Superglue is awesome.
Originally discovered in 1942 by American scientists who were trying to come up with good transparent gun sights during WWII, superglue is the “sticks to everything” goto adhesive for all your gluey quick-fix needs.
And frankly, until you’ve superglued two fingers together, you really haven’t lived…
Anyway, there’s probably a lot about superglue that you’ve never heard before. So, read on, and then you can go impress your friends with your amazing knowledge of cyanoacrylate adhesives!
About superglue
First of all, superglue refers to various types of cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesives. There are quite a few different kinds for specific applications.
Superglue works by rapid polymerization in the presence of water – usually, humidity in the air. This trait also helps explain why superglue is so good at gluing people parts together, as the human body consists of a whole lot of water!
It also explains why that darn tube of superglue never lasts very long once it’s opened…
Keeping superglue fresh
You know how it goes: open new tube of superglue, use it once, and put the cap on carefully. One week later, you try to open the tube and find it’s all gluificated together – even if you made sure no glue was left in the applicator tip. So, you use a pin to poke a hole, etc.
In short, superglue only has a shelf life of about 12 months – if you’re lucky – for UNopened tubes. The minute you open it, humidity gets into the tube, and it starts slowly polymerizing inside. Once opened, you’ll be lucky if the tube lasts a month.
So, it’s pretty pointless to buy a big tube of superglue unless you’re going to use it all at once!!
You can extend the shelf life of superglue by storing it in the fridge. Cold temperatures will slow the “self-gluing” a bit. Or, stick it in the freezer… Just make sure to allow the glue to warm to room temperature before opening it and using it. Otherwise, you’ll get even more condensation inside the tube, and it will shorten the 30-day Already Opened Limit.
How to superglue stuff
Use thin layers.
The thicker the layer, the less likely the polymerization process will result in a good bond. That’s why the liquidy superglue always works better than the gel variety (also, the gel type has additives).
Obviously, try not to glue your own parts together. If you do, use acetone to dissolve even dried superglue.
Incidentally, always have some acetone on hand. It’s great for dissolving superglue, expandy foam, and removing stickum from just about anything. If it’s sticky, acetone will remove it.
What not to superglue…
Do not try to use superglue on cotton, wool, or leather. Using superglue on these natural materials will cause a potentially wild exothermic reaction. In normal people speak, that means heat – and possibly fire!
Granted, you need to use a lot of superglue to start a fire like this, but it’s still good to know… especially if you’re stranded on an island with only cotton balls, a crate of superglue, and a bunch of raw bacon.
Superglue also doesn’t work well on some other materials, especially glass. There are special superglues for glass, but in my experience they don’t work very well.
Generally, superglue seems to work best on more porous materials, but not so well on very smooth surfaces.
Plastics: If it’s ABS plastic, forget it. Usually, the type of plastic is printed somewhere on it, along with a recycling symbol – or not. Most everything is made of ABS plastic these days, which requires either a special glue, or plastic welding with a soldering iron. For other plastics, test if possible. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t…
Crazy uses of superglue
Fillers: You can use saw dust to fill cracks and crevices in wood, and then add some drops of superglue. You can also use baking soda + superglue to make a hard, glass-like material for filling. Another similar trick: bone dust + superglue! Check it out:
Note that at least with the baking soda + superglue trick, the reaction releases a bit of heat… Nothing to be terribly concerned about, but FYI.
Arrows: Wanna know how they glue fletching to arrow shafts? Superglue!
Fingerprints: Heat some superglue, and the fumes produced will react with the water in the air and harden on fingerprints, making them visible. Probably don’t want to try this one at home, as the fumes are toxic and can irritate certain conditions like asthma.
Nuts and bolts: Insert bolt, screw nut on the end, tighten. Then put a drop or two of superglue between the nut and the threads. Ta-da! Note that this does not permanently bond the nut and bolt – you can still use a wrench and unscrew the nut. But it does act as a kind of chemical lock washer.
How strong is superglue?
Which reminds me…
When two surfaces are superglued together, the tensile strength is rather high. In other words, it’s hard to pull the two surfaces directly apart after they’re glued.
