Sunday, May 12, 2019

A Funny Thing Happened on My Way .......

No its not that I decided to put aside more important things to add 6 figures to the Rosmark Provincial Regiment so that I can take it to Huzzah rather than one of 3 other regiments.

No, if you look at the picture you see a crumpled, empty, tube of superglue like glue. Empty! I don't think I have ever suceeded in accessing all the contents of a tube yet.

I even poked a hole in the side when I couldn't get anyout despite sending a probe down  the nozzle to be sure it was clear.

It would be hubris to claim that I was learning, and it is a small tube, but we'll see how the next one goes.

20 comments:

  1. It is the best of tubes. Well done. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You must have got quite a bit of mileage out of that one. I've never come close to emptying a superglue tube yet. Either the whole lot goes hard in the tube, or else it simply loses its stickability. But then I am developing a suspicion that Bastard Corporation holds all the glue patents. I've never yet found a glue that, one way or another, failed to annoy the hell out of me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've met several I was really quite satisfied but apparently that response triggers the immediate removal of the product from the market.

      Delete
  3. Ah Ross, I feel your pain! Superglue is a pain in the proverbial, either it dont bond properly or in my attempts to access the contents I manage to stick my fingers together and nothing else. I have currently found a reasonable one that sticks very well, enough to bond broken bayonets in seconds and leave them solid, but problem is I know I will never get to use more than a third of the tube before the applicator bungs itself up solid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've finally started to pay more attention to keeping the nozzle clean and less to trying to avoid wasting glue.

      Delete
  4. Have you tried the gel? I find it far more controllable than the liquid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have but this homehardware stuff is available 10 min away, is cheap and seems to work better than most. Time will see.

      Delete
  5. A familiar sight: I think they should just cut to the chase and sell Superglue in the squished tubes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure I've ever managed to use a whole tube before. I did manage to use a whole plastic bottle once by drilling out the nozzle several times but it spoiled the drill bit....

      Delete
  6. Hi Ross,

    Definitely try using the gel version. There are several manufacturers and while I can't speak for all of them, I find that Zap Gel which comes in two sizes and is available from Amazon, works very, very well for me. The gel flow can be easily controlled and there is far less mess and bother. It can also easily have the drying time improved by the judicious use of Zap Kicker.

    Jerry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have used it in the past but this stuff seems to work as well at one quarter of the cost and I can buy it locally. I'm actually rather surprised.

      Delete
  7. I think you should keep the picture of a fully used up super glue tube for posterity. It is a rare item. I use the runny version and gel types on occasion. Like you I lucky enough to have a very cheap source locally. Certainly cheap enough for the couple of uses before the whole tube goes hard.

    .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to avoid small tubes as excess packaging but I'm learning the advantage of reduced risk of wasting 1/2 the contents.

      Delete
  8. "It was the best of tubes; it was the burst of tubes..."

    If you can get it, try Loctitte Superglue Gel control. It is amazing for the precision of the amount of glue you can apply, and as I always use up the full tube with this stuff, it seems to last forever. Well worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. My one big contribution to the world of modeling and miniatures: I've found sealing my superglue in a plastic sandwich bag after use substantially increases the likelihood of my using most, if not all the tube. I've become a bit of a fanatic, putting the tube in the bag immediately after applying glue, even if I have several pieces I need to glue. I find squeezing all the air out and sealing the tube in two bags keeps it fresh for months at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Strangely (for all the above mentioned reasons, plus it never seems to work as well as I might wish it) I don`t use superglue at all! I use 5 minute araldite, you know. that two part adhesive comes in two tubes which you mix together. The bond is permanent and even if dropped, doesn't result in the figures flying apart. To use and assemble my treasured minis I use a series of clamps to hold the pieces together whilst drying. Also acts as a great filler for gaps. Once dry, its stronger than any superglue ever could be :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've used the stuff for decades and still have it on hand though I rarely get to use it all either and can vouch that it is not always inseperable! But the main thing my patience has been shrinking.....

    ReplyDelete