Does anybody have any knowledge or experience with any respiratory problems with CA glue(cyanoacrylate or Crazy Glue)?
I generally have pretty bad hay fever during the summer from allergies, but it is mainly of the nuisance variety of runny nose, itchy eyes, or sneezing. Lately I have had some bad coughing fits that I had attributed to a sinus condition stemming from the hay fever, but it dawned on my that there may be some connection to CA glue. Like when I go back to workshop and resume gluing that the cough kicks in again.
I have been going through a couple of the small tubes of the stuff for a modeling project. I squeeze out a little puddle on a piece of cardstock and than dab small amounts with a toothpick to wick into joints to join styrene, acrylic, and ABS together to build small parts.
I know that when you have a lot of those glue fumes that one’s eyes start to burn a little, but apart from that CA glue is regarded as pretty safe apart from rubbing your eyes at the wrong time and glueing your eyes shut. I did some digging and read that CA glue can provoke asthma (lung congestion) symptoms in some sensitive individuals. I have never had asthma (before) but lately I have experienced symptoms of what it felt like to live in LA on a bad air day.
I am going to lay off the modeling project to see if the symptoms clear up otherwise I guess it is a trip to the doctor. But as I face the prospect of model construction withdrawal symptoms, anyone have any insight into the safety of CA glue, pro or con? Any comparison to alternatives? I gave up of Tenax solvent glue when I broke a glass bottle of it in my workshop and my organic-chemist brother-in-law read me the riot act about chlorinated organic solvents, and I hope I am not restricted to projects using Elmer’s Glue.
First of all, always use CA glue in a well ventilated area.
Equip your shop with a small or medium size oscillating fan, or have a window cracked open. NEVER get directly over the project you are working on, as vapors rise.
NEVER look or aim the pointed end of the bottle nozzle at yourself as too check it.
It can get into your eyes. If this ever happens, DON’T PANIC, it can be removed by medical specialists.
If you get it on your skin, it will eventtually come loose, as it was originally designed for emergency medical personell to temporarily take the place of stitches.
Avoid using a heat gun or hair dryer to speed up the curing, as this causes vapors.
I also build and fly RC model planes , and also have been a model train builder for years.
So I am very familiar with CA glues.
The main thing to remember is 'USE COMMON SENSE", and you’ll be okay.
CA glue fumes gives me respirtory congestion which usually lasts a day or so. For that reason I use it very sparingly; I only use it directly next to an open window. Also, I no longer attempt to build any resin kits.
“Orderless CA” exists, however I have never used it, although I am curious if it will give me my usual breathing syptoms.
I am on disabiltiy, and one of the reasons is severe asthma.
I can’t breath when it is really hot, or humid (hot or cold). Stepping outside on a cloudy/rainy day means (I am in upstate NY farm country) I choke on lots of exhaust and diesel fumes held in by the clouds. I can get winded walking into a Walmart or to the mailbox.
The only problem I found with CA is NOT to put the bottle between you and any moving source of air. Such as a working A/C or a fan! It blows the fumes at you.
Also, I use a toothpick dipped into the bottle, not pouring out an open puddle. Keeps the fumes in the bottle more. And I never lean over the glue as I apply or use it.
Much as I hate to, I wear a mask when using it, which isn’t often. I use the mask with any liquid/plastic glue or super glue. I have sinus problems so I avoid fumes as much as possible, paint booth or glue.
Wow…people using chemicals without ventilation…wow…
Whenever I do ANYTHING with chemicals (paints, solvents, adhesives) when modeling I turn on my workbench fan, which is convienently located above me, and facing me. It might dry out glues and paints a little faster, but I also don’t get all sorts of fun petroleum distillates in my system.
CA was first developed as an industrial adhesive used for installing strain gages on metal items being tested in tensile or compresson test machines as well as real world items to confirm the stress calculations were correct. The purified medical CA came later when the instant adhesion of body tissue was discovered. Sometimes I wonder if CA should have never been released as a consumer product - usually as I am dabbing my fingers with acetone to break the CA bond I have just made to something else, usually another finger(s). [;)][censored]