On the other hand, two superglued surfaces can be more easily separated by a shearing force. To illustrate:
So, if you superglue two objects together, you’ll have a hard time pulling them apart. But if you shear them apart (sideways), it will be much easier to break the superglue bond. This also explains why you can superglue a nut to a bolt, and still remove it later: because turning the nut on the bolt threads is effectively a shearing stress.
Underwater gluing?
Yes, sort of. There are a few gotchas…
Many people say superglue is water-resistant, whereas others classify it as “weak” in terms of water-resistant adhesives.
There are special superglues that are more water-resistant, which probably clears up some of the confusion: not all superglues are the same thing!
But for true underwater repairs, there are much better, special-purpose adhesives one can use.
Note that generally speaking, water and especially heat are the two enemies of the most common type of superglue. Even then, you really have to consider the application: just how water- and heat-proof a bond do you need? A bond at room temperature that gets wet sometimes is a much different application than a bond subjected to boiling water 12 hours a day…
Gluing wounds shut
Okay, this one you’ve probably heard about. BUT… It’s tricky. There are official medical superglues, and all of them are different than the superglue you can buy at the hardware store.
In short, you CAN superglue small wounds together with the regular stuff. It works.
Just be advised that there are many different types of superglue, and the medical ones are different for a reason. One reason is patents, I’m sure… But another reason is skin irritation.
Is superglue toxic?
With a name like “cyanoacrylate adhesive”, you might think, “Sounds like cyanide – EEK!”
Well, some superglues have been known to cause skin irritation – even chemical burns – for some people. Also, the fumes are nasty and can irritate conditions like asthma for some folks.
Personally, I don’t use superglue for items I’m going to eat or drink from. It just seems like good old fashioned common sense given that there isn’t a lot of agreement on toxicity issues. When I hear, “Further study is required”, I assume it’s a good idea NOT to ingest it or coat myself in it. 😉
Is it really permanent?
Yes and no.
If you superglue two objects together, under normal conditions they’ll stay stuck together for a loooong time.
For things like superglued fingers, it’s really not the horror it appears to be. Fact is, human skin cells are continually shedding and growing, so your fingers would naturally come unstuck as your skin replaces itself.
That’s why the guy in the above photo won’t have to spend the rest of his life with an old cell phone, toothbrush, and ping pong ball stuck to his face.
Just don’t get superglue in your eyes! That’s bad, bad juju… Continually flush with water, and call the paramedics. This is one Superglued Parts case where you cannot treat it yourself.
Have some superglue tricks and tips? Share in the comments below!
I found another great use for super glue. When a rock hit your windshield and you get a star, if you drop super glue on the hole and and all the little burst cracks, the cracks will not continue to grow. The glue stops the cracks from growing out and making a long crack in the windshield. After the glue dries scrape off the surface residue with a razor blade so the glass is smooth.
Good for splinters you can’t see, next dab some glue on, let it go hard and peel away.
Works quicker if you use an activator
Drop filling nicks and dings in Guitar Finishes….especially Taylor Guitar’s. .it can be wet sanded smooth and Polished for an invisible repair. ..
I am making a basket for a 60th Birthday party by gluing pop rocks to skewers with a sign that says 60 Rocks. I was wondering if the super glue would seep through the package that the pop rocks are in.
Hmm, not sure… If the inside of the pop rocks packaging is plastic-lined, it should be okay. I haven’t had pop rocks in years, though!
Personally, I’d do a test just to be sure. If it works, eat the pop rocks. 😀
Can you bake things that have been superglued?
Usually not. Some kind of epoxy resin would be better, but it depends on what kind you use, the materials being glued, etc.
So I have a way to make super glue super strong and dry very rapidly. By applying or sprinkling baking soda on top of super glue while it’s still wet it becomes extremely strong and has been known to be used on aircraft . I read this online on a different website thought I would share.
Hi
My technician broke my chiller tray while trying to remove it. He want to use superglue to stick it back.
Is it safe?
Depends on what it’s made of… But most commonly used plastics are not very superglue-friendly – especially if the glued joints will be exposed to temperature variations and/or humidity/water.
