Replies

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 12, 2002 06:08pm | #1

   I'm not a chemist but I think there is a definite shelf life for yellow glue. I recently thought that an old bottle (1 year) of yellow glue was setting up much more rapidly than before. I bought a new bottle and found out I was right. In my opinion that would tend to reduce the amount of absorbtion and produce a weaker joint. Maybe not but I don't like taking chances with glue ups.

   Most yellow and hide glues have warnings about freezing. I often wonder if I should stock up in the fall so I don't get a batch of glue that has been sitting in a semi-trailer on top of the continental divide in mid winter.

   Gorilla Glue is toast after about 6 months. I can never seem to squeeze all of the air out of the bottle and the humidity that is drawn out of the air everytime you squeeze the bottle provides enough moisture to start the setup process.

   John

2. 
   jeffn7 | Jun 12, 2002 06:22pm | #2

   Titebond will say that the performance of their glues degrades after a year on the shelf.

   poly glues, as was already mentioned, are good for 6 months... but I believe that you can freeze poly glue to extend the life. Is that correct?

3. 
   BanyanTree | Jun 12, 2002 06:32pm | #3

   YES -- ABSOLUTELY.  Yellow glue has a definite, and limited, shelf life.  There are different opinions about how long that shelf life is, but the average is about 6 months.  I put a date on every bottle of glue I buy, and discard it after 6 months.  Just pour it onto a pile of sawdust and when it hardens throw the "glue cake" away.

   Freezing is definitely bad for yellow glue.  After it is frozen, from what I understand, it's gonzo.

   I don't believe hide glue is negatively affected by freezing.  Once I learned more about yellow glue, I started doubting it more.  How do you know where to buy it?  How do you know the glue wasn't frozen during shipping?  How do you know how long it's been on the shelf before you buy it?

   I have been gradually switching from yellow glue to hide glue, for the very reason that it has a longer shelf life, is nicer to work with, it can be sanded off better before staining, and has better "reversability" (although I have yet to undo any of my joints). 

   Also, I just love the smell of hide glue (just kidding).

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/12/2002 11:33:53 AM ET by Matthew Schenker

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 12, 2002 06:35pm | #4

   Throw it away. When glue is so cheap, why take a chance using an old product? When you purchase glue, buy basicly what you can use in 3-4 months, date the container and discard it after four months.

1. 
   Azeddie | Jun 13, 2002 08:10pm | #5

   And I am STILL using a bottle over 5yrs old !!

   Guess maybe I outta git sum

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 13, 2002 08:31pm | #6

   Ed, just out of curiosity, how do you store your glue. I'm guessing nothing special, probably on a shelf in your shop. Hey, ya know, sometimes things just happen and you get lucky. I think my dad is still using from the 1 gal jug I gave him a few years back and he hasn't had any problems either. But, the caveat is, "user beware" it may or may not be o.k. I don't think I would chance it over a couple of pennies worth of glue.

   One thing to remember is that glue is only one of the components of a good joint. If the joint is bad in the first place and it fails, its pretty easy to blame it on the glue and not the craftsmanship. I know, I do it all the time.. LOL.

   John

   Edited 6/13/2002 1:33:15 PM ET by John

1. 
   Azeddie | Jun 13, 2002 08:58pm | #7

   It still spreads ok, bonds etc. How do you know The manufacturer doesn't WANT you to go by their date and Buy more glue?

   Don't believe everything you read. IMHO

   ON the other hand Varnish/finishes Do have a short shelf life.

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 13, 2002 09:04pm | #8

   Good point, but why does my refrigerator go out 2 days after the 5 year warranty is up. LOL....John

2. 
   Azeddie | Jun 13, 2002 09:14pm | #9

   Must all that glue you store in it...:o)

3. 
   UncleDunc | Jun 13, 2002 10:12pm | #10

   Because it's a bad refrigerator? Mine wasn't new when I bought it with the house 13 years ago, and the only maintenance it has gotten has been occasionally vacuuming out the condenser. (Very occasionally.)

4. 
   Azeddie | Jun 14, 2002 01:27am | #11

   I've heard from someone that people usually throw out/replace thier refrig. after a shelf or the seal breaks rather than the thing not working. I had one for at least 20yrs

5. 
   cuttoff | Jun 14, 2002 07:24pm | #12

   Oh.. LOL, I was just joking, but it has been said that manufactures do build lifetime expectancies into their products. This ensures that they will not last forever and they will still be selling products in the future. I'm not sure how much truth is in that. I do know that water heaters are sold by life expectancy. You can buy a 5 year or a 10 water heater. John

6. 
   Azeddie | Jun 14, 2002 08:14pm | #13

   yeah, the only differance between the 5 - 10yr water heater is a hunk of metal to brevent rotting inside...they put in a bigger one for the 10yr

7. 
   UncleDunc | Jun 14, 2002 09:03pm | #14

   Funny you should mention water heaters. Whenever I want to work myself into an absolute snit, all I have to do is think of water heaters. Yes, you can buy 5 and 10 years water heaters, but why would anyone want to? This is a basic component of a house. We don't buy 5 or 10 year houses. (Well, I guess some of us do, but probably not intentionally.) Glass lined tanks rot. I've heard of stone lined tanks, but haven't been able to find out much about them. How hard would it be to make stainless steel tanks? Cast iron burners can rust out in a bad environment. Same question, how hard would it be to make stainless steel burners? Well, somebody does. Polaris water heaters have stainless tanks and burners. So what did they do to keep them from being the ideal water heater? They put a *&(@#&^@ electronic ignition on them. I understand the recall is all done now, so they don't blow up anymore, but how annoying would it be to have the power go out, say in an ice storm, and not be able to take a hot shower. You have water pressure, you have gas pressure, but no hot water. (Not a made up example. It happened to a buddy of mine in Conn. For a week.) I'll stick with the pilot light, thank you very much, even if it does cost money in standby losses. Or get an electronic controller that will save money in normal circumstances but I can switch to pilot light operation when the power is out. So I'm still looking for the Rolls Royce of water heaters.

8. 
   Azeddie | Jun 14, 2002 09:14pm | #15

   wHAT MAKES ME NERVOUS IS THEY PUT MY WATER HEATER IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM SAME LEVEL AS THE REST OF THE HOUSE...IF IT BLOWS WHILE I AM NOT HOME, WATER EVERYWHERE

   WHY DIDNT THEY PUT IT IN THE GARAGE!!!!!!

9. 
   sschefer | Jun 14, 2002 09:36pm | #16

   The electronic ignition on mine is piezo electric. Doesnt need a power source and works fine when there is no power. My oven and stove are the same. No complaints. As for water heaters, you pretty much can't go wrong with State. If you want to extend the life of a water heater, then drain it at least once annually. The newer ones have a circulation system that serves to suspend the sediments and keeps them from builiding up. Stainless steel is nice but much more costly to produce. A five year heater with fairly good water conditions can easily last 10 years but put it on hard well water and it might not even make the 5 year mark. Dad was a plumbing contractor... None of this will extend the life of yellow glue... LOL.Steve - in Northern California

10. 
    Azeddie | Jun 14, 2002 10:09pm | #17

    LOL...yeah Steve what happened to the yellow glue?

    Maybe holding together my water heater

5. 
   nhlett | Jun 15, 2002 03:00pm | #18

   I happened across this link recently, http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodbasics/pages/glue_chart.html, and it says the shelf life of yellow glue is one year.

   I sometimes think that manufacturerers overpad shelf life to increase business, so take this for what it's worth.

   Peter