I was filling in a hole with CA and sawdust when I heard a crackle and look down to see a puff of smoke rising from the sawdust:eek:

Didn't know it did that

I was filling in a hole with CA and sawdust when I heard a crackle and look down to see a puff of smoke rising from the sawdust:eek:

Didn't know it did that

although it doesn't self ignite, the 'smoke' you saw is part of the curing process. Some times it does that, others not so much. It will not spontaneously combust, but if you breathe those fumes they CAN make you dizzy, irritate your eyes, make you feel like vomiting, etc. Be sure to wear an organic vapor respirator (not a dust mask) if working with a lot of CA (sealing a top or fingerboard, etc).

after switching to a proper filter mask for some work yesterday I was astounded at how much more comfortable routing is with one of those instead a bog standard dust mask. might make it my standard from now on.

not the same thing obviously, but once i tried using ca glue to stick patches on jeans instead of stitching them and they got *extremely* hot and sizzled

cheers
Lucy

Ironically, the "Hot Stuff" brand (red bottle, super thin) does that do me all the time. I use it for certains aspects of bow repair and rehairing, and it will give me a little puff of smokish vapor. The other type I use didn't do that, so when I tried out the Hot Stuff, I was a little stressed for about 5 minutes or so :eek:

Ironically, the "Hot Stuff" brand (red bottle, super thin) does that do me all the time. I use it for certains aspects of bow repair and rehairing, and it will give me a little puff of smokish vapor. The other type I use didn't do that, so when I tried out the Hot Stuff, I was a little stressed for about 5 minutes or so :eek:

Ironically, the cheap stuff I used before (home depot 12 pack for $7 super glue) did that every single time. But the Hot Stuff I use now does not. I use them for repairing hairline cracks and sometimes for pore filling or sealing relatively big areas.

Yeah thge thin stuff definately gets warmer quite fast- its a bit worrying when you stick your fingers together

On the subject of vapours - i was under the impression that, whilst being irritating, they where not really harmfull. I seem to remember being told that the fumes were not more harmfull than vinegar - mind you i dont often go pouring vinegar in my eye!!;)

I normally have a fan blowing the fumes away from my work area when doing large areas of CA stuff

I seem to remember being told that the fumes were not more harmfull than vinegar - mind you i dont often go pouring vinegar in my eye!!;)

Pure vinegar fumes can kill. Just so you know ;)

I remember three years ago when one of the research departments at our local university got emptied because someone dropped a test tube full of vinegar.

I'm wondering (because I have no clue) if you've been told that they're not more harmful than house-grade vinegar. I hope so.

I cant really remember - but the idea i seemed to leave with was that, it may make you wanna cry but it doesnt really do much damage, kinda like a strong onion - i have never really been convinced by that because we have all seen the white stuff thats surrounds ca as it gasses off.

Anyway working outdoors or with a fan blowing the fumes away from your eyes helps a lot


My new book '101 CA recipes', the follow up to 'Cooking with CA for Dummies', will be available in all good book shops soon - keep your eyes peeled!!;)

Guys, Ca fumes are very dangerous due to the isocyanates (hardening agent) that is in it. It is also found in the hardeners of most 2 part paints and epoxies. It is oderless and prolonged exposure to it will cause severe Athsma. Once you are sensitized to it, you will have it for life, and you will be amazed at how many products you are exposed to on a daily basis have this chemical in it.

That white stuff you see when curing is also due to the Isocyanates.

Be carefull with the stuff!

thanks for clearing that up mike

Man I've been using the thin CA glue lately and man, when you catch a whiff of that stuff it knocks ya off your feet! I don't like it one bit. Or if you're around it too long your eyes burn... not cool!

noob question, CA is cyano-acrylic glue right?

I use them for repairing hairline cracks and sometimes for pore filling or sealing relatively big areas.
As in glossy finish cracks?

I have an Adamas that has a few long finish cracks in the top and have wondered if there was a way to hide them.

As in glossy finish cracks?

I have an Adamas that has a few long finish cracks in the top and have wondered if there was a way to hide them.

not finish cracks, but I have fixed small chips on nitro with it and it works well.

What Mike said....when you hear "cyano" think "cyanide".

I spilled some CA glue on a rug one time, and it got hot and it smoked. That freaked me out!

Dumb confessions time:

I was holding a small piece of wood while covering it with superglue and while still holding it sprayed accelerator around it. As I depressed the plunger reality returned and my thought was, "This is going to hurt"...I was right as the wood and fingers began to smoke not to mention the entire block was stuck to my hand tightly!!

although it doesn't self ignite, the 'smoke' you saw is part of the curing process. Some times it does that, others not so much. It will not spontaneously combust, but if you breathe those fumes they CAN make you dizzy, irritate your eyes, make you feel like vomiting, etc. Be sure to wear an organic vapor respirator (not a dust mask) if working with a lot of CA (sealing a top or fingerboard, etc).

Or if you're me, after you breath those fumes you will sneeze violently for 5 hours!

Dumb confessions time:

I was holding a small piece of wood while covering it with superglue and while still holding it sprayed accelerator around it. As I depressed the plunger reality returned and my thought was, "This is going to hurt"...I was right as the wood and fingers began to smoke not to mention the entire block was stuck to my hand tightly!!

Been there! I glued myself to a fingerboard once. It's kinda scary until you remember that acetone reverses CA.

I've mixed up large batches of 2-part epoxy glue, that got so hot I couldn't hold the container anymore.

Or if you're me, after you breath those fumes you will sneeze violently for 5 hours!

Be very carefull as this is the first sign that your lungs are becoming sensitized to the isocyanates. This is the same thing that happened to me early on. Now if I`m exposed to the fumes, I lose betweeen 50-60% of my lung capacity.
I now have to wear a full suit with air fed respiratior when shooting my finishes, and will only use Ca with my downdraft table.

Be very carefull as this is the first sign that your lungs are becoming sensitized to the isocyanates. This is the same thing that happened to me early on. Now if I`m exposed to the fumes, I lose betweeen 50-60% of my lung capacity.
I now have to wear a full suit with air fed respiratior when shooting my finishes, and will only use Ca with my downdraft table.

Yeah, I'm very aware of this issue. This came about years ago when I was doing model R/C airplanes. Now I avoid using CA as much as possible. And when I do use it I make sure I can never smell it at all, combination of direct venting to outdoors and not breathing...