Polystyrene cement will work for that 👍👍
Not particularly on super glue but on these other unbondable Plastics you are speaking of. I’m 56 years old and have worked in the automotive repair industry in different capacities all my life. I have come across numerous types of problematic Plastic repairs and deliberate modifications or customisations. I’ve used several different methods including hot air plastic welding, hot iron plastic welding and different bonding agents . I still had some problems though and started looking for technology or techniques I haven’t tried. After trying numerous products that claimed to be effective and permanent, I found a product through a company called Tech- Bond Solutions. And nope, I don’t work for them, I’m not associated with them and I’m not getting paid buy them to advertise. This is just factual information from my own personal results using it on things I either could not Bond or never had great success with. All I’ve got to say is look them up. Tech-bond solutions. I talked with a guy name Don. Don’t know his last name.
I’m done searching. 😉
If possible, if you need to glue plastic, you can try sanding the surfaces to make pores and it will hold.
Is it safe to glue, broken dentures, with crazy glue, it works great for several months, then you bite down on something hard, and they break in half again?
Hmm… I’m not sure. I don’t know what dentures are made out of, but it sounds like it works fairly well – for awhile!
Dentures are a polymer – specifically: PolyMethylMethacrylate (a type of Acrylic)
You CAN safely, (temporarily) repair dentures with Superglue (CA). They still need to be repaired permanently with PMM. (I am a Dental Technician).
I did not know that. Thanks!!!
What about retainers? I accidentally broke one and need to fix it.
I knew a guy who swore that blonde worked for his dentures soooo… maybe worth a try?
How long do you leave them to dry for?
I use super glue on dentures. They need to dry for at least 24 hours. Sand with fine sand paper (4000 grit to 8000 grit). Be sure to place them in a denture soaking solution or water. Dentures that dry out can crack or warp, so be sure they’re always moist. You should never put your dentures in hot water because this can cause them to warp. They can last up to six months but just be careful how you eat….they are not real teeth and are a lot softer.
Ooh yeah I have been doing so I have a dental bridge an I live far in remote area where there is no dentist near so ibroke the bridge and I tried to use super glue to fix it back..is it safe…? help me with advice…
Can I use super glue to repair my denture – is it toxic?
My super glue bottle must have burst open cause the bottom of it is not securely stuck to my glass table and I cannot figure out how to get it off..Please help me!!
Put a small amount of acetone on the base of the bottle/table. Let sit for a minute, then scrape off with a new flat razor blade scraper thingy.
Some nail polish removers are primarily acetone – in case you don’t have a giant jug of pure acetone lying around. 😉
Can you repair a small crack in the top of a 12 volt battery with super glue and baking soda? Does it react with the battery acid?
Baking soda would react with battery acid. Not sure if its used as a “binder” for the superglue, though.
For that, I’d probably use epoxy resin and glue another piece over the crack. Not sure if that’s the best idea, but that’s what I’d do.
Thanks, Scottie. The reaction of the baking soda had just dawned on me after writing this! Could Gorilla glue also work?
Ya know, I’ve never actually used Gorilla Glue. I can’t even tell what kind of glue it is. It’s apparently a polyurethane glue, but also a cyanoacrylate… My chemistry knowledge fails me, I’m afraid!
Gorilla glue expands (alot)
Though there is a Gorilla Epoxy, my Gorilla glue is for wood, so no good for this. I get from what you are saying that I get a small piece of plastic and stick it over the crack with epoxy glue? That sounds reasonable. Many thanks. Roger
Just buy a new battery lol
Most batteries are plastic cased, which is thick polypropylene and so very resistant to ordinary glues, as well as ordinary automotive liquids. Heat welding an empty dry polypro container might be acceptable, but patching a car battery is going to be near-impossible. Super glues generally won’t bond to this plastic, or other slippery molded plastics like polyethylene either, and most cure very brittle, which isn’t useful in flexible repairs anyway. One might coat it with thick sealant, basically making a plastic case inside a flexible plastic outer case, but the battery acid is likely to work its way between layers, and you don’t want a quart of strong acid running down inside the engine compartment, above a wheel, brakes, bearing, and load-bearing body and frame sections.
try sanding the surface of the battery where it needs a patch. It will hold the new piece of plastic (sand that also)
I am restoring an outdoor wooden storage bench and was told that the oiled wood on the bottom which has a few cracks that I wouldlike to seal – I can seal with CA glue or super glue (I need the gooey stuff not the liquid stuff because some of the cracks are at least an eighth of an inch) however I can’t find any information anywhere to see if the bond will stay tight after in winter when it freezes. Do you know if dried cured CA glue will crack in the winter?
