Thread: The best way I've improved my wood working for a mere $2.50

I purchase my 100ml, 250ml, in the craft section & 500ml & larger "sauce bottles" in the kitchen section from the $2 (now $5??) stores. I've been decanting the 3.8lt Titebond into them for years. Quality varies though.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

I purchase my 100ml, 250ml, in the craft section & 500ml & larger "sauce bottles" in the kitchen section from the $2 (now $5??) stores. I've been decanting the 3.8lt Titebond into them for years. Quality varies though.

Hi Mobyturns,

You're definitely right about how the quality of sauce bottles varies.... and the rueful $5 store comments. A little while ago, I was looking for some cheap rag material at the local Vinnies and they've priced themselves out of the market. My better half actually found cheaper rag fabric new in the scraps bin at the local Spotlight/Lincraft store. (Crazy, huh!)

The reason I made this post, was to share my ways reduce the difficulties faced with pouring larger bottles of thick, sometimes, "lumpy" fluids into smaller bottles. In the past, I'd tried pouring direct into those tiny bottles... making a mess, and wasting time.... that frankly, I didn't always have. Funnels weren't fun, and added another thing to clean up.

So Mobyturns, for the smaller "craft section" bottles, how do you "decant" them? Do you use pour into the sauce bottles, then use their nozzle to fill the smaller bottles? I'm genuinely interested. Perhaps a better question is, "Why do you need the smaller bottles of PVA glue?" (Titebond, Selleys, or whatever variant you have) do you do tiny glue jobs? Are the tiny bottles worth keeping around?

Anyone else care to discuss their views too? No story is wasted... No judgements.. 'cuz when I glued my hands together after taking a nap during a paper maché craft class in Kindergarten... I knew I was destined for greatness.

Enjoy!
Hamish.

I am another user of the $2 shop sauce bottles. I use the larger bottles for glue and decant into them via a large funnel purchased from Supercheap Auto (for adding engine oils etc).
I use both the larger and smaller bottles for sanding sealer, boiled linseed oil and my home made "shine" juice.
When they eventually "gum up" and become grotty and difficult to use - they go in the bin and I use another one.

The larger ones also come in handy sometimes as molds for casting cylindrical hybrid blanks using wood and epoxy resin. I just cut the top off them and place the wood / resin inside and put the lot into the pressure pot. If you use a mold release, the set cast will often pop out so that you can re-use the plastic "bottle" for the same again.

I just save the sauce bottle when its been used up. The nozzle is so much better than the bottle the glue comes in and it shuts too. No more hunting for the cap. I only use the Aquadhere for most of my woodworking but the sauce bottles come in red, brown and even yellow (mustard) so you can a colour code if you have a few glues on the go.
Regards
John

I typically decant a new 3.8 lt jug of Titebond II into the larger 1 lt or 500 ml sauce bottles with an opening the same size as the Titebond jug.

When there is less than a litre of glue left in the jug I then decant into the 250 ml bottles, that have about an 18mm neck. If you start the pour gently with the jug about 100mm above the smaller bottle you can train the run into a nice thin stream and easily fill the smaller bottles. No "glugs" allowed though! I can even do the 100ml bottles as well, however they get easier as the volume gets below about 500 ml. Steady hands required.

Being a frugal (a tight....) I also swap out the Titebond jug lid for a sauce bottle lid / pourer then invert the jug on a slight lean so that all the remaining glue drains to the neck. I then top off the bottles that require a touch up.

Refilling the smaller bottles is easier from the 1 lt or 500 ml sauce bottles. Look for the larger sauce bottles with a pour spout of 4 mm plus, some are only small.

Another bonus is that the large bottles are great for big glue ups, veneering etc, the 100 ml bottles with a 1mm or less opening handy for the more delicate placement of glue.

Another neat trick is to use the same sauce bottles for engine oil changes on small power equipment with awkward to get to oil fillers etc. Some even have volume graduations on the side of the bottle.

This is my go to glue bottles now and their free. I like the serrated lid, so easy to grip.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

This is my go to glue bottles now and their free. I like the serrated lid, so easy to grip.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Not in this household, not unless I want to pick a fight with the missus! We refill them from the larger 2lt value packs.