca dessicant packs you find in electronics boxes, if you don't have those put some rice in to soak up the moisture. Even a small airtight container with nothing else will do a good job of storing it, better than the fridge.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: How to store CA?
 

RCKen is right about the moisture. Although CA will keep for a year or more if tightly sealed and dry, it is a good idea to buy bottles no larger than you expect to use in 6 months. If you like to buy in quantity, storing CA in an auto-defrosting freezer will keep it very dry, but don't open the bottle until it has reached room temperature (manual-defrost freezers and refrigerators won't dehumidify). If you buy accelerant (kicker) keep it very far away from the CA, like 5 feet or more. Even with a tightly closed bottle some accelerant fumes will escape and, over time, will thicken your CA. Don't ask me how I know this.

Rick

RE: How to store CA?
 

I keep mine in the fridge, but I don't worry too much about moisture. I've not had a problem with the caps coming off. There's always the possibility of condensation due to the temperature change, but with such a small volume of air in the bottle that really shouldn't be an issue.

I've had plenty of CA go bad when I neglect to put it in the fridge, but I can't recall any going bad when I keep it cold. I'm a horribly slow builder and often go months at a time between working with the glue.

RE: How to store CA?
 

I've had a bottle break in the freezer. Not a pretty sight.

RE: How to store CA?
 

I keep mine in the freezer it does not freeze and still good after several years.

RE: How to store CA?
 

MY WIFE WILL NOT LET ME KEEP IT IN THE FRIDGE.
SO I PUT IT IN A VACUUM CONTAINER TOO AND PLACE
IT IN A DARK CLOSET.

RE: How to store CA?
 

Dont know anything about putting in the fridge?..what I do know is CA is CA..I buy the cheap tubes that are 3/$1 from the dollar store..and open one when I need it..I think at walmart they are 2/$1......Rog
that way even if a whole tube goes bad, I'm out .33 cents

RE: How to store CA?
 

Wives have this thing about their freezers. They don't like finding non edibles in the corners or behind the frozen corn, especially if it still has hair on it. Oh well, I'm not too hot on her storing the broccoli on my workbench. Not to mention the open can of tuna in my parts bin.......... My wife is pretty tolerant, she is constantly coming into the shop to see which canned vegetables I've been using for hold-down weights. Whole tomatos in the large can are particularly handy.

Rick

RE: How to store CA?
 

Well i live in a tropical zone, on the Tropic of Capricorn, our summers are up tp 108*F , and a humidity of 94%. My bottle of Zap sits on my work bench, and was opened 14months ago. I fitted the applicator tube to the bottle when i opened it, and have never had a blockage , or any sign of it going offIn my modelling time i have used 9 bottles of it , and always use to the last drop without refridgerating or any other sort of container. So i feel yours should last a long time also .
Bill, Down-under in Aistralia.