CA Glue

[Kevthemodeller]

CA, don't get me started I've thrown away bottles of the stuff over the last few months, some of it only a few months old in my possession at approx £5 a pop

I had nearly the whole range of Zap and 2 bottle of VMS Flexy 5k CA. The Zap turned slightly yellow and just didn't stick anymore and the VMS turned so thick I couldn't get it to flow down the bottle neck, although it did stick. All stored as per recommendations I'd add The Zap I've had about 2 & 1 yrs, the VMS I ordered around a year ago. I contacted VMS giving them the batch No's and they replied:

"CA glues have a shelf life of 12+ months, 16 months on average, so you need to use them shortly after you but. Yours are 25 months - 2 years is a lot for CA glue and they are bound to thicken or lose binding properties. Details on storage and shelf life can be found on product pages."

So the stuff had been sitting on a shelf for at least a year before I bought it, which means half of it's life has already gone! Their sites states "Unopened bottle will be good for 12-18 months depending on glue type provided it's stored in a room temperature: around 20 °C, best temp. for storage is around 15 °C. Store in a dark place, avoid direct sunlight." So why don't they put dates on the bottles and use dark bottles instead of transparent type? Sales by any chance, utter rip off

They where happy to give me a 50% discount but by the time you factor in postage, which from VMS is bloody expensive, can't check now the shop site is closed for orders. But it was about the same if not more than the glue so even with 50% off it was way more expensive than the little tubes, this price may well be hiked again due to Brexit. UK price is £5.99 plus P&P £3.89 total £9.88 for something you end up throwing most away

I now use the little tubes approx £3 for 3 of them, one will easily last a kit worth of PE and you can get the slow set type too.

[digger303]

I had my Vms flexy thin open for 14 months and just on the dregs now, but still works and still thin.
I store out of sunlight. I did have trouble with the first batch I bought it went thick and had the old style bottle and it went thick before I opened it. It was replaced free of charge as he admitted the bottles were problematic.
I don't buy more than I can use in a year because of it's relative short shelf life of any brand.
Super glue is made in batches by a small number of companies world wide and out of that batch quantities might get sold to different wholesalers. So like you say it could get stuck in a warehouse for a period, then shipped to a retailer sitting on a shelf for a bit longer then to you and you get what life is left in the product. I might have been lucky and got a fresh batch conversely someone else might get just as unlucky. It's the world of Ca glue, but it's best to buy quality as it gives you more reliability in the end in my experience.

[BigWall]

I appreciate your frustration Kev but I think Digger has it nailed.