Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / January 2009

I've had stuff in the freezer for a couple of years.

Dunno the exact temp.

I think it helps.

Yes, you want to avoid condensation because water
helps the CA to kick off.  I think it is moisture
from the air that causes CA to slowly thicken and
eventually harden if you don't use it soon enough.

Both ideas affirmed here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanoacrylate               

                Marty

I have been keeping my CA in the fridge inside a freezer bag for years
now. I do live in an area with low humidity. I also put opened bottles
in the fridge in the same bag. Before I use glue that has been stored
for awhile on anything of value I glue up some scrap wood. After it has
been given time to set up I break it apart to make sure the joint is
good. It should show wood at the break point. If it parts at the glue
seam, it is time to replace the glue.

--
Anyolmouse

I routinely store it in a freezer at roughly 10 deg F.  I store it in
a sealed container inside a heavy duty zip lock freezer bag.  I warm
to room temp before opening the pint container to transfer to the
dispensing bottles.  The pint is recapped, placed back in the zip lock
bag and goes back in the freezer.  I see no evidence of any
degradation at all under this kind of storage.  I have stored as long
as 18 months although usually three pints does not last me that long.

I've kept various types of CA in my basement refrig/freezer at 10deg F for
about 12 years.  I have 10 bottles in there now - a couple have been in
there the whole 12 years.  I've never had a bottle go bad.

I typically buy it in 2oz bottles and decant to 1/2oz for use.  I keep the
caps on the 2oz bottles but just leave the capillary tubes in the 1/2oz
bottles open.  When I want to use it, I remove from the freezer and warm in
my hand so room humidity won't condense on it.  If I expect to need it again
in the next day or two I'll leave it out, otherwise I return it to the
freezer.

If the capillary tubes on the 1/2oz bottles have a bit of CA on the tip when
I put in the freezer, that bit will likely harden and need to be flicked off
at next use.  On rare occasion, I have to cut off the tip of the tube or
remove the tube and soak in acetone.

I recommend NOT placing your CA in sealed bags in the freezer.  The room air
in the bag will contain much more evaporated water than the equivalent air
in the freezer.  When the bag cools, the amount of water vapor stays the
same, of course, but the relative humidity rises way above that of the
freezer air.

-Dave