I’m not sure, really, but I would guess that it will not hold. The wood will expand/contract quite a bit I would think. Plus if it’s oiled? Hmm…
I know they do this like with baking soda + superglue for guitars and stuff, but that’s usually at a constant temp on an existing material that doesn’t expand/contract very much.
For repairing wood there are epoxy wood fillers available in wood colour shades, I have used it to repair my floor in the bathroom where a leak under the bath rotted the chipboard floor and a hole appeared, even repairs holes in wooden boats! You do have limited time to work it once you mix the filler with the hardener, but it doesn’t shrink or crack once set, it would be ideal for what you want to do!
Okay, okay hear me out… so I was trying to get a stuck sim card out of my phone… and ended up supergluing in place instead (loong story)
Do you think there’s a way to dissolve it or — do you think heat would liquidify it? I need to use heat to open up my phone to begin with, as it is sealed with adhesive, but I wouldn’t necessarily want the superglue to melt further into my phone…
Look on the bright side: at least you didn’t also glue the SIM card to your finger. 🙂
Well, hmm… Not sure about heat. Looks like you’d need to heat it to at least 110C / 230F (and probably much higher). That’s pretty toasty for electronics even when they’re off.
On the other hand, you could try acetone, but yikes… That might not play nicely with other parts of the phone. Acetone does a wonderful job discoloring and even dissolving certain plastics.
I’m afraid that’s quite a pickle!
I’ve asked the phone people and they would put my phone in their “oven” anyways to open it up, so I guess that is more or less safe for the electronics, but they didn’t want to do it, as they weren’t sure what it would do to the superglue…
They told me I should definitely tell them though if I manage to open it up with a hairdryer 😀
I wouldn’t mind the soldering! But at this point I am not even sure how to open the phone to acces the motherboard etc 😀
Well, I THINK that in order to get it hot enough to weaken the superglue, you might risk damaging something. But then, I’ve never actually dealt with this particular problem before.
Opening the phone can also be tricky, but there are literally tons of vids on YT about how to open phones of various makes/models. Every time somebody gives me their phone or laptop and says, “It’s not working!” I just hop on YT and get to see exactly where the screws and glues are. In the olden days, I’d just break things accidentally due to some “hidden” screw or clip or something. Today, the Oops Factor is much lower thanks to YT.
I have to say that opening phones with adhesive is often kind of annoying. It never quite goes as easily as in the video. Maybe I’m just bad at it. Also, you have to be careful not to puncture the battery inside if it’s glued in place, which is more and more common these days with non-removable batteries. If you puncture a soft-case battery, it can cause a rapid discharge which will then possibly cause a small fire.
So then you’d have a flaming phone with a superglued SIM card. YAY! That wouldn’t be so bad, because then you’d have a fun story to tell, and everyone would be terribly impressed that you even tried. Anyway, not to freak you out or anything, but just go slowly and carefully, just in case. Better safe than sorry.
I would probably go for a vid to see the inside of your phone without taking it apart. If it looks like the sim card/slot will be easier to replace or unglue, then go for the disassembly option. You could then either try the acetone option or the desoldering.
Yes, thank goodness for YouTube!!
I’ll try to be patient careful:) thanks! 🙂
I did nails for year’s you know the ones like on the crazy drama claws? Ice will work also but of course the phone won’t make it. nail polish remover takes forever to dissolve and it will melt other plastic, not sure try it on foam cup or an old soda bottle and please don’t cap it!
Would it be practical to de-solder the SIM holder and replace it + the SIM card? Probably not, but worth a mention.
Hello!
I have a small stick made of ocean spray that I’m quite fond of but has developed a crack from the top. I was wondering whether I could use the baking soda/superglue trick to fill in the crack so it doesn’t spread, or if superglue expands enough when it dries that it would only further widen the crack.
