CA Won't Cure

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DurocShark

DurocShark

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Joined
Jul 26, 2008
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3,622
Location
Anaheim, CA
Ok, now I've had CA that wouldn't fully cure for a couple hours or more. But that's always been when gluing tubes or something.

Tonight I was finishing a redwood pen and the stuff didn't even set after several hours! Because it's redwood, I started with thin to soak into the wood. After two hours it was still sticky. Finally I gave up and used the last of my accel on it. Then I applied gel like I've done a dozen times. Again, no set after 2 hours.

Did both bottles die on me? They're the same brand bought at the same time.
Did the redwood somehow prevent curing?

It's a glue-up blank with walnut and some yellow wood I couldn't identify veneers. I used Titebond II for the glueup last weekend. Something there maybe?

I didn't use BLO or anything like that. It was about 60* in the garage.
 
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I see you're in Colorado. What's the humidity been there lately? Humidity (moisture) can affect the curing of CA. It can take a little moisture to change the pH to start the curing process. You might try a very light spray of accelerator.
 
The strange thing is I have had CA do this at one time, and then turn around and act fine the next day. all from the same bottle. I don't have a way of measuring humidity but I have noticed that it does it when it is cold. in some cases really cold. I think the CA being able to generate heat has something to do with the curing but have never been able to track down just exactly what is effecting it. With that in mind I suspect it is a combination of all the above. temperature, humidity and type of wood could all be a factor. Accelerator is the best answer I have found.
 
Yeah, it's pretty dry here. That may 'splain it.

I need a new can of accel. The pump sprayer I had would screw up the CA finish badly.
 
Don't waste time on the pump stuff. Get the can. Lasts a long time & just takes one quick squirt. I'd be lost without mine right handy. Quickest way I know of to stick the fingers to a blank after tubing.
 
Since moisture helps to cure the CA, you could try breathing on it (up close .. not like
whistling .. more like saying hhhhhhaaaaaaaa ) and see if that jump starts it.
Just be careful of the fumes.
 
NewLondon88 said:
Since moisture helps to cure the CA, you could try breathing on it (up close .. not like
whistling .. more like saying hhhhhhaaaaaaaa ) and see if that jump starts it.
Just be careful of the fumes.
Click to expand...

I tried that today. Too difficult to do without inhaling the stuff. And that stuff burns my throat.

I tried a heat gun (just for giggles). turned the finish into a dry lake bed. Might be worth something if I'm going for that effect...

I'm just going to buy an aerosol of accelerator and quit screwing around.
 
Sorry, I got in on this late. I find that when it is below 70 degrees in the shop the glue is really slow to cure. Try putting the CA bottles (cap on of course) in your pocket while you turn. This warms the glue and has fixed the problem for me.
 
Sorry I got on here late. I find that if the temp in the shop is below 70 degrees the glus is really slow to cure. Try putting the CA glue bottles (cap on ) in your pocketwhile turning the parts. This warms the glue and solved the problem for me.
WB
 
I read the answer to your question weaving its way through these answers. CA glue needs some small amount of moisture in the wood to initiate a cure.The combination of open grain woods like Cedar, Redwood, and Balsa and a dry climate or air conditioned room can make the wood so dry there is not enough moisture in the wood to initiate the cure of the CA glue. Without the moisture, an accelerator may not kick it off.

Anything that will increase the moisture content of the wood will solve the problem. Just don't overdo it because excess moisture can cause a cloudy finish.
 
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