The end of glue, epoxy and superglue 

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As a guy who works for the largest adhesives manufacturer in the world, you absolutely nailed this video. I'd say this is probably the best video on adhesive shelf life I've ever come across on YT. The only thing I'd probably say is that not all CA is equal. Industrial grades will have much shorter shelf lives (due to less stabilizers to maximize performance), and the stuff you buy at Home Depot will have a much longer shelf life due to the addition of significant amounts of stabilizers. The stuff at a woodworking shop is likely to be right in the middle, so your 1 year is pretty accurate. Once again, well done.

Seeing the white bottle of Elmer's Glue reminded me of one of their commercials from the 70s. They glued two overlapping slabs together to make a diving board and then led Elsie the cow out onto it. Yes, it was a real live brown and white cow standing over a swimming pool. I wish I could find a clip of it, but no luck so far. I hope someone else remembers it too as my family thinks the memory has something to do with the fumes coming from my workshop.

thank you , thank you, thank you. I remembered this video and reviewed it. Big project (a desk top for my wife) that I didn't want to risk unnecessary risk of failure. You are the best!!

Excellent advice. I started storing my PVA glues tip-down. I sometimes will have a 2-4month gap in between projects and found that a film or even disc of semi-solid glue can form on top of the glue in the bottle because of the air inside the bottle. Stored tip down, this film or disc forms on the 'bottom' and away from the stuff I want to use.

Unrelated note, I love that you always represent our mitten state with your Red Wings cups and beverage holders!

Definitely a relief, the title made me think you were about to tell us that adhesives on finished projects would eventually fail..

Excellent stuff James. I’ve been a carpenter for nearly 40 years and I’m still learning new stuff. Mike, UK.

I sure appreciate your well-produced, factual and to the point videos.

Thank you for your advice, I have been a student of woodworking for almost fifty years. This segment on glue was excellent. I would really love sitting down and talk projects over a beer. Keep up your positive approach to making sense on a subject that has hundreds of ways to accomplish the expression of creative woodworking. You'll know you've done well when someone says "you made that".

Mr. Nubs, thank you for teaching us that CA glue has a shelf life, even if unopened. I believe you suggested one year. Hide glue too. PVA benefits from optimal storage, stirring, darkness, cool temperatures…. good content!

Goldang did I learn heaps in 9 minutes! That was the best vid I've ever watched on glues....never thought there was so much to know about the subject. Phenomenal knowledge and concise presentation! Legend yet again! Thanks James!

James you're a natural and so good at what you do. Thank you!

I learned alot with this video, thank you! I've been watching you sense your early days in the garage with your cave-lair less formal approach. Keep-up the good work, you've earned it! THANK YOU!

Your timing has been impeccable lately. I was just starting to question some of my glues, and I'm probably right on the cusp of many of their shelf lives. I just never considered it before. I'm tossing a lot and labeling new bottles according to these guidelines. This will be really helpful, so thanks!

Talking about glue is always a good way to stay bonded to your core subscribers.

Glue is good until it doesn't come out of the bottle, then you make a bigger hole :)

I appreciate your focusing on the details of correctness in chemistry and physics when explaining concepts to your audience in common English. With that said it does not make sense to talk about freezing being a destructive process at the cellular level for PVA glue because it does not have cells. Perhaps molecular level is better here. Interestingly, actual cells that withstand freezing do so by creating various antifreeze proteins, some of which may be able to stabilise the polymer precursor molecules of PVA or other glues under freezing conditions - but I have not spent any time looking into this. It is very likely someone else has.

So I watch your guidance regularly because of your clarity and expansive knowledge, keep coming back also to get another look at that Hockey Town cup.

Thank you for all the information you share with us. Your channel has been the most helpful for me to learn woodworking.

I was glued to the screen during this entire video!

The freeze/thaw cycle is definitely something to be aware of. Especially if you like somewhere cold and deliveries of glue can freeze on the truck. I've bought a small bottle of Titebond 3 and had a panel fail with supposedly brand new glue. Bought the same stuff from a store that had older glue on the shelf and the panel is still rock solid 2 years later "it's a table top". If your glue looks funky, throw it out or go exchange it if it's new.

You're such a great teacher. Thank you.

Very helpful and informative. Thank you.

Thank you to whoever asked the question. I paid no attention to glue shelf life. Helpful video.

Sterling information as usual, James. Thank you.

Excellent video. It is easy to forget that glue has a life span and great that you reminded us all of it! Bravo!

Great information. Thank you for the education you provide

Very useful overview. Thank you from UK.

Excellent and under-served topic. I run a large engineering group that builds high precision products with a lot of specialized adhesives. Shelf-life and expiry dates of these is absolutely critical and *DOES* make a significant difference. This topic is very real and very important (and very widely unknown to most).

I always look forward to your videos. Learn something every time.

Good stuff. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.

Awesome and thanks so much for your woodworking information

Great video as usual, James. For some reason, i never thought that glue had a shelf life, but then why wouldn't it? Everything else does. Thanks for highlighting this. Every day is a school day, as they say.