Thank you!
What is Ocean spray, not familiar with the term other than the company that makes cranberry juice.
At a guess though, your stick is drying out and will only get worse
I super glued my retainer over 4 months ago. So far it’s holding up very well. I have 2 fake teeth in my retainer so it’s in my mouth pretty much all the time. I take it out for meals and to brush. 4 months of being ~98 degrees and wet, I’d say super glue is decently water resistant.
How long did you leave it to dry for?
I have the same issue doubting if it’s safe or not
Could you use superglue to fill a crack in a clear dental plastic retainer?
Leaving to dry for at least 48 hours would it be ok? I’ve heard of some people supergluing their kids teeth back on 😱 which I wouldn’t agree with but I need a fix for my retainer
My girlfriend tried to glue here one or two tooth(s) back in when she was young! Gave her gum disease now she has a full set of dentures. Beware!
You have to use super glue on a completely dry surface! If not it traps moisture and you can get a fungus! Dry with hairdryer first and not in your mouth, though in dentistry and surgery they use pharmacutical grade glue and cure it with light, that was the start of gel nails. Same concept! Any questions I’d be glad to help methacrylate acid is what super glue is
I have a question, I use super glue sometimes in taxidermy and I’ve noticed that if I use it in a dome ( what I assume are the fumes) coat the glsss after a few hours. How long should I wait or how long could it take for the glue to stop fuming up the glass?
Huh… That’s a good question. I have no idea!
I was wondering. Does it matter the temperature you use super glue in? I’m trying to keep my tweaker in my truck in place.
Well, apparently storing superglue in the freezer prevents polymerization, thereby extending the shelf life of an opened tube of glue.
But that would mean it must be above freezing for a good bond to form. Never actually tried it in the cold myself, tho!
I use super glue to harden Blue Tac (for military modelling construction perposes). Works very well but does give off some fumes. The question is are the fumes from both materials combined together toxic/dangerous.
I used super glue to bond my galsses frame back together with the lens (on the frame not of the lens of course). Someone is telling me that it can melt in excessive sunlight and the “fumes” will get in my eye and cause damage. I don’t believe this to be true at all but I would like your insight. My glasses have been like this for months and I don’t feel any detriments. Also, I usually wait an hour or two until the glue is completely dry before I wear my glasses again. Thank you and hope to hear from you!
Well, that’s the first I’ve heard of that one! AFAIK, once the glue has set, that’s it.
Super glue in the eye is really bad and definitely a hospital visit they do have to freeze it with I think some liquid chemical and carefully pull it off in one piece! One girl I worked with had the glue facing her and squeezed to hard! Never point towards face and yes the fumes are dangerous read the back you guys! Well ventilated area only.
OOOUCH!!!
I have a leaky factory fitted skylight on my campervan. It would be very difficult to remove and refit and i don’t think surface applied silicone sealant would last too long and would be unsightly (though it may be my only option in the end). I was wondering whether applying low viscosity superglue around the recess between glass and frame could work by it wicking into any gaps then setting to restore the seal. Anyone ever tried anything like that?
Read through this. Fascinating Stuff.
He’s right about the Fingers.
To the Point, no mention of Paper? Superglue is great on Paper. Just need to be Brave.
Couple of drops on the Paper (Both sides) quickly spread and let it dry.
Then a just drop on the Pre Glued Bit and Join it in Seconds.
Fingers do come in handy, and you can spend the following Week Nibbling the Superglue off.
Does Vodka Dissolve Superglue.
Plenty of that in.
Bored Ex Plumber (Gas Safe) Just Retired
You mentioned special waterproof superglues, and underwater adhesives. What are some names or brands? I have to glue labels to oysters…
Hello there! I need to stick a small round metal plate (3 inches diameter) on someone’s skin, and it must hold tight underwater. It’s for a movie. Do you know if superglue will work? Any other suggestion? Thanks!!
