CA fumes bother me lately

Duke:

"Foam-safe" CA is orderless AND fumeless? How would it work bonding mahogany to ABS plastic?

Sounds to good to be true.

I'll be using LOTS of CA to apply the mahogang planking to my Chis-Craft speedboat.

I was thinking liberal application of CA activator might minimize any fumes from the CA because it "sets" quicker that way.

Wudda ya think?

SD

I would guess, no problem with the wood, but I don't know about the ABS. I have a piece of ABS pipe at home, I could check?

I tried using CA on one plane since everyone seems to use it nowadays, but I then got health problems and the doctors first thought I had astma...

Since then I never use CA, and there is no reason to use, really. White glue and epoxy has worked before and it is still all that is needed...

Get some Goggles Dave.

Most cyanoacrylate adhesives will not bond ABS. I am using ABS parts from my 3D printer.

I found one that will

http://www.shop4glue.com/cyanoacrylate-glue-25g-instatite-thin-superglue-cyano-adhesive-super-thin-fast-balsa-ply-model-kit-508-p.asp

but the ABS needs a special primer to make it ready.

Surfer_kris wrote:I tried using CA on one plane since everyone seems to use it nowadays, but I then got health problems and the doctors first thought I had astma...

Since then I never use CA, and there is no reason to use, really. White glue and epoxy has worked before and it is still all that is needed...

CA definitely affects a lot of people and I believe everyone will succumb after a period of exposure.

I prefer to use epoxies, PVA and aliphatic resins but cannot resist the fast setting CAs.

Yea.. I mentioned in another thread; an allergic reaction I had to CA several years ago while using an excessive amount to glue 88 wooden "jacks" (parts of an upright piano's action) where the old glue had become brittle.. and the jacks were loosening. CA vapors generally irritate the upper-respiratory (mucous-membrane) in affected users.

Once you have an allergic reaction to CA, you will always have it... even when working with small amounts. I now place a box-fan running on low speed about 6-8 feet behind me when working with it... so when the adhesive "kicks".. the vapors are blown away from me. It's a good practice while soldering too.

I keep it on the table and in the flight box, but only have limited use. For instance, I filled a hairline crack in a fuselage the other day, and burned the crap out of my finger with a saturated paper towel. If I start to smell it I try to stop breathing and finish as quickly as I can. I worry about it eating at the coating on my eyeglass lenses too. I also use it for tacking and aligning and that's about it. The last time I used a lot on a model was thick slow setting Gorilla brand CA on my first built up wing on the Li'l Jumpin' Bean a few years ago, and more recently on the wing root on my rush job CEF contest speed plane. I'm on board with the idea that it's bad for the body.
Rusty

RknRusty wrote:
I'm on board with the idea that it's bad for the body.

Rusty

The fact that CA bonds skin readily is no accident. It was originally developed for this purpose as a surgical aid.

In my particular case with the Dumas speedboat CA is recommended for most all of the hull/planking costruction. The hull went pretty well for me but the planking being bonded to the ABS sub-hull may be another matter to the extent of using a GAS MASK to shield my eyes from CA fumes. I'm pretty sure that I could borrow an old one from the HazMat team at the local fire department where I used to work and still have "contacts" so to speak.    (Heck I could probably manage to get an entire HazMat suit)   

What a brilliant solution to CA and watery eyes!

SD

When I used the slow setting Gorilla thick CA, I don't recall the fumes being noticeable. It may be worth a try if you don't have to have a fast cure.
Rusty