CA for pen turning - please keep reading

Possibly been asked a lot but a quick trawl doesn't give me much.

I have used a few different types of super glue to stick tubes in pens, and for the life of me I can't remember where I got them, I ended up with some Stick Fast CA thin and medium, love the stuff. Had a time away from turning, and the bottles sat on the shelf out of direct sun light for probably three months. With the weather being as harsh as it is here (45 celcius recently on and off with some rampant humidity), I didn't expect an issue.

Went out yesterday to find they had set within the bottles. Hard as rock. Lids were on and on tight. Not in direct sun. So in the bin they will go.

From the pen turners - which CA to get for tube gluing and CA finish? I can't seem to locate where I purchased the Stick Fast from and google points me overseas, I am positive I bought from within Australia. Only $17 a bottle but good stuff, no issues with it. Bottles are big size, not like the bottles from Carbatec which probably contain half the amount if that.

Carroll's Woodworking Supplies (forum sponsor) sells Starbond, which is much cheaper than the Hot Stuff brand. A lot of guys at our Woodcrafters club use it. High temperatures, over 50* F not C, will lead to reduced shelf life. I keep it in the fridge, only problem is you have to warm it to room temperature before use.

100% use and recommend two:

-- BSI thin and medium* from hobby stores. (Bob Smith Industries)
-- Hafele CA and Aktivator


Im sure I put up a post on the forum about my materials and how my process works. It really is a bit of a rip-off of Timberbits' method.

On storage, cool and dry, away from the activator. Like COMPLETELY away. I put mine into cardboard boxes.**

It is all bought in bulk by the box. BSI comes in 6 and 12 to a box, Hafele was 10 last time I bought (Ive a hafele commercial account)

* Thin is for the first one or two coats to really wick into the timber. Medium is for fast build after that. 6 coats is heaps. Then the fine sanding, which is fast.
** I was warned not to keep it in the fridge. Interesting. I never have and it stays good for a very long time.

HA! Here it is.... ca glue as a high finish on pens

I had the same issue with glue going hard and found that simple styrene box with a lid greatly lengthens the life of the glue ,no need to cool down before use.

Plain as the nose on my face that leaving it on the bench is a bad move. Will find a styrene box with a lid and put them in there.

Anyone live near Carroll's and work in the CBD?? lol.

Will check the others out as well.

Really appreciate the replies gents.

Other thing is where are the places to buy these - I live in Ararat and work in the Melbourne CBD.

EVERY hobby shop carries BSI and activator.

It is used by the military and fantasy modelling community (my son constantly steals my stash) plus the plane RC mobs.

Got a bottle of both thin and medium BSI yesterday, will see how I go with it.