It should work pretty well, but instead I’d probably check out various medical-grade adhesives. There are quite a few out there (like for bandages and such) that are VERY sticky and even waterproof, but they still come off the skin relatively easily as compared to superglue.
do you think locite professional superglue would withstand being frozen & somewhat thawed repeatedly? i want to put a drop on a hole in a reusable ice-pack (smarttemp hot/cold pad plastic kind not fabric) to plug it then duck tape over that. i thought of e600 industrial strength glue as well…
My guess is that it might work well if you superglued a small patch of some material over the hole. On the other hand, I’ve found that superglue doesn’t like to stick to certain types of plastic, so it’s kind of a coin toss as to whether it will hold or not.
I have a feeling that the thermal expansion of the superglue won’t match that of the plastic, causing it to crack.
Might I suggest plastic welding the hole with a zip tie as the filler material and a soldering iron to do the melting.
All would depend on the thickness of the plastic though
thanks
it’s a very thin plastic.
I also have E600, Duco Plastic & Model Cement, and Loctite Glass Glue. I could go to the store to get something else if you have ideas. Otherwise i’ll give the patch a shot.
Hey I just wanted to update on a different reusable ice pack repair success. This ice pack was fabric type material. It’s fabric was wearing through and a small hole started. Since E600 can withstand freezing temperature, I put a layer of that on after the ice pack was thoroughly thawed. Then after E6000 dried, I put another layer on. So far it has survived multiple freezing and thawing successfully.
Can you tell me if gorilla super glue gel is toxic when dry? Also do you think it would withstand machine washing at up to 40°? I’m a polymer clay artist and recently have been making buttons, some of which will need a small plastic shank glued to the backs. I have made some which are for children’s/babies clothes. I emailed the company and asked these questions but the lovely people at gorilla glue have not bothered to reply…… So, I am now a bit wary, kids put things in their mouths! I have looked at the safety sheets on their site but all the information seems to be relevant to the glue when it is wet, eg, fumes, skin irritation, I need info on when it has dried. I have read through the previous comments and noticed one or two about mending dentures? I’m hoping this means it is non toxic 🙂
Hmm… I have no idea. I know that epoxy resin-type products are pretty darn safe once hardened. But then if you sand it, the dust formed is not something you want to inhale or ingest. Not sure about Gorilla glues.
The trouble is with children and especially babies, you can never be too careful with that kind of thing. Stuff that doesn’t affect adults very often affects the little ones. And then there is the choking hazard… :O Clay zippers? LOL
Thanks for the reply….. I’ll keep researching!
Hi..
I need to glue my Roots motorcycle boots’ seemingly hand-stitched sole back on. It’s lifted about 6” of heel+instep. Some sorts of plastic inside. Killer discovery they weren’t stitched. Such comfy warm boots. Look cool. Aaagh.
So I arrived at your site by googling supergluing boots with Kleenex layer ..something like that ha.. with this bright idea that a layer of anything might absorb more glue and give me more time for complete coverage. Kleenex, cloth, thin felt, mats of thread… Haha.
Also what about when I continue to add more glue, as it dries so fast? Will it mix into itself for a stronger, heavier, gluier bond? (Dollarama superglue. Not bad)
Other options:
I’ve got Elmer’s clear glue that’s thick and am considering that. LoL. It probably dries to a plastic. If not, and it gives way, at least I could clean it all up and start again. (Dollarama craft glue)
I have some possibly mightier than usual rubber cement. ($ rama)
And I have shoe goop somewhere or some such update, but not too optimistic. Years ago I’d use shoe goo every other Thursday for the same pair of shoes. (I think you said ‘just for sneakers.’ makes sense)
Sooo.. what do you think?
;D
Thankyou!!
I would probably try something other than superglue for that. Like some kind of neoprene glue or rubber cement. It has to bond rubber + whatever, stay strong and remain somewhat flexible.
Skin divers use Aquaseal Flexible Repair Adhesive for repair of wet suits etc. Kayakers use it for rubber boot repair.
If it is not all used at once, it must be stored in a refrigerator for any hope of reuse. You might want to check out NRS for ideas for dealing with rubber type products
Ooooh, yeah! That sounds perfect. Thanks!!!