I've had many types of glue occasionally fail, and now I think I know why. Thanks, Mr. Nubs.

Great video. Lots of useful info. I do keep my CA glue for longer than a year but I have never relied on it as the sole attachment. It usually more as a clamp for awkward clamping projects until I can get PVA and or screws into play.

Super informative and helpful - thanks for sharing.

More good tips. Thanks James

Great advice on glues.

This is superb information! Thanks very much for this! 👍

3 years on Titebond is about dead on for my shop too. Thanks for this video, and YES...one freeze and I'd recommend tossing it out :)

Very interesting subject, and very well explained too ! 🙏🏻

Good information James, thanks.

Thank you James, your video is extremely informative, so much that I will check all my bottles of glue using your excellent guidelines. All my woodwork is home DIY, as a result I've ended up buying glue when I'm at the supplier, from now on I'll take your advice to only buy what I need at the time. I always learn from and enjoy your videos, many, many thanks. Stay safe and well, best regards from Durban, South Africa.

Once again, Stumpy out here taking care of us all, well done sir.. I am thoroughly educated. Keep up the amazing work, love you guys❤🙌🤘

I learn something on every video. Thanks.

Good info James. I've had PVA glue last a long time while stored in my basement shop, I've had it fail after a half a year in my box van work truck, temperature cycles are the cause. Basement is pretty stactic at around 65-68F all year, the truck, below zero to above 120 F. Cold seems to accelerate the breakdown quicker. Freezing the stuff (because I forgot to bring it into the house) gives it one or two thaw cycle life, then it become a cottage cheese imitation.

I never even thought of my glue’s shelf life before watching this video. Thanks again Stumpy.

Thank you for this info. I think I will be glue shopping tomorrow.

Thanks for the good advices

Fantastic video thank you

I have an unheated shop, so bring in all my liquids. When it warms up enough, back to the shop and I test everything on scraps. I just buy new when it doesn't work up to par. Thanks for another excellent video, James.

I always wind up testing my CA glue before I use it no matter how old it is. Usually on my fingertips.

Was I the only one that noticed the glass top river table while talking about deep pour epoxies? Great info and a great reminder to clean out the glue cabinet.

great video! thanks

Thanks for yet another helpful video Stumpy. I confess I have probably never used a tube of CA glue twice. Next time I will try the the freezer.

1.5 Speed really helps. Great info. Thx!

Stumpy Nubs: Redeeming the uselessness of the internet one video at a time. Thank you. Another great video.

Good advice, James. I have used CA glues for decades and stored them as you suggested, in a zip-lock bag inside the freezer. I also plug the small hole in the tip with a gold pin from a D-connector often used in old parallel and serial data cables (I used to make those cables when I was working and had a lot of unused pins leftover). The gold plating won't corrode and you can usually pull them out with a pair of pliers no matter how glued up the tip might get. If you snip off the hollow crimp portion you can fit the pin under the original cone-shaped bottle top for a tight fit that won't pass any moisture. My bottles have lasted 3 years or more in the freezer that way.

As always, an excellent video James! I have had GREAT success with storing those small tubes of CA glue in a glass jar with a metal lid. I'm amazed at the odor when I open the jar from the glue permeating through the little tubes. I point the full ones cap-down. The one I'm using cap-up. I have had freeze thaw cycles ruin white and aliphatic resin glues so, much like you said, I always keep them in a warm place above freezing. Now, that leaves me with a special vintage glue I have had for some time now. Before I lost my father 35 years ago, he gave me a huge bottle of bulk aliphatic resin glue. Oh, I used most of it but I still cherish one last small bottle of it on the shelf. I'll never use it. Not even in an emergency. It's just there for a fond memory that I will pass it on to my son some day too. I guess its the family bond.

I'd never really considered this. Thanks for sharing.

thanks - very informative as always!

good information , thanks

I've had the gallon of Titebond II glue since 2012. I keep refilling my squeeze ketchup bottle every so often. It's still good as I store it in my house and not in the shop. However, it is starting to get a bit thicker, but the gallon is also almost gone, so I guess it's perfect timing!

Great video! Really good to spread the word on this, as a lot of folks don't give it much thought. Moisture and air are damaging to many adhesives. Using an oxygen displacement agent, like 'Bloxygen' or other inert gas can keep paints, adhesives, and other chemicals from damage by oxidation and humidity. Almost every adhesive you have on this episode can have its lifespan increased (at least a little) by not freezing, keeping UV light sources as low as possible, keeping the temperature stable at around 50F, and keeping humidity (with the exception of your wood glue) and oxygen counts as low as possible by using some kind of inert gas displacement. Moisture is a very quick killer of cyanoacrylates and polyurethanes, the dryer the better for those to last longer.

Thanks James, that information will surely keep me out of a sticky situation. God Bless.

A ton of info! thanks!

