Epoxy vs CA

[Ron Nossaman]

Back when the earth was young, I used to *be* the production department for
a sign company. Some of our job runs involved gluing things that wouldn't
glue, to things that wouldn't be glued to, courtesy of rampant design
stupidity in the executive branch of the company. Naturally, CA was what
seemed to work best. A lot of these assemblies fell apart after installation
(surprise!), the worst offenders being those exposed to direct sunlight. At
the time, we postulated (like pontificating, only with less conviction) that
it was UV degradation that did the deed. Now, I think it was more likely
thermal expansion pulling a less than solid joint apart. The sign company's
out of business now, but I don't really care what the owner thinks now
anyway, so we'll never know what he has to say. Anyway, the stuff we buy
today is likely better, and fresher, than the mystery gunk with the
age-faded shelf life date stamp I used back then. I'd still use Titebond
when I have clamps and drying time, but CA for field repairs shouldn't give
you any long term problems once you get the part peeled off of your
fingers... or tongue. %-)

Ron


At 08:59 AM 3/17/98 -0500, you wrote:
>     Dear List,
>     
>     I want to thank all of you that responded to my 30 minute epoxy 
>     question.  The information you gave was just what I needed.
>     
>     Just one more little aside.  Talking to the folks in the hobby shop 
>     revealed some interesting opinions.  They said that model builders 
>     coming to their store preferred epoxy over CA.  I asked why.  They 
>     said that CA glue dissipates out of the wood glued joints, eventually 
>     nullifying the bond.  Epoxy remains permanently.  Model airplane 
>     builders say that they find CA joints begin coming apart after about 1 
>     and 1/2 years but epoxy joints never break at the joint again.  They 
>     say they use CA glue for those on the field emergency repairs but 
>     prefer epoxy during building times.
>     
>     Have any of you that use CA glue for repairs noticed these repairs 
>     coming apart at a later date?
>     
>     Thanks,
>     
>     Glen
>     
>     ---------------------------------------------------------------
>     
>     Glen and Ruth Deligdisch
>     P.O. Box 248
>     Waxhaw, NC  28173
>     
>     Tel:  (704) 843-0989
>     
>     E-mail:  Glen_Deligdisch@SIL.ORG
>


 Ron Nossaman