I’ve used clear Lexan glue to apply new boot soles. It’s flexable and worked well. Get it in caulking section of hardware stores
Addendum – I use the Gorilla superglue gel
I use super glue to repair handles on coffee mugs. I only handwash after. However, I need to glue a plate that broke in two. Would superglue work/be safe (for food on) pottery plate? It’s a clay pottery plate, you know those shops you can go to to paint your own pottery, that kind.
I stopped supergluing coffee mug handles and plates back together when 1 plate broke apart in the middle of being used and a cup of tea lost its handle mid-sip. It just doesn’t seem to last.
The prime suspect there would be thermal expansion, superglue is quite hard and brittle
Aha! That makes sense.
Plastic piano keytops do not bond well to wooden piano keys using superglue. However, titebond does bond to the wood keys and superglue bonds well to plastic keytops. Put a thin coating of titebond on the key and superglue on the key top. Then press them together. The bond is instantaneous as the water in the titebond activates the superglue which adheres to the titebond.
That’s pretty nifty!! Thanks.
Hi!
I have a plastic part of a kitchen appliance that is broken. My spouse put it back together with 502 Cyanoacrylate Adhesive.
(The glued part does not have any contact with foods.)
It used to be dishwasher safe but now I’m not so sure 🙂 … I’m not worried about it breaking again, i just don’t want us to consume the glue if it is a risk :_) .
(The dishwasher setting we mostly use is 50C. )
Generally I’ve found that eventually, the superglue lets go under hot/wet conditions. So I’d probably just hand-wash the item in cooler water if possible. As far as I know, it’s not toxic after it’s dry. I mean, I wouldn’t eat dried superglue, but it shouldn’t cause any serious problem if a little bit gets into the dishwasher as it would most likely just be washed down the drain. But, that’s just me!
Can super glue be used to a seal loose rivet in an aluminum boat that allows water to ooze through?
Sure, but it won’t last very long. You might have better luck with ‘metal epoxy’.
My wife superglued a part of a ceramic figurine that broke and it worked great. Unfortunately the figurine broke again, in the exact same place. When she tried to superglue it back she found that the glue would not stick. I suggested she use Acetone to take off the old superglue and try it again, but that did not work. Any suggestions?
Hmm, yeah, that happens… Usually, I would use fine grit sandpaper and carefully sand off the old glue. Then try to glue it again. I never had any success with “superglue remover”.
can i use superglue to glue fondant onto card?
I had an unexpected experience with superglue- I had a very damp flannel with a screwed up tissue on it & when I opened the superglue I dropped it & it all ran out over the tissue which then started to crackle sounding like it was on fire & smoke & awful fumes started rising from it!!!!! I won’t do that again!
Oh yeah, that’s always fun! I once used superglue to glue bits of felt together, but the amount of heat released by just a few drops on the felt is pretty impressive. And by “impressive”, I mean a bit scary. 🙂
Hey im repairing a Phone and Made a tiny hole in the plastic on the Side of the battery, could i Put some superglue on it to Close it?
I don’t see why not – unless you actually punctured the cell inside the battery, in which case you should replace the battery to prevent ‘energetic events’.
I use Superglue gel to make bowls out of rocks I find on the beach(they are beautiful!) A small number of them seem to be very brittle and the rocks snap off easily. I recommend people handle them by the bases to prevent damage but some just snap with very little handling. I’m wondering about the possible causes:
1. Does the temperature of application matter (some days were more humid than others)?
2. Does the temperature of storage matter? I keep them in an unheated room which can get quite cold in the winter (I live in New England).
3. Does the glue get brittle over time, and is this inevitable?
4. I wasn’t shaking the bottle enough before application?
5. Might I be using too much gel? I try not to but maybe I’m still using too much. The non-gel version seemed to run everywhere
Any other thoughts?
Thank you!
Superglue might not work so well sometimes because some shells are porous, and some are not. Also, shells should be dried thoroughly before gluing. Humidity in the air helps superglue harden, but humidity in shells can weaken the finished bond over time. After making sure the shells are nice and dry, you might try lightly sanding each part of the shell where you’ll glue them together with a fine-grit sandpaper. If that doesn’t work, then either trying different superglues (for example, there’s one for glass). If that doesn’t work, epoxy resin to the rescue!