Odorless CA?
 

Hi all, I've got a question about odorless CA glue. Does it have less toxic fumes or simply less stinky fumes? The fumes from the CA I've been using on my LT-25 wing really bother me if I do more than just a little bit at a time. I've been working in a garage with the garage door open, I'm assuming that's sufficient ventilation. Even after I go back inside, my eyes continue to stay irritated for quite awhile. I'm worried, though, that the odorless CA glue has equally toxic fumes, just ones that don't stink. That'd be even worse, since I'd definately be exposed to more fumes if they didn't stink.

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Odourless is non toxic, it uses different chemistry.

Doesn't work as well, which is why it is not as popular.

As a tip, the fumes tend to rise upwards at first, so make sure you do any gluing in front of you rather than below you with your hear over it.

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Just set up a fan to blow some air across the work. Works great.

I have bad allergies to regular CA
 

I wound up in the hospital one night. I was CAing a wing together and breathing in a lot of CA. I woke up at midnight and my throat was closed and i couldnt breathe. I called an ambulance, fortunately they gave me some asthma meds to breathe and i was ok after about an hour. The allergy builds up the more you use it. Also andoverdose like I had can trigger it permanantly.

I now use the odorless and have no problems whatsoever. It is truly less toxic, not just less "stinky". The other poster was correct when he said it doesnt work as well. It acts more like a filled epoxy, meaning it doesnt wick into tight joints. Its also expensive. I have developed a process where i use it to tack everything together and then use regular elmers wood glue to finish it off. Works great without adding too much extra weight.

My lungs are worth the price!!!!

Good luck

RE: I have bad allergies to regular CA
 

Rick - CA is GREAT - trouble is, I can't use it. I very reluctantly gave up using CA. My symptoms were severe sinus congestion and that was just using a bit of it in a well ventilated (big fan) area. I also found that sanding areas that had been CA'd gave me the same, severe symptoms that lasted for several weeks. Great stuff - provided it doesn't affect you, eh?

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Hi,

I found out very early on that CA was good, but that I am totally allergic to it. Then along comes UFO Ca, and I am once again back in the building faze again. "UFO not as good", I can't tell the difference.
But if I use regular CA, my sinuses will COMPLETELY shut down, and I Won't do that to myself. Even a fan nearby does not work for me. It is the fumes, now if they were exhuasted outside, that might work. But I am UNWILLING to try that either. Breathing is MUCH more important to me!!!

RE: Odorless CA?
 

On the third plane I built, I had a bout with sinusitis. Couldn't breathe for a week! Of course it took a little while to put it together, but I finally figured out that it was the CA. Now it only takes a whiff and Im done! I don't use the stuff anymore. It just takes longer to build now, but that is not always a bad thing.:D

RE: Odorless CA?
 

CA afects me the same way, but not quite as bad . I just get a runny nose and possibly a sore throat. I use a respirator I found at Lowes and it seems to keep the symptoms at bay. You might want to look into getting one. They will pay for themselves pretty quick.

RE: Odorless CA?
 

It's twice thr price, that's why it's not popular ;)

RE: Odorless CA?
 

I think Oderless is also OK to use on foam...

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Yup, that's why I bought a bottle. Got the Pacer stuff, cost me $7... not that much dearer than the normal stuff.
I bought it for a GWS Spitfire, then when I re-read the instructions I realised all the places it said to use the CA were not on the foam. Duh! Well, at least it means I can use it in place of epoxy in some places and in place of the GWS glue.....

In my very limited experience with it, it has no odour and behaves similarly to medium CA.....

I've just run out of the normal stuff, so I might try it on a wing...

RE: Odorless CA?
 

My allergy to CA glues developed after using it for over 5 years without any problems. My symptoms were same as noted by others with complete sinus closure. I became a mouth breather for a week or so every time I used it. I tried running fans and even a respirator without success. As noted above even sanding an area glued with CA eventually triggered my allergy. Even after a several year lay-off it has the same effect. If you are showing signs of a reaction to CA, I'd recommend you avoid it. A full blown anaphylactic reaction is possible which could definitely put you in the hospital if not kill you. You increase your risk with each exposure.

I use a technique similar to Mudbone in which I use the odorless CAs only where necessary, and wood glue for other areas. I also don't think the odorless glues work as well as the stinky ones, and the high price makes me use it sparingly.

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Well Rick, oderless CA's are definitely oderless. But don't set near as fast as the regular ca's. Kicker helps, but allow the oderless to soak into the wood before using it.
There very usful on foam as it doesn't eat that material
I'm allergic to regular ca's now so I have to have a fan blowing acros the bench when I use any of them. Although there are a few brands that don't seem to fume as bad as some. The triple distilled ones seem to be the lowest fuming of those out there. But all regular ca's fume. You can get masks and filters to work with them but thats a pricey option. As is oderless ca's, they cost twice as much as regular ca for the same amount.
Just keep you work area well ventilated and you will be fine. [&:]

RE: Odorless CA?
 

Well, it looks like I got a deal: I paid $7.12 for my Zap-O odorless 20 grams and TH sells it for $9.49 where 1oz of thin costs $6.69.
So I now see the point in the price difference.....