Rob183
Member
I've been away for a while and getting back in the shop to turn some Cigar pens for friends. Would CA or epoxy work best for the brass tubes?
Glue Question
- Thread starter Rob183
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- recommended glue
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jttheclockman
Member
That is a loaded question. Yes and No is the answer. Some people swear by CA and some like me always like epoxy because of CA being a brittle glue and the need to use a med or thick CA to fill in voids when gluing. Others will chime in.
SabertoothBunny
Member
I have gone to pretty much just using 5 or 15 minute epoxy depending on how many kits I am gluing up.
leehljp
Member Liaison
CA works until that one time the brittleness of CA and the open cavities (spaces where CA does not bind the tube to the blank) . . . become known as one breaks. More often than not, it is not that the tube comes out, but that the blank shatters and you are able to see just how much the CA attaches the tube to the blank and especially how much is NOT!
Woodchipper
Member
I'll say maybe. I switched to epoxy, as mentioned, CA is brittle. The positive about CA is you can glue the tubes and turn in a matter of minutes. Took a pen turning class...glued tubes and started turning within five minutes. I now use Devcon Two Ton Epoxy in four ounce bottles from Amazon. I glued one set today and will turn tomorrow.
Rob183
Member
Thank you all for your suggestions.
its_virgil
Member
Epoxy hands down
I've turned pens off and on for about 20 years. I have had a few of them have the bond between the tube and the pen body material fail with CA glue. I have never seen one fail with epoxy.
There's probably a right way to make it last forever with CA, I dunno. But I'm team epoxy 100% of the time now. 5 minute set/1 hour cure epoxy if I'm in a hurry. If not, 30 minute set/24 hour cure. I always scuff my tubes up pretty good before gluing, and make sure the hole I drilled is cleaned out and free of dust. Then coat the tube liberally and rotate a lot while inserting it to make sure I get super good glue coverage all over.
There's probably a right way to make it last forever with CA, I dunno. But I'm team epoxy 100% of the time now. 5 minute set/1 hour cure epoxy if I'm in a hurry. If not, 30 minute set/24 hour cure. I always scuff my tubes up pretty good before gluing, and make sure the hole I drilled is cleaned out and free of dust. Then coat the tube liberally and rotate a lot while inserting it to make sure I get super good glue coverage all over.
Woodchipper
Member
FWIW, the Devcon Two Ton epoxy has a work time of 30 minutes. I get organized, set up an assembly line and can do three kits of one of two tubes.
jttheclockman
Member
Over the years this question has come up hundreds of times and the answers are always the same because many times we speak from experiences. Weather people follow a particular recommendation is on them and results can vary.
But I will change things up a little and give you another choice to use to glue your tubes in and believe me it will work just as good as epoxy and that is construction adhesive. Such as Liquid nails, or PL 2000, or Loctite, or even Gorilla adhesive. All will fill cavitys and will stick to anything. Has flexibility. No mixing. Easy to save by keeping top on. Think about it.
But I will change things up a little and give you another choice to use to glue your tubes in and believe me it will work just as good as epoxy and that is construction adhesive. Such as Liquid nails, or PL 2000, or Loctite, or even Gorilla adhesive. All will fill cavitys and will stick to anything. Has flexibility. No mixing. Easy to save by keeping top on. Think about it.