Thread: Cost of CA Accerator

I pay $10.5 for 2oz or $20 8oz from GPW + P&H

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

.........So, to save me googling everywhere else, does anyone have a cheap online source that they recommend?

Thanks
Willy
Jarrahland

Willy,

I just checked my local suppliers in South East Queensland, and if they are still stocking it (mostly the Hotstuff brand) the 5 ounce container is typically between $10 and $21 - ouch. Most suppliers don't seem to stock it anymore - probably because it is classified as a dangerous cargo for shipping purposes, so has to be transported by sea or ground - no air freight, which makes getting supplies to Australia, and then distributing them around Austraia, pretty expensive.

Anyway, I ceased using CA Accelerator a year or so ago after I saw this video on the Timberbits web site. In the video, he says that after lots of testing, he's found that "Glen 20" works OK as an accelerator, and its a lot lot cheaper than real CA Accelerator. I don't do much pen turning - probably only about 20 pens a year. I have had reasonable success with Glen 20, although you might need to modify your CA finishing process a bit to the method described in the Timberbits videos. If you're finishing a pen with CA, sometimes the Glen 20 imparts a frosted sort of appearance on the surface of the dried CA, but that frosting disappears as soon as you start using micromesh or a polishing compound.

The other advantage of using Glen 20 is that the product is a far less objectionable chemical than that which is typically used in most commercial CA Accelerators. This link to an MSDS for one brand of CA Accelerator, which that shows that that the main ingredients are Acetone, Toluidine, and Quinone. Once you've Googled Toluidine, and Quinone to see what those chemicals are, you'll probably never want to breath CA Accelerator vapours ever again. Touluidine in particular is listed as "toxic and a suspected human carcinogen".

Regards,

RoyG

Don't use Glen20, sooner or later is causes you grief and not really any cheaper for an inferior product IMHO

Last time I got heaps from GPW when it was on special but it does seem to have gone up. I've also got some from Hobbyking in the past that is a bit cheaper at the moment http://hobbyking.com.au/hobbyking/st...ch=accelerator.

Yeah I think you can't go wrong with GPW they will have all you need and pretty good prices. I shop there and have no problems at all

Cheers Ian

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Don't use Glen20, sooner or later is causes you grief and not really any cheaper for an inferior product IMHO

Last time I got heaps from GPW when it was on special but it does seem to have gone up. I've also got some from Hobbyking in the past that is a bit cheaper at the moment http://hobbyking.com.au/hobbyking/st...ch=accelerator.

The problem with HobbyKing, is getting it while it is in stock in Oz . . Otherwise a $4 2Oz will cost $30+ to post from hongKong.

I just bought 4 bottles of this stuff from eBay from a-modeler and even they have jacked the price by 80c in the last week. I find accelerant cans go further for me, than liquid . .

I don't waste money or time buying or using accelerator.
CA cures fast enough without the use of accelerator.

Les

I try to avoid accelerator letting the CA dry naturally...... I buy From GPW ... Good quality

i also store in sealed containers in the fridge ... Hot here in the summer .. I also don't store the accelerator and CA together as even some vapours can reduce the life of the CA.

A joke .... My 10 year old thought the accelerator was to make my Goggomobiles go faster ��

Originally Posted by Les in Red Deer

I don't waste money or time buying or using accelerator.
CA cures fast enough without the use of accelerator.

Les

Hello Les,
I recognise you as an expert along with others here on the forum, but the CA can take 30 seconds or so to dry how can you wait that long? I usually turn 10-20 or so pens at a time, how can I be efficient if I have to wait 30 seconds between coats? What are you doing differently? I also have the Dust Extractor going which should hasten the drying process.

What is also interesting is the quite conflicting information use Glen 20, don't use Glen 20. I viewed David Lim's video using the Glen 2, I will have a crack and see how it goes

Cheers
Willy

My experience with glen 20 wasn't successful.

I've tried the glen 20 and it can leave the white bloom.
So on 10 or 15 layers there is always a white bloom somewhere that shows up between a layer somewhere.

If anyone works it out, let me know.

There is a huge thread on the Glen20. At the end of the day I believe the active ingredient in it is just water, so you might as well spray it with misting water, and be prepared for the consequences. As for cost, considering how little is in any spray can, you are actually paying a lot per ml of actual product. I buy a 8oz bottle of accelerator and put it in a pressurised bottle like these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171011949314? that is then equivalent to a lot of cans of Glen20

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

Hello Les,
I recognise you as an expert along with others here on the forum, but the CA can take 30 seconds or so to dry how can you wait that long? I usually turn 10-20 or so pens at a time, how can I be efficient if I have to wait 30 seconds between coats? What are you doing differently? I also have the Dust Extractor going which should hasten the drying process.

What is also interesting is the quite conflicting information use Glen 20, don't use Glen 20. I viewed David Lim's video using the Glen 2, I will have a crack and see how it goes

Cheers
Willy

Willy,

I am no expert, but I have found that the time it takes CA to dry, not cure, all depends on the age of the CA, the temperature of the CA, relative humidity, ambient temperature and thickness of application.
My CA application takes 10-15 seconds between coats without the use of accelerator.

Les