Winter qlue question

[mickyd]

You don’t mention the type of glue.
I keep CA glue in the refrigerator to extend the life. Low humidity/moisture prevents CA glue from curing. So freezing CA glue is good not bad. Just bring it back up to temp prior to use.

Your correct. I'll take it out of the freezer the night before to let it thaw out to room temp.

[Ed in Tampa]

Back in the days (oh no there he goes again) most of the original wood glues would change colors from the light creamy to an pumkin orange when they went bad.

Found out the hard way bought a gallon, filled all my bottles and forgot about it. Found it about 2 years later and it was orange. Found out then that when the glue goes bad it changed color.

The new glues out like Titebond 2 and 3 and Elmer probond and such I haven't seen change colors but then again I now buy in a much much smaller quantity and make sure I rotate my stock. Although I do I have a bottle of titebond 3 that is starting to get an orange hue.

There was a site that gave a way to read manufacture dates but I don't recall where it is. One of the manufactures put the info in month day year format. However I usually change bottle so the info is lost.

My understanding freezing and thawing does hurt it but I do believe it can cause the water to separate out, so I would mix it real good.

Probably best advice unless your a production shop buy what you need for the project at hand and get fresh supply for the next project.
I now do that with everything, finishes, paints, glues, etc. The only thing I keep around for any length of time is unmixed shellac and even that has a shelf life.

[charlese]

First off Merry Christmas to all,
We got a ton of snow last night I have been spending the entire day shoveling out the driveway to the road. I have a question about glue. Everything froze last night including the glue that I had left in the shop. I this glue bad now that it has frozen. I brought it in to the house and it has since thoughed out but I am not sure if it is till good.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Now that we've established you are concerned about Titebond II - Yes freezing is a cause for concern. However--------
Have not yet had a problem with freezing.

I have used Titebond II for most of the last decade, here in the Mojave desert. The winter temps always go below freezing. Usually night time lows are in the high teens. After a few weeks of this, my shop gets down to below 32º. almost every night. Without heating, the shop will warm to around 40º during daytime. (Sun is bright although air gets cold)

Enough of that - I buy the 1 gallon plastic jugs of glue and keep it/them in a wooden cabinet in the shop. Yes, I have found ice on the top of the glue and I have found the water will somewhat separate on top of the glue.

Always, prior to gluing, I warm the glue in my glue-up bottle (about 6 ounces. Also, before re-filling my smaller glue bottle, I shake the gallon jug and also warm it. I have seen the glue from the jug sometimes has darker streaks as it's being poured, I've never seen this from the smaller bottle.

I've never suffered any poor glue joints from frozen glue.

[a1gutterman]

Thank you all,
And I did forget to mention that is its titeband II. I will take your advise and buy somemore. On the titebond bottle it does say keep from freezing that is why I asked the question. I appreciate all of your advise as usual. I am building another rocking horse and really did not want to take a chance that somethng could break loose with a little one on it.

The best place to find an answer is the horses mouth! I sent the makers of Titebond II an e-mail. Below you will find my question and their answer:

[quote]
From: Tim *******
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 8:35 PM
To: contechserv@franklinInternational.com
Subject: Use of glue after it has been frozen and thawed.

Please tell me how freezing of unused-in-the-bottle-glue effects the gluing strength of Titebond II glue.



Sincerely, Tim ********


like woodworking? go to: http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/index.htm?referrerid=2117



[/quote]


[quote]
Almost all of the wood glues are freeze/thaw stable for 5-6 cycles. The Titebond II is one of them. Thaw it and then stir it.

Theresa Litten
Senior Technical Specialist
Construction Building Products Division
theresalitten@franklininternational.com

[/quote]

[beeg]

The current FWW had an article about using glue in cold temps. Titebond II's limit is 55 degrees and III's is 47.

[Ed in Tampa]

The best place to find an answer is the horses mouth! I sent the makers of Titebond II an e-mail. Below you will find my question and their answer:

Tim
Most excellent, that puts an end to all speculation and opinion. Thanks!

[mickyd]

Tim
Most excellent, that puts an end to all speculation and opinion. Thanks!

Oh sure...no credit to mickyd for his post #7 with the initial breaking information!!:p

[a1gutterman]

Oh sure...no credit to mickyd for his post #7 with the initial breaking information!!:p

Could knot have done it without you, Mike!

[Ed in Tampa]

I was in the shop today and noticed a forgotten bottle of Probond glue that was the evil orange color. I have no idea of the age. It hadn't been frozen.
In any case I played with it and here is what I found
It had a really strong ammonia odor.
There was a thickening and slight crust on top.
When I added water the normal cream color returned.
It was sticky and I believe it could still be used if the lumps were strained out but I pour it out about 16ozs.
I now have a perfectly clean glue bottle with a super nozzle.