Superglues with fine brushes

You get disposable precision tips for some super glue bottles and there are semi disposable "micro brushes" - which look rather like little cotton swabs (don't use cotton I hasten to add since superglue seems to set it on fire). Have look on a few of the more model making suppliers and you'll find some of those things.

Another thought - Syringes and needles bought in bulk from medical suppliers are cheap and can just be disposed off after use (sensibly obviously!), granted you might get the odd raised eyebrow at your cupboard full of needles, but they do work well for glue application.
 
Eric said:
You get disposable precision tips for some super glue bottles and there are semi disposable "micro brushes" - which look rather like little cotton swabs (don't use cotton I hasten to add since superglue seems to set it on fire). Have look on a few of the more model making suppliers and you'll find some of those things.

Another thought - Syringes and needles bought in bulk from medical suppliers are cheap and can just be disposed off after use (sensibly obviously!), granted you might get the odd raised eyebrow at your cupboard full of needles, but they do work well for glue application.
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There's a thought, I do have some syringes with blunt needles, I bought for getting wood glue deep into the joints of a door before clamping it. But doesn't the glue dry and block the needle rather quickly?
 
Flush it through with acetone after use. That's why the liquid superglue is better for this, longer time to salvage the tool. Also why I'd recommend a needle it can flow down rather than a syringe it flows through.
 
Eric said:
(don't use cotton I hasten to add since superglue seems to set it on fire
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Oh? interesting ^_^

but yeah, I know and have used some superglues which have needle points for 'precision' but I'm always in two minds with them. often the extra price isn't worth the results when a cocktail stick is just as fine.
 
The Serene Badger said:
But doesn't the glue dry and block the needle rather quickly?
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Totally. Afraid I'm quite lazy when I do this since syringes and needles tend to come in boxes of 100 (example site) and so when used I tend to just dispose of them. I assume the same happens with the "fine tips" for superglue bottles - hence getting several in a pack.

If a brush better suits I might experiment with something like: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJFQWML4/ it says those are synthetic fibres so will probably survive superglue.
 
ManicMan said:
Oh? interesting ^_^
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I think it's something to do with the cellulose in the cotton doing something and accelerating the reaction - superglue drying is exothermic hence the heat, I'd guess the hydroxy groups in the cellulose are doing much the same as moisture from the air/surface does normally for superglue. I dare stay the structure also lends itself well to a large surface area further accelerating the reaction. I've just noticed it a few times when I've accidentally gotten a cotton swab on/in superglue and it's started smoking.
 
Eric said:
I think it's something to do with the cellulose in the cotton doing something and accelerating the reaction - superglue drying is exothermic hence the heat, I'd guess the hydroxy groups in the cellulose are doing much the same as moisture from the air/surface does normally for superglue. I dare stay the structure also lends itself well to a large surface area further accelerating the reaction. I've just noticed it a few times when I've accidentally gotten a cotton swab on/in superglue and it's started smoking.
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The Google rabbit hole I fell into tells me that it's because the cellulose in the cotton wool has loads of hydroxyl groups that make the reaction happen really quickly
 
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