Keeping glue tips clean
 

I can't take credit for this tip; I got it somewhere else but it's a great one.

When done with a CA glueing session, put your glue tips in acetone. After soaking for a while, the CA will come loose and the tip will work like new. It even works for the glue cap as well.

I have not purchased new glue tips in over a year.

Kent

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Thanks, good idea! I have some perfect candidates sitting in my shop right now.

Just have to steal the wife's nail polish remover to try it! :) (I believe it is acetone based!)

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I think you are correct, nail polish remove is acetone with some fragrance etc added. I have not tried nail polish remover but it seems like it should work.

Kent

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I do the above as well as NEVER put the protective cap back on after I open up a bottle.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

My first few bottles of CA I used to always replace the cap after I used it for every few drops.

I was worried the stuff was going to dry up.

Then I read a post by somebody who said that he leaves all of his CA bottles open after first using them and saw no ill effect.

I have started doing this now and it seems to be much better for not getting clogged tips.

Still need to try the acetone trick though.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

The acetone does work great for clearing up tips. I keep a sealed mason jar about 1/2 full with all my extra tips in it.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

maverick, some of the new nail polish remover's are acetone free. Not sure what they use but what my wife uses is pretty much "hobby" useless (at least that I can determine so far).

Rich

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Yeah, I just checked and the stuff she has is acetone free too! Oh well, it could have been a good solution. :)

Acetone
 

Maverick: All is not lost! Go to the hardware, Ace, Sears, etc., they have acetone in quarts and gallons. I buy gallons because I also use acetone to clean brushes, tools, spreaders, etc., when doing fiberglassing, or other lay-ups, with polyester resin. Regards.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Yeah, I know I can get it from a hardware store, but I just thought it would be easier to try it out by pilfering some of the wife's! :)

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Let's kick this tip up a notch, waddya say?

Huh... huh... good idea, huh? I only wish I could take credit for it. :)

Emeril?
 

Hey Plane Insane, you have been watching too much Emeril! My wife loves that show too and sometimes I watch it with her.

Re: Emeril?
 

BAM! :D

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I've been suffering from "cloged glue tip" syndrom lately..... My biggest problem is keeping the glue from tiping over when I'm building... I always seem to knock them over.... I like the acetone idea... and I really like the idea of just leaving the cap off... but how do you guys keep from knocking the bottle over?

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I agree about knocking the bottle over. I try to keep it away from where I am working and then have to reach for it each time I want to use it.

I often wonder why CA bottles are the shape they are, as they have a very small footprint.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I have a solution for the tipped over bottle. I have a small plastic tray that I keep my glues in. I cut out a piece of foam to fit in the tray. The foam has cut outs that hold the individual glue bottles and keeps them from tipping over.

Kent

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I'm thinking of making some kind of cady to hold the items I use most often when building... But even that might get in the way... I'm currently using a coffee can... I can't imagine anything more bulky or "in the way" as that....

I guess it's time to break out the 1/4" ply and strofoam....

Glue tips
 

I use the plastic bulbs with the long tube on them.
Dave Brown products sells them in a pack of 6 or so.
Suck the CA in and you don't have to worry about tipping it over and the CA lasts for months. No cap needed.
The long tube lets you apply it anywhere you need it.
You can stretch the tube to make it very thin for tiny drops.

Pete

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I'm such a dunce. I have some of those eye dropper looking things and I use them when I'm doing a bunch of gluing but I always squirt the CA back into the bottle. Because of that, I didn't use them for the small jobs. DUH! I'll use them all the time now. I find I can control the amount of glue applied better with them as well.

Kevin

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Where do you get those?? Sound really cool...

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I've seen them at my local hobby store.

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Plane Insane....
I glued the jars to the board like you said....

Now I can't figure out how to get the acetone in the jar.
:)

Keeping glue tips clean
 

I too use those dropper bulb thingy's. A tip I learned from visiting a fellow modeler's workshop. I went and purchased them the next day!

Keeping glue tips clean
 

Hmmm, I just don't know what to say about this. :confused: