My husband taught me a little trick tonight. If you are using super glue, before replacing the cap, gently squeeze the tube on the sides and the glue will be "sucked" back down into the tube. Keeps the glue from drying in the applicator, or worse, to the cap!
By Kelli from Sentani, Indonesia
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Sounds like something we need to try - that stuff gets expensive. We can't afford to toss half a bottle just because the cap is glued on!
What your husband suggested WILL keep the glue out of the applicator, but it WON'T keep the glue from hardening. Eventually, you'll end up with a clear, glue-free applicator tube with a lump of hardened glue in the main tube body (or bottle).
It's best to get ALL of the air bubbles out of the tube / bottle / applicator before storing super glue in a cool & dry place. The humidity in air (or any source of moisture, really) is what causes cyanoacrylate (super glue) to polymerize (harden). So the less air contact, and the dryer the air, the better.
Gently squeeze the air OUT of the applicator until there are no bubbles, wipe the applicator tip, replace the cap, and store the tube / bottle upright in the refrigerator or freezer. It lasts indefinitely if you do this every time. The manufacturers don't tell us this because they want to sell us more of their glue after our tubes get used once and tossed in the trash. (p.s. I'm a chemist IRL.)
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