cool trick with Super Glue

[Dan S]

Hey there,
I just learned a new trick with superglue. As we know the stuff is great to harden wood but no so great if you need to build up a bit of mass. It seems that Baking Soda can instantly catalize the stuff. You can build up a mass that is both sandable and paintable. It can fill cracks, replace that bit of nose you cut off, cure rheumatism, make you beautiful... Well you get the point. Give it a shot when you are bored.

Take care,
Dan

[Dylan]

I've heard that you can use baking soda mixed with water in place of the commercial accelerators. I haven't gotten around to testing it though.

Dylan

[ajcoholic]

I have been using CA since the early 1980's when I started building model airplanes with it... when I was too poor to buy accelerator I did use baking soda... you can use it mixed in water and spritz it on, or use the powder first and drip some thin CA on it to form a VERY hard mass.

The only issue I would say is it is very hard, and actually hard to sand (a carbide abrasive like a dura-grit sanding stick works better than sandpaper).

Also, if you do this with anything other than a tiny amount of soda and CA glue, the reaction is so fast, it releases a lot of heat, and also smoke/fumes which are extremely irritating to the eyes and nose so make sure you have adequate ventilation.

In my woodwork, I often use a similar technique but I just use thin CA to saturate fine sawdust. The glue seems to quickly cure, when saturation of the sawdust occurs (without kicker) and also forms a hard mass which is great for filling cracks, or making/repairing. It doesnt react as violently as the soda though. Just make some fine dust with a scrap piece of wood and 120 paper.

AJC

[markken5889]

cool idea - I've never heard that one before. Thanks!!!

Mark

[sccarnes]

Now you tell me, thanks

[Tom-H]

If it's a good crack filler the self-conscious plumbers would have discovered it long ago. Sorry, feeling goofy today.

Tom H

[torpidhummer]

It makes great band aides and stiches for small cuts.
Oscar