Two QUICK Shop TIPS:

[bentontool]

Greetings Brothers,
--- Two QUICK Shop TIPS ---
1) PLASTIC DESKTOP ORGANIZERS:
I used to retrieve things from the dumpster at work and either sell them or donate them. My previous employers were rather liberal at discarding items that (IMO) were still useful!
I pulled two plastic desktop organizers out of the scrap bin and set them on the curb adorned with a free sign (along with numerous other items). One was taken, but the other was unwanted, so I threw it back into the shop.
I just found a use for it! It keeps all my workbench items organized and handy!
I used hot-melt adhesive to glue an appropriately sized block of hard-foam insulation to the bottom, then cut some holes in the top to house pencils, etc.
(BTW, I usually store my pocket-camera in the slot where the calculator is sitting.)

2) SUPER GLUE ISSUES:
I occasionally purchase conventional SUPER GLUE when it is on sale, especially the multi-packs. They are often obtained at a very reasonable cost.
I have found that once opened, they only last for a few days.
I recently lost the cap to one opened container. In a pinch, I screwed-on a wire nut of an appropriate size.
I have found that the glue has remained fresh and easy-flowing far longer than the lousy caps that come from the manufacturer (perhaps by design?).
I will now do the same with my better brands of cyanoacrylate glues in the future.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Keep your CA in the fridge, it lasts for years.

 

[bentontool]

Keep your CA in the fridge, it lasts for years.

Yes, I keep the good stuff in the fridge, but it is a royal PIA to have to leave the shop and go home to get the CA glue! Perhaps that will allow me to justify purchasing a small fridge for the shop! I will then also be closer to the suds!

 

[NickDReed]

Keep your CA in the fridge, it lasts for years.

Never heard this one before!!!

I'll have to keep it hidden from the wife...... Like the sycamore that's drying behind the sofa... Shhhhhh!

 

[Cozzer]

Keep your CA in the fridge, it lasts for years.

Done this for a few years since reading the tip somewhere, and yes, it does work.
Another tip? Tap the nozzle with your fingernail a few times after use, before you screw the top on. It seems to make any liquid glue that was just about to emerge and concrete the cap, fall back down the spout.
Also, try to keep the tube/bottle upright in the fridge....

 

[SammyQ]

Never heard this one before!!!

Check out The Venerable Wearing; at some point, he, twenty years ago maybe, confessed he kept his in a box in the fridge - "Clearly marked!"...Gawd Bob, who'd want to augment a sarnie with C.A.? Never mind yer falsies coming out with a dollop of peanut butta, just think what.....eeoowww!!

 

[Chubber]

Done this for a few years since reading the tip somewhere, and yes, it does work.
Another tip? Tap the nozzle with your fingernail a few times after use, before you screw the top on. It seems to make any liquid glue that was just about to emerge and concrete the cap, fall back down the spout.
Also, try to keep the tube/bottle upright in the fridge....

In the same vein, before squeezing PVA out of the nozzle, take off the lid, squeeze the bottle in the upright position to expel some air so that when you have got enough glue out there will be some extra 'suck' left to empty the contents of the nozzle back into the bottle and leave the hole in the tip clear . Sounds so simple...

I have tried to do the same with the CA bottles but they are too stiff.

 

[Cabinetman]

In the same vein, before squeezing PVA out of the nozzle, take off the lid, squeeze the bottle in the upright position to expel some air so that when you have got enough glue out there will be some extra 'suck' left to empty the contents of the nozzle back into the bottle and leave the hole in the tip clear . Sounds so simple...

I have tried to do the same with the CA bottles but they are too stiff.

That’s a good idea for the pva bottle, will try it, as long as I remember to screw the top down at all!!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Conversely, I find with PU it's better to deliberately glue the top on the bottle - it seals better.
I put my D4 in used Dettol bottles - it's easier to use when you've not got to get it through a clogged nozzle.

 

[ColinDeVelen]

I store my PVA upside down in a cylindrical tube. Any skinning over happens on the opposite end from the nozzle, so it always flows well. Not an original idea, but I can't remember where I heard it.

 

[Inspector]

My wife used to make pens and used CA glue as a finish. She bought 500ml or 1 litre bottles and put them in smaller bottles. Left the caps off all of them and they lasted at least 6 months if not used up first. West coast of Canada, much like the UK in climate and rainfall so the humidity in the basement where she worked was much the same as yours. Added bonus was never having a glued on cap.

Pete

 

[throbscottle]

I used to get the blister packs of CA glue from the £ shop. Once opened a tube would go straight in the fridge. Just seemed like common sense. Nice have confirmation it was actually doing good!
My grandad always kept tins of paint upside down. Never had skin on his paint.
I made "organisers" out of the middles of cable reels the Sky guys would leave behind at a shared locker. Glued a thin board to one end. They make very handy storage pots!

 

[throbscottle]

With regards to a workshop fridge, you could always make one using a peltier device. It could be a little EPS cave...

 

[Cozzer]

I store my PVA upside down in a cylindrical tube. Any skinning over happens on the opposite end from the nozzle, so it always flows well. Not an original idea, but I can't remember where I heard it.

My old dad always stored his part-used paint tins upside down for that very same reason.
I've just squeezed as much air as I could from a (plastic) bottle of TruOil to try stopping it drying out/solidifying - time will tell whether successful. I've also heard of topping the container up with small ball bearings, forcing the oil to rise as high as possible...

 

[bentontool]

My old dad always stored his part-used paint tins upside down for that very same reason.
I've just squeezed as much air as I could from a (plastic) bottle of TruOil to try stopping it drying out/solidifying - time will tell whether successful. I've also heard of topping the container up with small ball bearings, forcing the oil to rise as high as possible...

Ball bearings or MARBLES (cheaper)...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I used to use marbles to take up the air space when making wine, not wanting to dilute the flavouring. I have a bottle of cellulose sealer with ball bearings in it - it's easier take shake up.

 

[John Brown]

My old dad always stored his part-used paint tins upside down for that very same reason.
I've just squeezed as much air as I could from a (plastic) bottle of TruOil to try stopping it drying out/solidifying - time will tell whether successful. I've also heard of topping the container up with small ball bearings, forcing the oil to rise as high as possible...

My father used to top up some of his photography chemicals with glass marbles in order to keep the air out.
An acquaintance of mine used to squeeze the air out of plastic tonic water bottles, believing that it would stop the contents going flat, I doubted the effectiveness this tactic, believing it would have the opposite result, but he wasn't swayed.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

What sort of amateur was he to have part bottles of tonic water?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a large bottle of TruOil bought before my life changed course. I read here somewhere to put a pinhole in the foil and just squeeze a few drops out as needed - it seems to work, it's 13 or 14 years old and still OK.

 

[throbscottle]

Bentontool - is that a real corn-cob pipe I see? My (other) grandad smoked one for a while! His was very dark looking though, not bright yellow!