Thread: PVA Glue off-gassing causing corrosion?

I have just pulled apart the insides of both drawers and noticed that I had used a lot less glue in one than the other and and the chisels in the one with less glue had just a bit of corrosion and in the other drawer the chisels had a lot more.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

I have just pulled apart the insides of both drawers and noticed that I had used a lot less glue in one than the other and and the chisels in the one with less glue had just a bit of corrosion and in the other drawer the chisels had a lot more.

Yebbut is it new corrosion or did it happen a while ago? How old are the drawers? The only time I had a problem with this was when the glue was exposed to the tools (just underneath open weave non-slip mat). All of my drawers are held together with glue.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

It is an issue for document / jewellery boxes IF preservation is important, however the major risk of "vinegar syndrome" can be mitigated by simply letting the document / jewellery box "air" so that the PVA glue reaches "full cure" before being transferred to the new owner.

I think this sums up my feelings. I've made many jewellery boxes (including a number of repeat customers) using this method and never had a problem. I suspect that's because there are usually a couple of weeks between doing the 'upholstery' and the boxes being put to use. In this case, the rings were put in it almost immediately after the ring-holders were made. In the other drawers that were made using the same materials but without the ring-holders, jewellery made from the same 9ct gold is unaffected.