Great information and answers to my "I wonder if" moments in the shed as I look at any glue on the shelf. We haven't had a really cold winter or frost here in Ireland for about five years, but that's it My doubts confirmed ,they're all going in the trash / recycle . I'm going to try your tip for the CA glue in the freezer as I use it for model making, bonding photo etch brass parts. It usually starts to go very viscous as it reaches end of life, Its cheap enough to replace if needed. Keep up the good work , great videos.

Good advice.

Great tips, James! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

One of your most informative videos!!! Make sure the rest y'all subscribe!

Thanks for awesome video. This is very informative. A autobody repairman told me something similar many years ago. I had a rear view mirror come off my windshield. I got a tube of the epoxy to mount it back on but it would not stay. I went to the autobody shop and the guy there was telling me even glue has a shelf life.

This is GREAT NEWS! I got in on the TB3 sale that Lowe's was having and ended up with about 80 10oz bottles for like $20. I have them stored IN THE HOUSE and since I have a woodworking business, I should be able to use them all within the next few years easily. Thanks for the info.

Love this guy.

Loved the video, and a 100% agree on the freeze though thing,. Loved the video, But I suspect most woodworkers and contractors are lot like me in that the problem with not having glue on the shelf that works is that we keep running out. The freeze we had in Texas sure did a number on our stock will glue though. That kind of sucked.

I think that's good advice for day-to-day, James..."Keep your tip clean, and your cap tight."

I have used a lot of resorcinol. In certain applications its quite amazing! Like making a hardwood plywood for a boat deck hatch.

Another storage consideration is shop lighting. Many shops still have unfiltered fluorescent lights that can adversely affect the life of fabrics, dyes, plastics and I would assume glues.

Love your work 👍 Here in Australia, PVA has a fairly short shelf life due to the heat. Especially in the back of a carpenter’s van!

I give my bottles a little love squeeze before putting the cap on

great advice and video. not an exact science but stumpy uses common sense + knowledge to give fair general advice

Thanks James, great info, as always. Polyurethane glue dries out pretty quickly once you knock the top off the bottle in my experience. I did have better results and really long shelf life with 2 pack PU bowling ball resin though! (It wasn't great for bowling balls, but one of the best lamination glues I've even had!)

Does anyone else have a 20+-year-old bottle of glue on the shelf? Lol!

The only glue here ........ Is me glued to the stumpy nubs channel And there is no shelf life expiry date 👍😂 I think our stumpy is a legend

Thanks, James 👍

great video..very helpful I was hoping there would have been info about contact cement...both solvent based and latex

I only buy PVA glue in small bottles now because the two times I bought the two quart size, the product went bad in just a few months. I think the larger bottles sit in hot/cold warehouses for long periods so the shelf life is mostly gone before you even get it.

Trying to work with old wood glue is frustrating to say the least. Usually I only buy enough glue to do a few projects. But for something like cyanoacrylate glue I found a good way to prolong CA "super glues" is to store them in a refrigerator or even better a freezer. While it won't store CA glues indefinitely, it will increase their shelf life by a lot. I have a huge 16oz bottle of R/C tire glue, which is just a regular medium viscosity CA super glue, that has been in my freezer for 6+ years now and it's still good. I used it recently when I got some rims and tires for my R/C truck.

Thanks. Very important matter

I put glass marbles in my adhesives to displace the air. Works great for extending shelf life.

I've always kept my ca glue in the fridge but never thought about keeping it in the freezer. It's lasted for years though.

Awesome info!!!

I bought 1 gallon Titebond 2. Eight years ago. Its been through at least 10 freeze, thaw cycles. I am only about 60% of the way through it. And it STILL works just fine. No glue joints have failed, and I have made multiple dozens of small joints. The glue is a bit thick, I'll admit.

all i heard was " you have to keep the tip clean".. LOL !! LOVE YOUIR VIDEOS STUMPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As Collin Johnson says below, one of the best moves I have made regarding PVA glue is ditching the cap. For a 16 oz bottle, a Plochman's Mustard cap is perfect. No more washing out the tip, no more half-closed tip and I get a much more controllable bead of glue. I keep a pop-up cap around for the occasional use where the wider bead makes sense.

looks at my adhesives.....whelp all these are 5+ years. time to clean out the cabinet and only buy what I need. Thanks for the tips and the run down!

Thank you. The shelf life of glue never occurred to me. Now I know and knowing is half the battle.

Hello James, thanks for yet another great video. Big fan of your channel. I would like to ask for your help in something: Recently I had to assemble a frame using non rectangular slabs. One side flat and the opposit external side curved. It didn't go well at all! Any ideas on how to? Assembling a frame from cylindrical wood would also be interesting. Thanks. Keep up the very good work!

YES ! GREAT video on glue , my yellow glue looks like lumpy porridge , got frost bitten . And my C.A. glue bottle was never opened and is like solid Thanks again

At my grandparent' s house they kept a container of Elaine's craft glue in the hutch in the kitchen. We used that bottle for about 5 years and never had a problem with it.